Bella DuBalle Won’t be Silenced by New Tennessee Law

A Misunderstood Art Form

Bella DuBalle describes her drag persona as a combination of Miss Piggy, Dolly Parton and Mr. Rogers. Drag queen (and ordained minister) Bella DuBalle won’t be silenced by new Tenn. law: DuBalle says the legislators behind a new law criminalizing public drag shows don’t understand the art: “They think that every drag performer is doing something hypersexual or obscene.”

Standing up Against Discrimination

The new Tennessee law is not the only time that Bella DuBalle has had to advocate against discrimination. In 2016, when North Carolina passed the infamous “bathroom bill”, DuBalle was one of many performers to boycott the state. Drag performers are often at the forefront of gay rights movements, using their art as a form of activism.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

When it came out in 1983, Nora Ephron’s comic novel became an instant bestseller. Now newly released, Heartburn is a witty and honest account of a woman’s experience with marriage, infidelity, and divorce. This semi-autobiographical novel is a classic that has stood the test of time.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

Jenny Jackson’s debut novel is a smart comedy of manners that explores themes of gentrification and social climbing in Brooklyn. The book follows a young journalist and her husband as they navigate their new neighborhood, Pineapple Street, and the eccentric characters that live there. Jackson’s writing is sharp, hilarious, and deeply insightful.

Becoming the Bad Guy

Clancy Brown has been working in Hollywood for almost four decades, playing unforgettable villains in films like The Shawshank Redemption and Highlander. But Brown says that “Bad guys never think they’re bad guys.” In order to bring these complex characters to life, Brown has to find the humanity in them, even when they’re doing terrible things.

The Joy of Voice Acting

Clancy Brown is also well-known for his voice acting work. He’s been the voice of Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants for over 20 years, and has lent his voice to countless other animated shows and movies. Brown says that voice acting is a unique and joyful form of acting, because you have the freedom to play any character you want, without being limited by physical appearance or typecasting.

Credit: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/18/1163393540/tennessees-drag-ban-john-wick-4-clancy-brown

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