GAG Ball returns to take down NRA-funded Barbara Comstock
The second annual GAG Ball is aiming to topple gun-supporting Virginia Representative Barbara Comstock
Barbara Comstock has been in Topher Hoffmann’s proverbial crosshairs for a while. Last year, the activist even dressed as Comstock for the High Heel Race, in order to call attention to the Virginia Republican’s robust financial support from the National Rifle Association.
“Comstock ranks number ten in the House of Representatives for career donations, and has been a target of ours for a while,” he says. “That’s why, at this year’s GAG Ball, we’ll be raising money to help unseat her.”
Born in the aftermath of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, the annual GAG Ball, now in its second year, raises awareness about gun violence. This year, however, the ball’s theme is specifically focused on toppling Comstock in November’s midterm elections.
So while attendees are either dancing or watching over-the-top performances from drag queens and other entertainers, they’ll be helping GAG raise money to fund various demonstrations, as well as the production of an online video series this summer that will educate voters about Comstock’s vehement opposition to gun reform.
“One of the things I like about GAG DC’s mission…is to ‘Name, Blame and Shame,'” says Otter Den promoter David Brown, who is partnering with Gays Against Guns to produce the event. “So calling out and talking about who’s doing what, the direct actions they’re taking related to gun violence, and communicating that to their constituents.”
Hoffmann says Brown’s tradition of holding “parties with a purpose” dovetails nicely with GAG’s style of activism, which has included headline-generating “die-ins” and other symbolic protests on Capitol Hill and in front of the headquarters of some of the NRA’s top corporate sponsors.
“GAG is a descendant of ACT UP, so we’re all about raising awareness and causing a ruckus,” says Hoffmann. “We take queer theater tactics to the streets to draw a lot of attention to issues we care about. And that’s what we’ll be doing this summer.”
The second annual GAG Ball is Saturday, March 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Living Room DC, 1008 Vermont Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 if purchased online before Mar. 24, and $15 if purchased afterwards or at the door. Visit gagballdc.com.
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