Brett Ries was born and raised in Watertown and graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2020 and Duke Law School just last year. He’s also a winner of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition for his research article “Don’t Be a Drag: How Drag Bans Can Violate the First Amendment.”
This research came in handy last year and again this year when Brett used his voice in the Capitol of his home state to fight proposed bans on drag.
Brett has a deep connection to the topic via his drag persona, “Vinny Vidi Vici.”
Brett refers to drag as “a critique on gender norms” and affirms that it holds a certain view on what people think gender norms should be. He told the Argus Leader last year that “banning drag goes against decades of precedent from the Supreme Court — you just can’t do that.”
His research, personal connection to South Dakota, and tenacious approach to advocacy paid off with the defeat of two drag bans in 2023 and two more (so far) this year.
When Brett isn’t researching, writing, or advocating for the free speech rights of his peers he can be found hiking, playing trivia, or going to the movies.
When did you first hear about the ACLU?
I first heard about the ACLU of South Dakota when I was a member of the Students for Reproductive Rights at the University of South Dakota.
Which of the ACLU’s issue areas are you particularly passionate about and why?
As an LGBTQ+ individual who is also a drag performer, I am especially passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and First Amendment rights. We have made a lot of progress in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, but there is still plenty of work to be done.
What is your favorite way to get involved in your community?
I like to get directly involved in policymaking, speaking with legislators, city council members, and other elected officials to either enact progressive policies or prevent the passage of regressive or unconstitutional policies.
Do you consider yourself a changemaker? Why?
I hope that I have been able to contribute to change in my hometown, South Dakota, and the rest of the country. I organized my hometown’s first ever Pride march and ran for the South Dakota State Legislature as an openly-LGBTQ+ individual, a campaign that was featured on CNN. I have given a TEDx talk in drag, and I’ve been nationally recognized for my legal research and writing on LGBTQ+ issues, including anti-LGBTQ+ jury discrimination and how drag bans can violate the First Amendment. I try to be the role model for LGBTQ+ youth that I was looking for growing up in South Dakota, but I also want to empower anyone who feels like they fall outside of the mainstream to live life as their authentic selves.
Do you have any advice for someone who might be interested in getting more politically involved in their community?
Don’t be afraid to be bold and use your voice. Sometimes it just takes one person to create a platform for others to voice their support.
Which of the Constitution’s amendments are most important to you and why?
I think the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment are critical to protecting our fundamental rights and prohibiting discrimination in our country. And, importantly, we need our First Amendment rights to be able to defend those fundamental rights and speak out against discrimination.
What issues do you think are most important for South Dakotans to pay attention to?
I can’t tell others which issues should be most important to them, but I think South Dakotans should pay special attention to education issues in the state, whether it be teacher pay, censorship, or how education standards are being revised. Everyone has a stake in education. Education is one of the foundational elements of our society, and we should be prioritizing it – and protecting it – accordingly.
