Hogsett attends show featuring drag queens

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Joe Hogsett is reaching out to gay voters.

The Democratic candidate for mayor attended a drag show at a gay bar Thursday night.

It may be a first for an Indiana politician who is in the middle of a campaign.

For the record, his campaign says that Joe Hogsett wasn’t politicking, that he was engaged in social activity.

A photo was posted on Facebook that shows Hogsett in the audience at a performance by the Bag Ladies, a group of cross-dressing performers who call themselves drag queens.

Nick Murphy posted it.

“A lot of people saw us posting that and so it will show that he’s out there and willing to speak with us personally and be on our level as well. So it’s certainly something that is attractive to a lot of people,” he said.

“You know, no one’s ever sought our vote before,” said Phil Denton, the owner of Greg’s Indy, the gay bar where the performance took place.

He says that the crowd roared when Hogsett was introduced and that the candidate even went backstage before the show.

“He did have a good time,” said Denton, “you know, had a couple of drinks and he was here for about three hours and had a great time. He was even up tipping the drag queens in the show.”

He also posed for pictures.

Denton is a friend of Hogsett’s wife, Stephanie, who called to let him know the candidate was coming.

No political messages were delivered but Murphy says that just by being there he was campaigning.

“Well, yes,” he said, “I mean obviously it makes a statement.”

And the statement is now being passed around on Facebook, an effective political tool.

Politicians often show up at the Pride parade and several of them will Saturday. That includes Hogsett, his opponent Chuck Brewer, and incumbent Mayor Greg Ballard.

But an appearance at a gay bar by a high profile candidate is a good example of how times are changing.