Maynard James Keenan Performs in Drag in Florida, Challenging Anti-Trans Laws

While performing at Welcome to Rockville this weekend, Tool singer Maynard James Keenan took the stage dressed in drag, protesting a recent anti-trans and anti-drag bill signed into law by Florida governor Ron DeSantis on May 17.

The series of laws, according to AP, “ban gender-affirming care for minors, target drag shows, restrict discussion of personal pronouns in schools and force people to use certain bathrooms.” DeSantis has used the argument that children are being routinely “mutilated” by receiving gender-affirming care, while his opponents claim that he is taking away their human rights.

Keenan’s performance with Tool can only be taken one way, performing wearing bright-red lipstick, a blonde wig and prosthetic breasts at the all-ages festival just four days after the bills were signed.

Though Keenan hasn’t spoken directly about the recent wave of anti-trans and anti-drag legislation sweeping the United States, he made his feelings about same-sex marriage very, very clear in a 2015 post via the Puscifer Facebook page, including telling anti-LGBT pastor Rick Scarborough to light himself on fire like he promised he would if the laws passed.

“Maybe the entry level test was to recognize pure LOVE aka LIGHT, Infinite and without Judgement. And they all fucking blew it. (PLEASE PLEASE follow through with your threats to set yourselves on fire. Soooo many problems solved.)”

Welcome to Rockville 2023 featured a number of other notable performances that did not involve challenging a cruel and inhumane political, including Avenged Sevenfold’s first festival appearance in five years and a Pantera appearance, plus sets from Slipknot, Deftones, Rob Zombie, Godsmack and just about every other band that plays rock or metal.