HOME | ABOUT | INDEX | NEWS | FACEBOOK | CONTACT

DRAG

Queens | Crossdressers | Performers

Ballroom Culture

Music|Musicians|Songs

Arts|Theatre|Entertainment

Fashion and Design

Humor|Comedy

Slang Terminology

The Vivienne Passes Away at Age 32

The tragic news of James Lee Williams' death has been met with an outpouring of love from the community

In January 2025, it was announced that RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner James Lee Williams, better known as The Vivienne, had tragically passed away at 32.

The Vivienne quickly became drag royalty when they were crowned as the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019. They returned back to the infamous show as part of the All Stars season seven crew in 2022. Alongside their Drag Race fame, The Vivienne has also starred on shows like Dancing On Ice and even on the West End as The Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked.

Taking their name from their love of Vivienne Westwood, The Vivienne has inspired countless audiences with their incredible work. The Vivienne was quickly elevated to the dizzying heights of Drag Race royalty after a particularly brilliant Snatch Game performance which involved an impersonation of Donald Trump. This performance would later go down as one of the best Snatch Games of Drag Race history. During their time on Drag Race, they were also praised for their candid and powerful discussions about battling addiction.

An official statement from RuPaul’s Drag Race read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of The Vivienne. Her talent, humor, and dedication to the art of drag was an inspiration. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will live on as a beacon of creativity and authenticity – she embodied what it means to be a true champion. Our hearts go out to her family and fans during this difficult time.”

Many Drag Race alumni have also posted their responses to the news, with Tia Kofi stating that James was “a mentor, an inspiration and a friend”. Drag Race judge and LGBTQ ally Michelle Visage also posted a heartfelt tribute to the star, writing that she had been so glad to see their West End debut and “witness your dream come true right in front of my eyes”.

[Source: Ella Gauci, Diva Magazine, Jan 2025]

The Vivienne, Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Dies at 32
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Star The Vivienne Passes Away at 32
The Vivienne’s Dancing On Ice partner Colin Grafton pays tribute to a True Icon
 

The Importance of Drag Queens

For centuries, drag queens have emerged as powerful symbols of self-expression, creativity, and empowerment in the world. From their historical origins to their impact on contemporary culture, drag queens have played a significant role in challenging societal norms, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a sense of belonging. Today, in many states, this beloved and essential art’s very existence is in danger. We must fight back against bans violating basic American rights like freedom of expression. After all, drag queens have always been an integral part of the LGBTQ community.

Timeline of Drag

Drag has its roots in theatrical performances, dating back to early civilizations. In ancient Greece, for example, male actors would often play female roles, wearing elaborate costumes and masks. This tradition continued in various forms throughout history, including in Elizabethan theater and the Commedia dell’arte in Renaissance Italy.

Drag Is a Powerful Avenue for Self-Expression and Political Activism
History of Drag
The US Has a Rich Drag History: Why the Art Form Will Outlast Attempts to Restrict it
Understanding Drag: As American as Apple Pie

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, drag performances gained popularity in the music hall and pantomime traditions. Male performers would dress in women’s clothing, exaggerating femininity for comedic effect. These performances often involved singing, dancing, and humorous skits, becoming a staple of popular entertainment.

Drag queens became more prominent in LGBTQ subcultures in the 20th century. In the early 1900s, during the Prohibition era in the United States, speakeasies and underground clubs provided spaces where drag performers could express themselves freely. In Harlem, New York, during the 1920s and 1930s, the LGBTQ community thrived, and drag balls became popular, showcasing extravagant costumes and performances.

Drag artists have also played a crucial role in the LGBTQ rights movement, especially during the 1960s and 1970s. The Stonewall Riots of 1969, a series of demonstrations in New York City, were ignited by a diverse group of LGBTQ individuals, including drag queens, who resisted police harassment and discrimination. This event marked a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ rights and opened the door for a new generation of queens.

In recent decades, drag queens have gained increased mainstream visibility and recognition. Television shows like “The RuPaul Show” in the 1990s and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” since 2009 have introduced drag to a broader audience, showcasing drag performers’ artistry, creativity, and personal stories. Drag queens have also appeared in movies, music videos, and fashion campaigns, further solidifying their influence on popular culture. Drag has inspired members from all walks of life to express themselves. On RuPaul’s Drag Race alone, multiple queens identify as transgender, two of whom won the competition. Straight males, cisgender women, black, brown, white API, and every gender expression, sexual orientation, race and ability have participated. Drag is for everyone!

