To engage LGBTQ+ voters, Drag Out the Vote comes to Phoenix

In an effort to get more LGBTQ+ people and their allies voting early in the upcoming election, local drag queens bolstered by the support of the nonprofit Drag Out the Vote is gathering people at The Royale this Friday afternoon in Phoenix for a performance, a party, and a rush to the nearest voting location to submit their ballot. 

The event is one of seven more this month partially bankrolled by Party at the Polls, a voting project organized by the national nonpartisan group When We All Vote. Five of those events, including a music festival in West Phoenix and a professional Volleyball meet-up in Mesa, are happening this week. 

Drag Out the Vote’s event is particularly aimed to get more queer voters to submit their ballots early this year that could combat statewide LGBTQ+ scapegoating, which has been a centerpiece for many candidates this year.

LOOKOUT found that at least 58 candidates have been endorsed by anti-LGBTQ+ organizations or leaders from groups such as Moms For Liberty, or Turning Point USA, or running a campaign that used LGBTQ+ scapegoating. And this year’s voting laws have the ability to disenfranchise more than 9,000 eligible trans voters with current laws in place. 

Chris Diaz, executive director of Drag Out the Vote, said that the election this year is imperative to get LGBTQ+ people and their allies voting. 

“Every issue is an LGBTQ issue,” he said. “It’s oftentimes we focus in on what I think are queer issues. But also crime is an issue for us. Housing is an issue for us. Our safety is an issue for us. These are all things that are important to our community and it’s important people don’t pigeonhole us into ‘queer issues.’”

A recent report by the Human Rights Campaign estimated that by 2040, LGBTQ+ voters will be one-fifth of the nation’s vote–a significant bloc of the population that could have the ability to shape local and national politics. 

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The webcast, organized by Arizona Women of Action, is part of a campaign to use LGBTQ+ issues as a galvanizing issue this November.

LOOKOUTTori Gantz (she/they)

However, it’s unclear how engaged those voters are, especially in Arizona. In 2020, the Williams Institute at UCLA estimated that nearly one-fifth of all LGBTQ+ people nationwide who are eligible to vote weren’t registered. There have been no recent studies or analysis for the 2024 election. 

Diaz said that the need for LGBTQ+ voters to be active this year is critical to address all the problems the community faces.

“The fight for marriage equality was critical, but there’s still so much work to be done,” Diaz said. “So long as one member of our community is marginalized, the work isn’t done.”

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LOOKOUTFitzwilliam Anderson (he/him)

Information for Drag Out the Vote is below:

• Date: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18TH Time: 1PM - 4PM 
• Location: THE ROYALE- 635 W. Glenrosa Avenue, Phoenix AZ, 85013
• Transportation to the Early Voting Site available throughout the event . 
• Hosted by Miss Gay Southern America Barbra Seville and Drag Out The Vote Drag Ambassador Afrika America!
• With performance by Only Geo, LEXXX A'Pro and Mia Adams