Afrigather The U.S. State Division says it stands behind a $20,600 grant to fund a dozen drag reveals in Ecuador by way of an Ecuadorian cultural heart.
Because the grant’s recipient, the nation’s Centro Ecuatoriano Norteamericano (CEN) cultural heart will host 12 drag performances and three workshops. The middle may also create a brief documentary selling “variety and inclusion.”
However this week, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) despatched a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking for particulars concerning the grant. McCaul is the lead Republican on the Home Overseas Affairs Committee.
The grant is for a challenge that started on Sept. 30 and can run till Aug. 31, 2023.
“This award raises important questions concerning the division’s grantmaking selections and the Biden administration’s total views of U.S. overseas coverage aims within the area,” McCaul wrote. “It’s tough to think about how the division decided that funding’ drag theater performances’ can be a worthwhile use of taxpayer {dollars} or constant in any method with this system aims outlined above.”
The state division, nonetheless, mentioned the grant “makes use of the humanities to boost consciousness about variety and inclusion.”
The middle’s program promotes “tolerance” and offers folks within the LGBT neighborhood a possibility to specific themselves “freely and safely.”
“LGBTQI+ folks throughout the globe need to dwell in societies free from focused violence and discrimination,” the division’s assertion to The Christian Post said.
“This system will advance key U.S. values of variety and the inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities in addition to promote the acceptance of communities which are disproportionately affected by violence.”
In the meantime, Grace Melton, a senior affiliate within the Richard and Helen DeVos Heart for Life, Faith, and Household on the conservative suppose tank Heritage Basis, mentioned the grant is a transfer to “promote radical gender ideology.”
“However many international locations world wide — notably amongst these on the receiving finish of American overseas help — discover these values offensive,” she acknowledged. “It is laborious to see how funding drag performances additional respectable American overseas coverage priorities or improves the lives of Ecuadorians.”
Picture courtesy: ©Getty Photos/William Thome
Amanda Casanova is a author dwelling in Dallas, Texas. She has coated information for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has additionally contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. Information and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