Advocating for Drag Queens

In recent years, there has been a concerning trend of attempts to ban or restrict the presence of drag queens in various contexts. Texas and Tennessee have made all ages drag performances illegal with vague and convoluted laws. These bans undermine the fundamental principles of freedom and equality and perpetuate harmful stereotypes and discrimination. Drag queens have played a pivotal role in increasing visibility and advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ community. Through their performances, activism, and participation in pride events, drag queens have become powerful symbols of LGBTQ empowerment. Their presence serves as a reminder that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Here are several overarching arguments that can be made against banning drag queens:

Engaging in nuanced discussions and understanding the reasons behind any proposed ban on drag queens is essential. Some concerns may arise from misunderstandings, stereotypes, or biases that can be addressed through education and dialogue. Respecting diversity and fostering inclusivity allows societies to embrace the richness of human expression and support the rights and well-being of all individuals, including drag queens and the broader LGBTQ community. Drag queens are more than just performers; they are ambassadors of self-expression, advocates for equality, and catalysts for change. Through their resilience, artistry, and unapologetic authenticity, they inspire individuals to embrace their authentic selves and challenge societal expectations. In a world that still grapples with acceptance and inclusivity, drag queens remind us of the beauty and strength that lie in diversity. Let us celebrate and honor the significance of drag queens, for they are the shining beacons of empowerment and the embodiment of the human spirit’s infinite potential.

[Source: CJ Wallace, My Resource Center, June 2023]

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Michelle Visage Will Always Be Herself

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

Drag Domination: Japan’s Drag Scene is Bursting at the Seams

Drag Queen Carries Olympic Torch

Nicky Doll Carries the Olympic Flame for 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Nicky Doll – a contestant on season 12 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the host of Drag Race France – carried the Olympic flame for a stretch in Arles, France, in May 2024 as it makes its way to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Nicky Doll is one of the most internationally recognized drag performers in France and is now the second drag queen to carry the Olympic flame. She regarded the honor as a "consecration for a drag queen! It shows that we’re accepted by our beautiful country! The flame passes from hand to hand, with no concern for sexual orientation or profession.”
 

Drag Star Nicky Doll Carries the Olympic Flame

French Drag Queens Make History as Part of 2024 Paris Olympics
Three French Drag Queens Are Carrying the Country’s Olympic Torch

The International Olympic Committee made the celebration of diversity a goal for the 2024 games, including equality among genders. The first drag queen to carry the flame was Miss Martini in Digne-les-Bains, France, just a day before Nicky Doll carried it.  “It’s a strong message for all forms of diversity,” Miss Martini said. “We are here, we exist. We are all respected.”  At least one more drag queen – Minima Gesté in Paris – is scheduled to carry the Olympic flame.

As Nicky Doll celebrated her historic run, she said it was “an absolute honor" to have carried the Olympic torch. “As the flame passes through France, it announces the Olympic Games and spreads a message of peace and friendship between peoples."

[Source: Alex Bollinger, LGBTQ Nation, May 2024]

Interview With Lady Bunny
Courtney Act: Kids Ask About Gender
Jim Bailey, Female Impersonator, Sings Barbra Streisand on Carol Burnett Show
John Krasinski is Rolling on Lip Sync Battle: Proud Mary
Trixie Mattel Bakes 6-Layer Gay Cake With Easy Bake Oven
Going to Your First Drag Show? Here’s What You Need to Know
Pastor Dresses in Drag to Teach Kids about Joy
Be Unique: What is a Drag Queen?

Ranker: Best Drag Queens of All Time

Understanding Drag: As American as Apple Pie

Drag is a performance art that uses costumes, makeup, and other tools to present exaggerated forms of gender expression to critique gender inequalities and imagine a transformational future where people are truly free in how they express themselves.

Though drag began in the LGBTQ community, it has increasingly become part of the wider cultural landscape through shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Throughout its history, it was often driven underground due to anti-LGBTQ persecution. But as society became more accepting of LGBTQ identities, drag’s visibility and cultural influence grew enormously.

