Last updated on November 3rd, 2023 at 09:44 am

At the University of Notre Dame, a renowned Catholic institution, students are in uproar over the school’s approval of a drag queen symposium scheduled for November 3, an event included in a one-credit course titled “What a Drag: Drag on Screen — Variations and Meanings.”

Expressing dissent over the event’s conflict with Catholic principles, students have called for the rescission of the university’s involvement in organizing the symposium, directly addressing Vice President of Student Affairs Fr. Gerry Olinger.

Students articulated their concerns in an editorial for a student publication, particularly noting the stark contrast between the celebration of the regilding of the Notre Dame’s Virgin Mary statue and the promotion of a drag show. They emphasized the contradiction between the revered feminine form of the Virgin Mary and the burlesque-style representation showcased in drag performances.

Questioning the educational and moral value of such an event, students expressed their apprehension about how witnessing a drag performance aligns with the university’s mission to nurture values of goodness and truth.

University funding is being utilized to bring drag artists to Notre Dame, encapsulating a display that distorts femininity, contradicts Catholic Church teachings by promoting fluidity in gender and sexuality, and conflicts with the Church’s principles.

The controversy over drag performances in Catholic contexts has intensified following the Los Angeles Dodgers honoring the anti-Catholic drag “nuns,” known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, with a “Community Hero award” during the team’s Pride Night celebrations. This recognition sparked outrage, leading to a delayed ceremony with few spectators in attendance after weeks of significant public disapproval.