Fourth of July billboard in Times Square reminds America of its long history of drag

“If you think it’s weird for grown men to put on wigs, heels, rouge and stockings … I have bad news for you about the Founding Fathers.” So goes the Fourth of July meme that makes the rounds every year—a version of which appeared this year on a Times Square billboard, thanks to RuPaul’s Werq the World tour and London creative agency Uncommon.

The billboard went live on Tuesday for America’s Independence Day. “The Declaration of Independence was written by men in wigs, heels & tights,” the ad reads. “Drag is a First Amendment right. This Independence Day, support your local LGBTQ+ charity.”

The work aims to show the hypocrisy of right-wing politicians who are using Founding Fathers rhetoric to pass bills that restrict the very freedoms they fought for. Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been initiated in the U.S. in recent months, many of them banning drag in public spaces.