Are drag queens biblical?
What is a drag queen? Being a drag queen involves men dressing and performing as women (and/or vice versa).
In the Old Testament men and women weren’t to cross dress as it was a heathen practice leading to sexual sins. As The Pulpit Commentary states, “Whatever tends to obliterate the distinction between the sexes tends to licentiousness; and that the one sex should assume the dress of the other has always been regarded as unnatural and indecent (comp. Seneca, 'Epist.,' 122).”
As history moved forward men use to cross dress in Shakespeare’s time because of the lack of female actresses. So, some dressed up for entertainment purposes. Later in our culture secret masquerades were held where individuals cross dressed. Culture has devolved even further than this today, where movies (Victor/Victoria, Drag Kids, The Birdcage, Mrs. Doubtfire, etc.) and songs (Call Me Mother, by RuPaul, Queen Bitch, by David Bowie) involving drag queens which speak of depraved things are considered the norm.
Cross dressing is a form of deception. It is a lie. It is sin. Deuteronomy 22:5 states, “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” God teaches that the blurring of the two genders he created (male and female, Gen. 1:27) is an abomination to him. So, drag queens, including their sinful character and motivations, are an abomination to the Lord.
God created males and females as two distinct genders with specific roles and duties that are to glorify the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31). This was God’s established order since the very beginning. Drag queens rebel against God’s creative order and bring upon themselves divine judgment (Rom. 1:26-27).
Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).