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Dana NesselPhoto: MSNBC screenshot

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently blasted the numerous Republicans who have sought to criminalize child attendance at drag queen performances, calling it a not a problem and a needlessly divisive wedge issue.

I am so tired of having prominent members of our state government create wedge issues that dont help, that dont heal us but divide us. And thats all they do, Nessel said while speaking at a civil rights conference in Lansing on Wednesday.

Related: This 12-year-old bought his family a house with money he earned fromdrag

Nessel said that state leaders who want to improve health care, education, and housing in the state shouldnt target minority groups, commenting, [You] know what is not a problem for kids who are seeking a good education? Drag queens.

Drag queens are entertainment, she added, according to The Detroit News. And you know what Ill say that was totally not poll-tested, Id say this, A drag queen for every school.'

At other points, she called drag queens fun, stating that they can help cheer up children with emotional issues and make everything better.

Nessels comments were likely a reaction to Republican efforts to criminalize the presence of children at drag shows. Tudor Dixon, a Republican candidate for Michigan governor, said he would support a bill handing down severe criminal penalties for adults who involve children in drag shows.

In response to Nessels comments, the former presidents son, Donald Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter, A Drag Queen for every school is a great summation of todays Democrat Party Platform.

The Michigan State Republican Party Chief of Staff, Paul Codres, wrote in response to Nessels comment, This is unbelievable. This is not normal. She shouldnt be allowed to joke this away.

In early June, Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton (R)announcedthat he intends to file a bill during the state legislatures upcoming session that would ban drag shows in the presence of minors. He has claimed that drag shows subject underage kids to inappropriate sexual content by adults.

A few days later, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) implied he is open to using Floridas child protective service laws to terminate the parental rights of adults who take their kids to see drag shows. When will the sexualization of children stop? he asked in a tweet. His press secretary, Christina Pushaw, has said that any person who supports acknowledging the existence of LGBTQ people in schools supports pedophilic child rape.

Right-wingers have increasingly targeted child-centered drag events such as Drag Queen Story Hour, accusing the educational and LGBTQ-inclusive family-friendly events of grooming children for sexual assault and exposing them to inappropriate sexual content. Most such events just feature lip-sync performances, sing-alongs, dance-alongs, and storytelling by drag performers in colorful costumes and makeup. The performers teach kids about self-acceptance and caring for others who may look or love differently than they do.

Right-wingers have issued terroristic bomb and death threats against local libraries for holding these events. Such protesters sometimes infiltrate the venues, frightening children and their families as well as recording and threatening public exposure of any adults who participate in them.

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Republicans freak out when Michigan AG jokes that there should be a drag queen for every school - LGBTQ Nation