A drag queen performance at an Albuquerque, New Mexico high school prom has resulted in the performer receiving death threats and the school’s principal being placed on leave amid transphobic complaints from social media commenters.
Dylan Payan, who performs in drag under the name Mythica Sahreen, was captured on video performing on April 20 in at a convention center at the Atrisco Heritage Academy High School prom. The video, which circulated on social media, showed Sahreen twerking in a wig, stockings, and body suit while surrounded by students in formal wear.
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Students told KOB-TV that Sahreen twerked on a few students and later removed a breast pad and dabbed her face with it.
“Honestly, it was really interesting, and I didn’t mind it,” one female student told the aforementioned news station. “But the thing is it’s the place and where it happened, full of minors, you know, it wasn’t very appropriate for prom.”
As video of Sahreen’s performance began circulating on social media, people left negative comments on the school’s Facebook page, making transphobic comments and calling the show inappropriate for minors.
Payan, who also works as a behavioral therapist serving autistic children, said school officials had approved his performance and costume ahead of time. However, he declined to say who exactly organized his appearance. He also said he had hosted workshops for LGBTQ+ students and performed at the school three times in the past without ever receiving any negative feedback, The New York Times reported.
However, a few days after his performance, he began receiving “dozens of hateful messages,” including death threats. Despite contacting the school, Payan said he hasn’t received a response.
“At this point, it’s just turned into a hate crime,” he said of the Facebook comments and threats. “What kind of message are you sending to your children?”
In an April 24 letter sent to the school’s parents, Channell Segura, chief of schools at Albuquerque Public Schools, said the district was investigating “what occurred and how students were impacted.” An April 25 letter from district officials informed parents that a new acting principal, Anthony Lovato, had replaced the school’s principal Irene Cisneros. It’s unclear if Cisneros was involved in Payan’s booking.
Conservatives, anti-LGBTQ+ groups, and Republicans have increasingly claimed that drag is a form of “adult entertainment” that “sexualizes” children. In some cases, social media users have accused drag queens and their supporters of being “pedophiles” and “groomers.”
Six U.S. states have passed legislation restricting drag performances in front of minors. Courts have blocked some of these laws as violations of free speech.
