# Most oppose banning drag, but views split on shows kids could see

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/drag-free-speech-and-child-exposure/
Published: 2026-10-23

> Featured topic in Culture.

Just 17.2% of Americans support banning all drag performances, while 35.5% would ban public shows a child could see and 43.9% oppose even that. 66.1% see drag as free speech.

## Overview: Free speech, with limits for kids

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted September 25 to 30, 2026, 66.1% agree that drag performances are a form of free speech. Just 17.2% agree that all drag, public or private, should be illegal.

Views split on shows a child could see: 35.5% would make any public drag performance illegal if a child could possibly see it, while 43.9% disagree and 20.6% are neutral.

## Drag is widely seen as free speech

Strong agreement that drag is free speech accounts for 32.0%. Strong disagreement accounts for 5.6%, and 18.7% neither agree nor disagree.

The question asks about drag performances in general, not about any particular show.

## Few back a total ban

Strong disagreement with banning all drag accounts for 42.0%, and 16.9% neither agree nor disagree.

Separately, 26.1% agree that all drag is obscene, while 53.2% disagree.

## Children change the picture

Strong agreement with banning public shows a child could see accounts for 20.1%, and strong disagreement for 28.1%.

These are separate questions, so the results do not show anyone changing their mind. They also do not establish whether any particular performance is suitable for children.

## Supporting evidence

### 66.1% of Americans agree that drag performances are a form of free speech.

Question: To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: Drag performances are a form of free speech.

Topline:

- Strongly Agree: 32.0%
- Agree: 21.9%
- Neither Agree or Disagree: 18.7%
- Somewhat Agree: 12.2%
- Strongly Disagree: 5.6%

### 17.2% agree that all drag performances, public or private, should be illegal.

Question: To what extent do you agree with the following statement: All drag performances, whether in public or in private, should be illegal.

Topline:

- Strongly Disagree: 42.0%
- Neither Agree or Disagree: 16.9%
- Disagree: 15.0%
- Somewhat Disagree: 8.9%
- Strongly Agree: 8.6%

### 26.1% agree that all drag is obscene, and 53.2% disagree.

Question: All drag is obscene content.”

Topline:

- Disagree strongly: 30.4%
- Neither agree nor disagree: 20.7%
- Disagree: 14.3%
- Agree strongly: 10.5%
- Disagree somewhat: 8.5%

### 35.5% would make public drag shows illegal if a child could see them, and 43.9% disagree.

Question: To what extent do you agree with the following statement: All public drag performances, no matter the location, should be illegal if a child could possibly see the performance.

Topline:

- Strongly disagree: 28.1%
- Neither agree nor disagree: 20.6%
- Strongly agree: 20.1%
- Disagree: 15.8%
- Agree: 15.5%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-09-25 → 2026-09-30
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.3%
- Module: Society, Culture, & Identity
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Sources

- [To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement: Drag performances are a form of free speech.](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-84): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [All drag is obscene content.”](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-83): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [To what extent do you agree with the following statement: All drag performances, whether in public or in private, should be illegal.](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-86): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report
- [To what extent do you agree with the following statement: All public drag performances, no matter the location, should be illegal if a child could possibly see the performance.](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-87): reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report

## Citation

APSA Omnibus Survey #2026-153, fielded September 25-30, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.3%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-84](https://reports.verasight.io/r/2026-153-apsa-omnibus-report#q-84)