Gay Democrat Criticized for Doing Drag Wins in Landslide Vote

In a stunning rebuke of bigotry and bias, a candidate for running election to the Delaware House of Representatives who was criticized for fundraising in drag has defeated the incumbent. Eric Morrison scored a resounding victory with 61 percent of the vote against long-time state representative Earl Jaques in Delaware's 27th District. Jaques had made disparaging comments about his challenger dressing in drag, saying it might not sit well with church-going constituents. After the win, Morrison now advances to the November general election where he is expected to win easily.

"Thank you again, everyone! We did this TOGETHER!" Morrison exclaimed on Facebook. "Next up, a little bit of rest but then full speed ahead to the general election, in which we face off against a Libertarian and a newly-registered Republican."

During the campaign, Morrison's challenger had criticized him for hosting a fundraiser in the form of a drag show. Jaques made no comment on Morrison's fashion or makeup choices, instead focusing on the ultimately wrong belief that LGBTQ+ candidates who perform in drag are incompatible with voters.

"That is so far off-base for our district, it's unbelievable," Jaques declared of Morrison's drag appearances last October. "You wonder what the point is. You can have fundraisers, I don't care about that. But dressing in drag? Really? I'm not sure he represents the people who attend those places of religion. If he's actually having a fundraiser in drag, I don't think those churches would endorse that."

Jaques later apologized for the comments.

"It is wrong to attempt to pass judgment or impose one person's belief structure onto others," Jaques said in a statement at the time. "My job as a State Representative is to represent all constituents of the 27th District, regardless of gender, race, creed, orientation or identity, period."

Contrary to Jaques's contentions, voters had no issue with Morrison's decades of drag performance under the name Anita Mann, handing him over 61 percent of the vote and a 22 percent margin of victory over Jaques.

Morrison is a graduate from the University of Delaware Honors Program in 1995 with a major in English, and history minor, and a concentration in Ethnic & Cultural Studies. He now advances to the general election in November where he is running against a Libertarian and Republican. He is expected to win easily.

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