Miss Cali Je

We center the stories of drag performers across Idaho to celebrate queer joy and advocate for the protection of drag performances as legal art form and first amendment right in Idaho. The stories shared on this page are here to celebrate and advocate to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right to dance, fashion, music, and DRAG!

Cali Je is an Idaho-based drag performer, activist, advocate, and christian. She is the president of Reading Time with the Queens, a Pocatello non-profit who's mission is to have drag performers read stories that will teach us how to accept and love ourselves and others. We interviewed Cali Je and other drag performers from Idaho to get their perspective on why it's important that we protect drag in Idaho.

Protect Drag in Idaho: Miss Cali Je

Drag is Self-Expression

Drag encompasses dance, music, and fashion, comedy, education, and political activism as creative self-expressions protected by the First Amendment.

A graphic featuring a quote from Miss Cali Je, an Idaho drag performer, on an orange and purple background. The main quote reads, "I think it boosted the movement and the dissent against those kinds of laws, but what I think it really did was bring commun

Drag is Vital to LGBTQ Culture

Attempt to ban drag in public performances is an absurd attempt to erase LGBTQ visibility.

A graphic with Miss Cali Je, an Idaho drag performer, wearing a colorful flower headpiece. Quote: “I am really baffled by this weird binary that has been created between Christians and drag artists.”

Violence and threats aim to silence LGBTQ voices

Families, performers, and businesses have a right to attend and host drag events.

A graphic with Miss Cali Je, an Idaho drag performer in a floral headpiece. Quote on protests at kid-friendly drag events: "What they're really trying to do is make sure that people feel afraid…children don't feel safe or have language to express themself

Idaho already has laws against sexually explicit public performances

Drag bans are redundant and stem from the same paranoia as book bans and teacher censorship.

A graphic with Cali Je, a drag queen, wearing purple. The quote reads "combatting misinformation is crucial"

Drag performances are cultural and gender expressions

Performances are not sexual exhibitions, instead they are cultural and gender expressions protected by the First Amendment.

An orange and purple graphic with Cali Je in a pink outfit with her arms crossed. The quote reads "I understood the concept of drag because of my experiences in high school."

ABOUT THE CENTER STAGE STORY PROJECT

We center the stories of drag performers across Idaho to celebrate queer joy and advocate for the protection of drag performances as legal art form and first amendment right in Idaho. We believe in the value of visibility and the understanding of being seen is a crucial factor in preserving lives. Our intention is for performers to redefine the narrative of drag and expand the public perception of its true essence through their stories and lived experiences. Drag is a form of creative expression like any other and has always been about joy and acceptance. The stories shared on this page are here to celebrate and advocate to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right to dance, fashion, music, and DRAG!

LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP PROTECT DRAG WITH THE NORTH IDAHO PRIDE ALLIANCE ⮕