AG Dana Nessel jokes 'a drag queen for every school,' attacks 'fake issues'

Craig Mauger
The Detroit News

Lansing — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke out Wednesday against what she described as "fake issues" that are dividing people, saying "drag queens are fun" and "make everything better."

"(You) know what is not a problem for kids who are seeking a good education? Drag queens," Nessel said during a speech that primarily focused on education at a summit in Lansing hosted by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.

"Drag queens are entertainment," she said. "And you know what I'll say that was totally not poll tested, I'd say this, 'A drag queen for every school.'"

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel answers questions from the news media as she announces the first criminal charges in her investigation into claims of abuse by Michigan residents who were involved with the Boy Scouts of America at the Cadillac Place in Detroit on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

Drag queens would lift kids up when they're having "emotional issues," the Democratic attorney general said.

Nessel's comments drew laughter from the crowd at the Lansing conference but criticism from Republicans on social media amid an ongoing debate over how topics of sex and gender identity should be taught in schools.

"'A drag queen for every school' is a great summation of today’s Democrat Party platform," tweeted Donald Trump Jr., the son of former President Donald Trump.

Paul Cordes, chief of staff of the Michigan Republican Party, labeled Nessel's remarks "unbelievable."

"This is not normal," Cordes posted on social media. "She shouldn’t be allowed to joke this away."

Nessel, who is gay, began her speech at the civil rights summit by saying she wanted to express some "righteous indignation" about "some of the things that are happening."

"I am so tired of having prominent members of our state government create wedge issues that don't help, that don't heal us but divide us. And that's all they do," Nessel said.

She applauded comments made by Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, on Tuesday as the Republican-controlled Michigan Senate declined to approve his resolution honoring LGBTQ Pride Month.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, wanted to alter the original  resolution proposal to remove a reference to the government's response to AIDS and to note "each person is created in God's image."

Earlier this month, Republican candidate for governor Tudor Dixon of Norton Shores vowed to sign a bill to create "severe criminal penalties for adults who involve children in drag shows."

Nessel said that drag queens are "not a problem for kids who are seeking a good education." If Michigan's leaders want to improve health care, education and housing, the way to do it is not by targeting minority communities, Nessel argued.

"We need to take all communities in our state and lift them up and not tear them down," Nessel said.

Michigan leaders need to work on issues that impact people "together" instead of trying to fabricate "fake issues," she said.

Dixon criticized Nessel's remarks in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

"Sexualized performers are wholly inappropriate for our children, let alone in a school or educational setting, regardless of gender or orientation," Dixon said. "It shouldn't be tolerated. Period."

cmauger@detroitnews.com