A journalist was arrested over the weekend while attempting to uncover details about an all-ages drag show at the Mission Event Center in Mission, Texas. The event, hosted by RGV PRIDE, a local South Texas Equality Project group, has sparked controversy due to its open invitation to attendees of all ages, including children.
The Fiesta de Colores event took place on Saturday, with tickets priced at $10 per person. However, conflicting advertisements caused some confusion about children’s entry fees—one ad stated free entry for children under 12, while another mentioned it was free for those under 10. Regardless of the inconsistencies, the event welcomed all age groups.
“All ages welcomed,” read one of the promotional materials. “Vendors, drag entertainers, music & more.” Another ad declared the event as “a celebration of diversity with the LGBTQIA+ Family & Allies,” and it was scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to midnight.
RGV PRIDE Event Draws Attention
According to RGV PRIDE’s official site, the event boasted several activities, including a performance by Geneva Karr, a notable drag artist from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16. Karr was set to grace the stage, and attendees were invited to partake in a meet-and-greet with the performer. The event also aligned with LGBTQ+ History Month and highlighted various awareness days such as National Coming Out Day and Intersex Awareness Day.
Sarah Fields, the president of the Texas Freedom Coalition, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that her colleague and fellow journalist, Taylor Cramer, was arrested after trying to document the drag show. According to Fields, Cramer bought a ticket, received a wristband, and entered the main performance area, where at least one child was present during a drag performance.
Cramer’s attempt to capture footage of the event was reportedly obstructed when a man began dancing and clapping in front of his camera. Despite this interference, Cramer continued filming until security intervened.
Confrontation with Local Authorities
“Security told Taylor he had to leave,” Fields wrote. Cramer asserted that only the owner or acting manager of the venue could legally ask him to leave, which is correct according to Texas law. Nonetheless, four officers from the Mission Police Department arrested him after he refused to comply with the request to vacate the premises.
Cramer’s two-minute video recording captured his interaction with the police officers. In the footage, Cramer can be heard asking officers whether the individual who demanded his exit was the owner of the building.
“No, the City of Mission is,” one officer responded.
“Yes, the City of Mission owns this building where you’re having this drag show with children right now,” Cramer replied.
“Yeah, yeah,” the officer affirmed, nodding in agreement.
Despite Cramer’s continued requests to re-enter the event, police refused, and attendees held the door closed to prevent his return.
The Arrest
The situation escalated when officers insisted Cramer step outside to continue the discussion. “Well, look, let’s go talk outside,” one officer suggested.
Cramer refused, stating, “No, I’m not doing the outside thing. Because that’s all you want me to do is get outside the property. If I haven’t done anything wrong, I don’t need to.”
Eventually, the police arrested him for refusing to leave without explicit direction from the property’s management. “She doesn’t want to come out,” another officer explained when Cramer asked to speak to the acting manager.
In the video, Cramer can be heard asking the officers, “Can you say on camera that from the acting manager of this facility you, as the lieutenant, are relaying that information?”
As officers reached for Cramer’s phone, one officer informed him that he was under arrest. Cramer, visibly shocked, asked, “What? For what?”
“You’ve been told to leave,” the officer responded.
Ongoing Legal Debate Over Drag Shows in Texas
Cramer’s interaction with the police concluded with one officer saying, “It’s a free country, correct?”
“No, it’s not,” Cramer countered. “I just got arrested for just being here. Yep, no, it’s not a free country. You guys proved it. You absolutely proved it.”
The arrest occurred amid ongoing legal debates in Texas over Senate Bill 12, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott (R) last year. The law, which prohibits sexually oriented performances in the presence of children, is currently tied up in the courts following a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas.
Both the City of Mission and the Mission Police Department declined to comment on the incident, leaving many unanswered questions about the enforcement of public event regulations in the state.
