At the 37th MAC Awards, held on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 at NYC’s Peter Norton Symphony Space, Ray DeForest, board member of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC), gave an impassioned speech about cabaret’s inclusivity, embracing all manner of performers and acts. He then introduced Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union which is the ACLU of New York, and presented her with a check from MAC for $500 in support of the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund. After Donna’s own impassioned speech about the work the ACLU is doing to fight the legislation that is targeting drag performers, Ray introduced Carolyn Montgomery, executive director of the American Songbook Association, and Frank Dain, the ASA’s treasurer, who presented Donna with matching funds in support of the fund.

Drag performers and the LGBTQ+ community are facing threats across the country. In the face of these threats and censorship, you can fight back with the ACLU for the protection of all our rights.

The freedom to express ourselves and our gender identity in creative ways fuels artistry across our country and culture – and Drag is protected by the First Amendment like any creative expression such as dance, fashion, and music. That’s why RuPaul’s Drag Race, MTV, and World of Wonder are proud to donate to “The Drag Defense Fund” in support of the ACLU’s LGBTQ+ rights work. Please make a tax-deductible gift to this crucial fund now.

If you wish to support the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund, please visit https://action.aclu.org/give/support-drag-defense-fund