In recent years, drag performances, including family-friendly ‘drag story hour’ events at bookstores and libraries, have faced armed protests, threats, and violent actions from right-wing hate groups. Several states have passed, or attempted to pass, legislation restricting where, when, how, and to whom drag can be performed.

Drag is important because it promotes visibility of LGBTQ people to wider audiences, which increases societal acceptance. That’s why those with anti-LGBTQ attitudes object to the very existence of gender non-conformity in public no matter how innocuous and age appropriate. By spreading falsehoods, their attacks on drag artists serve to stigmatize all LGBTQ people.

A Celebration of Non-Conformity

Drag uses clothes and other aspects of performance to create heightened versions of masculinity, femininity and other forms of gender expression. It is rooted in acceptance and resilience and is an artform that represents freedom of expression and resistance to unjust forces. Drag is a means to understand those whose experiences are different from our own, and a source of profound joy for millions of Americans of all ages, races, genders and sexualities.

Drag Is a Powerful Avenue for Self-Expression and Political Activism
History of Drag
The US Has a Rich Drag History: Why the Art Form Will Outlast Attempts to Restrict it
Understanding Drag: As American as Apple Pie

For some performers, drag may be an integral part of their Coming Out journey, providing a safe and affirming space to explore their gender identity and expression before coming out as transgender or non-binary in daily life.

For others, drag can simply offer a way to play and explore with masculinity, femininity, and gender presentations outside a strict binary, regardless of how they identify offstage.

For audiences, drag asks viewers to examine and question gendered stereotypes, unmasking larger truths about how our society is constructed. In turn, this allows for a deeper understanding of oneself and greater empathy for those different.

Drag Through the Ages

Drag has its origins in a much older cultural history. As far back as ancient Greece and Rome, and the Elizabethan Era in England, actors de-facto performed in drag, as women were not allowed to become actors, which led to men performing female roles, in female dress, in stage plays.

The term “drag” first emerged during the late 19th century, believed to be a reference to long gowns that dragged across the floor during balls. American William Dorsey Swann was the first self-proclaimed “queen of drag” and hosted numerous drag balls in Washington DC during the late 19th century.

Drag became a common component of vaudeville in America around the turn of the 20th century, with the “female impersonator” Julian Eltinge even performing on Broadway. Changing social norms and anti-crossdressing laws led to drag becoming a private activity, but during prohibition, underground clubs, already breaking the law, led to more opportunities for drag performances in what was known as “The Pansy Craze.”

During the 1940s and 1950s, drag artist Arthur Blake found success impersonating female celebrities of the time, and even performed as Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House. But drag’s status in the LGBTQ community increasingly led to persecution, including police raids on gay bars. This includes the Stonewall uprising, showing that contemporary attacks on drag are attacks on the very foundation of the modern LGBTQ+ movement.

The late 20th century saw the rise of new forms of drag such as Ballroom among the Black and Latine LGBTQ community. And in 2009, RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered, bringing visibility of drag to the masses and quickly becoming a cultural icon.

[Source: Human Rights Campaign]

Stockholm Deputy Mayor Dons Drag for Children’s Story Hour

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: Decades of Dedication to Community Service

The Lost Darcelle XV Interview: The World’s Oldest Drag Queen Tells Her Story One Last Time
Drag Artists Performing At the 'Drag Isn't Dangerous' Telethon

Brief History Of Drag Queen Story Hour
Overwhelming Majority of Brits Reject Cruel US-Style Drag Bans

RuPaul Defends Drag Queen Story Hour on the Emmys Stage

“Listen to a drag queen."

The library is officially open in defiance of conservatives who are trying to get rid of drag.

At the 2023 Emmy Awards in Jan 2024, RuPaul once again made his way to the stage to accept the award for outstanding reality competition show, an honor that RuPaul’s Drag Race has taken home five times now. But this time, he made sure to send an overtly political message during the telecast.

Flanked by his right-hand woman and Drag Race judge Michelle Visage, as well as the queens of season 15, RuPaul spoke out against the cultural backlash to drag performers and the art of drag, which have both suffered from conservative political backlash since the summer of 2022.

