UNT's Drag Ban Finally Sashays Away

Nearly five months after announcing a "pause" of on-campus drag performances, UNT has rescinded its ban.

Earlier this year, the school joined other Texas universities in halting drag performances at state-run campuses. The string of bans came in response to what state university leaders said was an effort to comply with a January executive order from President Donald Trump. 

However, West Texas A&M University's ban was struck down by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month, as Judge Lee H. Rosenthal argued the executive order was too vague to be applied to drag shows. UNT, for some reason, remained a holdout on the ban, however. Groups like the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and ACLU of Texas demanded an answer. On Wednesday, Aug. 27, they finally got it.

UNT Vice Chancellor Alan Stucky confirmed the "pause" had ended in a letter to the organizations' representatives.

"On Aug. 18, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in the appeal of Spectrum, et al v. Wendler, et al, out of the Northern District of Texas, and therefore the UNT System’s temporary pause on drag performances has ended," Stucky wrote.

From the beginning, advocates have argued that the ban violates students' constitutional rights.

“As we and the courts have repeatedly made clear, banning drag is plainly unconstitutional," ACLU of Texas Attorney Chloe Kempf said in a statement after UNT lifted the ban. "Drag is a cherished source of joy and liberation for the LGBTQIA+ community — and this reversal ensures students can once again freely express and celebrate their identities on campus.”

Representatives from the ALCU and FIRE have also said that banning drag shows could lead to larger implications for rights under the First Amendment.

“If campus officials can silence expression simply because some find it ‘offensive,’ no one’s speech will be safe," Amanda Nordstrom, FIRE Strategic Campaigns Counsel, said in a statement. "Today it’s drag shows, but tomorrow it could be political rallies, art exhibits, or even bake sales. From West Texas to North Texas and any direction you look, the message is clear: drag is a protected expression, and the show must go on.”

We'll see you at the Rose Room this weekend to celebrate.