PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — An event raising money for the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Drag Defense Fund was held in Providence on Sunday. 

Hundreds gathered at The Stable where several groups, like the Trailer Park Girls, Black Sheep Babes and Drag in RI, participated in a special show to fight back against anti-LGBTQ+ laws being considered in Tennessee. 

“We’ve been very frustrated with what’s been going on around the country, we are very insulated in the Northeast but some of our brothers and sisters around the rest of the country are not as lucky,” said LaDiva Jonz, who organized the event.

“We put this together to send some money down to Tennessee to help them fight some of these anti-drag, anti-trans bills that are appearing in the legislature right now,” Jonz continued.

On Friday, a federal judge temporarily blocked Tennessee’s law restricting drag shows, saying it violated people’s first amendment rights.

Rhode Island Congressman Seth Magaziner attended Sunday’s event in Providence and said lawmakers proposing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation should focus more on issues impacting average Americans. 

“I think that everyone has a right to express themselves the way they want and unfortunately the LGBT+ community continues to be under attack,” Magaziner said. “think that as policymakers we have to focus on things that impact people’s lives – Improving healthcare, Improving education, more housing.”