January 19, 2023
Out Congressman George Santos Denies Drag Queen Past
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Openly gay Republican congressman George Santos says reports that he performed in drag under the name of Kitara more than a decade ago are "categorically false." Twitter had some thoughts about that.
Two "acquaintances" of the embattled congressman told Reuters that Santos had "competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago," with those claims "adding to contrasts that have drawn criticism of the openly gay Republican congressman's staunchly conservative views."
One source was a "58-year-old Brazilian performer, who uses the drag name Eula Rochard," who recounted to Reuters that "she befriended the now-congressman when he was cross-dressing in 2005 at the first gay pride parade in Niteroi, a Rio de Janeiro suburb."
"Three years later, Santos competed in a drag beauty pageant in Rio," Rochard went on to claim.
The second source, also from Niteroi, requested to remain anonymous, but told the outlet that Santos had "participated in drag queen beauty pageants and aspired to be Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro."
The claims come as GOP lawmakers in several states are pushing bills that would automatically categorize drag shows as "adult" entertainment regardless of actual content. Some lawmakers are also pressing for the criminalization of children being present at drag events.
Right-wing protestors, meanwhile, continue to besiege drag story time hours and other family-friendly drag events, baselessly accusing drag performers of "grooming" children.
Santos, who also stands accused of various episodes of theft – including an accusation that he stole money from a GoFundMe intended to help a veteran's sick dog – took to Twitter to deny those claims, posting, "The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or 'performed' as a drag Queen is categorically false."
Santos went on to add: "The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results."
Twitter users didn't buy it.
"You've lied about everything else, why would anyone believe you this time?" posted conservative group The Lincoln Project.
"Okay, let's put a pin in this one and go back to you killing a homeless veteran's dog by stealing his fundraising money, the lies about your mother dying on 9/11 and the knee replacements you got as a Baruch volleyball champ, and your claim to have survived a brain tumor," another Twitter user responded.
Have a look at some of the other comments Twitter sent his way:
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