“We have released into the wild hundreds of drag queens,” he said, hoisting the golden statuette. “And they’re beautiful. On behalf of all of them, we thank you.”  He continued, “And listen, if a drag queen wants to read you a story at a library, listen to her, because knowledge is power. And if someone tries to restrict your access to power, they are trying to scare you. So listen to a drag queen.”

RuPaul’s words in support of drag were met with boisterous applause from the audience.

RuPaul Defended Drag Queen Story Hour on the Emmys Stage

For Eureka, Finding Herself, Her Trans Identity, and Sobriety is Better Than Winning a Crown
Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help
What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture
Jake DuPree Chats Burlesque, Binaries and Blanc de Blanc Encore
Drag-a-Thon: World's Longest Drag Show
Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?
Kylie Sonique Love: True Colors

Drag Queens Describe a Pride Month Like No Other

Montana Outlaws Drag Queen Story Hours
San Francisco Names First Drag Laureate in the US

"We are not going after your kids. We don't hope they're gay. We don't hope they turn out trans. We don't hope they become drag queens. What we hope is that, if they're trans or gay, they find a community faster than many of us did."

-Trixie Mattel

Right-wing ire towards drag began increasing in the summer of 2022, leading to at least 124 anti-drag attacks in the United States through the end of that year, according to a report from the advocacy organization GLAAD. Republicans have continued, to some success, to forge an untrue link between drag queens and “grooming” or child abuse, with right-wing radio host Matt Walsh even calling for police to “charge them all as pedophiles.”

Right-wing social media accounts such as Libs of TikTok have been fueling this fire, even going so far as to attack public places such as schools and libraries that are hosting events where drag queens and children might interact. The cultural vitriol has bled over into the political sphere, with some states unsuccessfully trying to implement anti-drag legislation.

However, as RuPaul’s victory speech made clear, the cultural salience of drag, especially on reality television, has never been more apparent. The show picked up its fifth Emmy for its 15th season, which saw the show crown its very first out trans winner, Sasha Colby. The show’s 16th season debuted on MTV earlier this month and received its highest-rated premiere of all time.

[Source: Matthew Rodriguez, Them, Jan 2024]

Drag Is a Powerful Avenue for Self-Expression and Political Activism
History of Drag
The US Has a Rich Drag History: Why the Art Form Will Outlast Attempts to Restrict it
Understanding Drag: As American as Apple Pie

Interview With Lady Bunny

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

Drag-a-Thon in Portland Aims for World Record for Longest Drag Show

RuPaul Speaks Out on Legislation Aiming to Restrict Drag Show Performances
Drag Continues to Change the World for the Better

Michelle Visage Will Always Be Herself

The Wild Life and Untimely Death of Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

List of Famous Drag Queens

Jim Bailey, Female Impersonator, Sings Barbra Streisand on Carol Burnett Show

Courtney Act: Kids Ask About Gender

Drag Performers
 

“Drag queens are the Marines of the queer movement."
-RuPaul

"Drag is powerful. Drag is creative expression. Drag is liberation."
-Sherry Cola

"What's my opinion of drag queens around children? I'm against drag queens being exposed to children. A lot could go wrong. Nails could be broken and wigs pulled off. Someone could get knocked off her heels. Children are wild, irrational, and unpredictable, and their little characters are still in the formative stages. Someone fabulous could get hurt."

-William Salyers, Facebook Post

The term drag artist or drag performer usually refers to people who dress in clothing that is opposite their gender for the purpose of performing, whether singing or lip-synching, dancing, participating in events such as gay pride parades, drag pageants, or at venues such as cabarets and discotheques. There are many kinds of drag artists or drag performers and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in movies to people who try it once just for fun.

A drag queen (or transvestite) is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature of a woman often for the purpose of entertaining. The performance is typically campy, exaggerated, and intentionally dramatic and flamboyant. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and can vary even within the same city. Although many drag queens are gay men, there are drag artists of all genders and sexualities who do drag for various reasons. Women who dress like men for the same purpose are known as drag kings.

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Archie Bunker Meets a Transvestite
Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?

The Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

Drag-a-Thon in Portland Aims for World Record for Longest Drag Show
LGBTQ Community Celebrates Paul O’Grady’s Impact on Drag
Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: I Will Survive

Todrick Hall: Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

Things You Didn’t Know About Drag (According to Drag Performers)
Kylie Sonique Love: First Trans Contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Crowned Winner

Generally, drag queens (once called female impersonators) dress in a female gender role, often exaggerating certain characteristics (such as make-up and eyelashes) for comic, dramatic or satirical effect. Other drag performers include drag kings, who are women who perform in male roles, faux queens, who are women who dress in an exaggerated style to emulate drag queens and faux kings, who are men who dress to impersonate drag kings.

Noteworthy movies that prominently featured drag queens include Rocky Horror Picture Show, Kinky Boots, Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, La Cage Aux Folles, The Birdcage, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar, Paris is Burning, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Whether on television, in the movies, on stage, on performing in live club or concert venues, famous drag performers include:  

Courtney Act: Kids Ask About Gender

For Eureka, Finding Herself, Her Trans Identity, and Sobriety is Better Than Winning a Crown

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Madonna Adds Tour Date In Tennessee To Support Drag And Trans Community After Recent Legislation

Tennessee Bill Seeks to Restrict Drag Queen Performances

Joe Biden Calls Out Laws Targeting Trans Youth: Terrible and Sinful

RuPaul Condemns Anti-Drag Bills, Says Queens Are Queer World's Marines
White House Blasts Attacks on LGBTQ Community: Shameful, Hateful, Dangerous

Queer Youth Negatively Affected by Anti-LGBTQ Laws and Debates

With Over 100 Anti-LGBTQ Bills Before State Legislatures, Activists Say They're Fired Up

South Dakota and Tennessee: Trans Youth Health Care Ban

Celebrities Who Are Standing Against Anti-Drag and Anti-Trans Bills

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Interview With Lady Bunny

Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years

Paul O’Grady Had Heartbreaking Reason for Not Bringing Back Legendary Lily Savage
Drag Isn’t Dangerous: Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen and More Fight Back 
RuPaul Condemns Anti-Drag Bills, Says Queens Are Queer World's Marines
Jonathan Capehart and BenDeLaCreme Condemn GOP's Anti-LGBTQ Laws
Jinkx Monsoon on Seth Meyers Show
All the Drag Race Queens Who Won Crowns in 2022

Jim Bailey, Female Impersonator, Sings Barbra Streisand on Carol Burnett Show

Biden Invited a Drag Artist to the White House: Now They're Getting Death Threats
Tennessee Bill Seeks to Restrict Drag Queen Performances

Shania Twain: I'm Inspired by Drag Queens and the Whole LGBTQ Community
Shea Couleé Opens Up About Embracing Their Non-Binary Identity

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?

Drag Events Targeted with Threats and Violence 124 times in 2022

Drag Queens Are Fearing For Their Lives As Right-Wing Extremist Attacks Intensify
Meet the Queens of Canada's Drag Race: Canada Vs. the World
Home for the Holidays: San Francisco Drag Legend Juanita More

Lil Miss Hot Mess: How Drag Upsets the Status Quo

RuPaul's Drag Race: You Tube Channel

Tips for Being the Best Drag Queen You Can Be

Kinky Boots Song: These Boots Are Made for Walking

Dragaholic

Darcelle XV, Iconic Drag Queen, Dies at 92

Legendary drag queen Darcelle XV (Walter W. Cole, Sr.) died in March 2023 at age 92 from natural causes. For more than 50 years, Darcelle ran a Portland nightclub called Darcelle XV Showplace, where the entertainer told bawdy jokes in elaborate makeup and beaded gowns, while acting as master of ceremonies to a parade of other drag queens and dancers. It's the longest-running drag club west of the Mississippi. Darcelle was embraced warmly by Portlanders, appearing at many events around the city and receiving numerous awards. The queen received a place in Guinness World Records in 2016 as the world’s oldest drag performer.

Before creating Darcelle, Cole was a manager in the Fred Meyer retail chain, then ran a beatnik-style café called Caffe Espresso and a variety of bars. He bought Demas Tavern in 1967 in what was then a rough neighborhood of Portland. That was where he started performing in drag — the first time was when he was 37 — creating the Darcelle persona with help from his life partner, fellow entertainer Roxy Le Roy Neuhardt. The name was based on French actress Denise Darcel, with whom Neuhardt had appeared in Las Vegas. The performances helped business take off, and the bar was renamed Darcelle XV Showplace in 1974.

