Tarrant judge asks state to investigate Fort Worth bar after all-ages drag show
Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare penned a letter to state comptroller Glenn Hegar last week asking for the comptroller’s office to look into an all-ages drag show at Tulips FTW, a bar off St. Louis Avenue.
But the comptroller’s power in the situation is limited.
According to media reports, O’Hare wrote in a May 4 letter, a performer “may have exposed himself to the audience, which included children,” during a March 27 show.
The drag performer in question says that isn’t true.
Under Texas laws that define sexually oriented businesses and what “nude” is, O’Hare wrote he believes the comptroller’s office has the authority to investigate whether Tulips had operated as a sexually oriented business.
The owner of the property has outlawed all-ages drag shows, O’Hare wrote, but the “private action does not address what may have already transpired, nor hold accountable those responsible.”
“While the outcome of pending legislation on this topic is still uncertain, I believe that we must continue to use all levers of power vested in our offices to protect children, especially when it comes to the scandalization and sexualization of their young minds,” O’Hare wrote.
In an accompanying tweet Wednesday, O’Hare wrote that the comptroller’s officer has been “responsive and helpful.”
A representative with the comptroller’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how the comptroller’s office has been “responsive and helpful” in addressing the situation. A spokesperson told the Star-Telegram that the Legislature is responsible for making changes.
Texas’ comptroller acts as the state’s chief tax collector. The county judge’s duties include overseeing a five-member Commissioners Court, which presides over the county’s roadways, property tax rate, public hospital system and jail.
O’Hare said in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon he sent the letter to the comptroller because Hegar’s office is the one responsible for collecting sexually oriented business fees.
“The Comptroller’s Office noted that they were forwarding our letter to the Enforcement Division for further investigation,” O’Hare wrote. “But, we encourage you to forward it to any other governmental entities you believe would try to stop this deviant practice.”
O’Hare’s letter comes as Texas lawmakers debate Senate Bill 12, which would restrict and add criminal punishment to some sexually oriented performances on public property and commercial businesses when children are present.
The bill has passed the Senate and is being heard by a House committee Wednesday.
Hegar’s office has gotten involved in investigating all-ages drag performances before. In August 2022, the comptroller said his office would look into a Dallas-area club to see if it was liable for a Sexually Oriented Business fee after images surfaced of a child placing money in a drag performer’s undergarment.
“As a father, I take this matter especially seriously and am committed to ensuring my agency does everything in its power to ensure this establishment as well as others are fully compliant with Texas law,” Hegar wrote in a statement.
Tulips FTW did not answer a phone call requesting comment and did not immediately respond to an email.
Drag performer responds
Kiba Walker, who performs as Salem Moon, is the performer O’Hare referred to in his post on Twitter.
For nearly seven years, Walker has performed at drag brunches, fundraisers and shows in Dallas-Fort Worth. While in drag, Salem Moon uses she/her pronouns.
Salem Moon regularly hosted the trivia show at Tulips for a year and a half before the protest on March 27. Every single trivia show has welcomed people of all ages, and the performers have always ensured those events are appropriate for children as well as adults, Walker said.
The only difference about the March 27 show, Walker said, was the protesters.
When Walker and other performers found out a group was going to protest the show, they decided to turn the event into a charity benefit for LGBTQ Saves. The event grew to over 300 people and raised thousands of dollars for the LGBTQ nonprofit.
During part of the show, Salem Moon, dressed in a black gown, leaned against a stool on stage. After the event, Walker was the subject of multiple articles from groups claiming he flashed the audience.
Walker pointed out that the video and photo that supposedly shows her exposing herself only shows her thighs. For the event, Walker wore a pair of opaque shorts, six layers of opaque tights, two pairs of fishnets and a body shaper on top.
“I have nothing to hide and I have nothing to be ashamed of,” Walker said. “I did everything correct. The only crime I committed was I can’t sit down because I am a bigger person. Everything I did that night was within the realms of being safe and being mindful.”
He received death threats and was attacked online. The owners of Tulips told him they would no longer be able to host drag events, despite doing so regularly for a year and a half with no issues.
Walker said the attacks on drag shows reveal a larger agenda by some groups and politicians to target the LGBTQ community in Texas.
“It’s never about the drag shows, it’s never about the children, it’s about suppressing queer voices and queer people,” Walker said. “And they just need little snippets of things that may cause fear… in the public that maybe don’t understand this.”
As for O’Hare and others attacking drag shows, Walker encouraged them to attend a drag event and educate themselves.
“I just want there to be a dialogue rather than just a complete shutout because you don’t understand queer culture,” he said. “You don’t understand that there are queer kids in this world. And, you know, it’s 2023; things shouldn’t be dictated by fear anymore.”
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 12:07 PM.