Darcelle, World’s Oldest Working Drag Queen, Dies at 92
World’s Oldest Drag Queen Has Died at 92
Darcelle XV, Iconic Drag Queen, Dies at 92

Cole and Neuhardt maintained their long gay relationship even while Cole remained married to his wife, Jeannette. Neuhardt died in 2017 at age 82. The home the two men shared is on the National Register of Historic Places, as is Darcelle XV Showplace. Cole said becoming Darcelle enhanced and perhaps even saved his life. “If I hadn’t admitted who I was, I’d probably be dead now,” he said.

As Darcelle, Cole raised money for a variety of charities, including many LGBTQ and AIDS organizations. The Darcelle XV AIDS Memorial stands at a cemetery in Portland, and in recognition of his work, Cole received the Spirit of Portland Award in 2003. The club also hosted Christmas Eve dinners for people who had nowhere else to go.  Cole’s life and work were chronicled in a 2019 exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society, “The Many Shades of Being Darcelle: 52 Years of Fashion,” and a musical that premiered that year, "Darcelle: That’s No Lady."

While drag has been targeted by the right wing in recent years, Cole had pointed out that the art has been around for many years and will survive. “You’ve got to remember that Milton Berle and the movie Mrs. Doubtfire and these other people brought it to mainstream attention,” Cole said in 2017. “I don’t think it can go back in the closet again, no matter what. Same-sex marriage, it broke that horrible barrier.”

Portland mayor Ted Wheeler said, "Darcelle is a Portland icon who gave us more than great performances. Their legacy will live on through their philanthropy, legendary show venue, and the countless lives they've impacted for good."

[Source: Trudy Ring, Advocate, March 2023]

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Archie Bunker Meets a Transvestite
PBS Video: Drag and Gender Expression

Interview With Lady Bunny

Video Tutorial: Miz Cracker's Drag Transformation

Why Was Crossdressing Illegal?

Courtney Act: Kids Ask About Gender

Before RuPaul There was Danny LaRue

Female Impersonator of the Year (1985)

Dumplin: Drag Queens Cover Dolly Parton
Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?

Drag King Murray Hill

One of the many delights of Max's sleeper hit "Somebody Somewhere" is Murray Hill, the drag king New York city comedian who plays the soon-to-be-married college professor on the Bridget Everett-helmed comedy. His character Fred Rococo's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for life points to how diversity thrives in the heart of Red State Kansas.

That Hill (along with out comic Jeff Hiller) are the two break-out personalities from the show shouldn't be surprising. Hill, who describes himself as the "hardest-working middle-aged man in show business," is a long-standing staple in New York's queer culture having been labeled "Downtown's New 'It' Boy" by the New York Times.

Hill can be seen on Amy Schumer's "Life & Beth," and guest-starred on "Welcome to Flatch" (FOX). And this summer, he hosts the new competition show "Drag Me To Dinner" (Hulu) (premiering May 31) and will be seen in Paul Feig's movie "Grand Death Lotto" (Amazon Studios) starring John Cena and Awkwafina.

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

Drag Isn’t Dangerous: Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen and More Fight Back 
Drag Artists Performing At the 'Drag Isn't Dangerous' Telethon
Club My-O-My: New Orleans Vintage Drag

Drag King Murray Hill

He performed his solo comedy show at Just for Laughs, New York Comedy Festival, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Murray was awarded the New York Voices commission from Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, where he debuted "About to Break." His infamous holiday show "A Murray Little Christmas" has been a perennial sold-out destination for a decade at Joe's Pub in NYC.

For 10 years, Murray hosted Dita Von Teese's international tour "Strip Strip Hooray." He starred for two seasons at the Sydney Opera House in "Club Swizzle," which toured major festivals. He's in music videos for Peaches, Countess Luann, TV on the Radio, The Regrettes, Joan as Police Woman, Bridget Everett, and Gossip.

[Source: Steve Duffy, Edge Media Network, May 2023]
 

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

BenDeLaCreme Condemns GOP's Anti-LGBTQ Laws
Karine Jean-Pierre on Tennessee Drag Law: Unacceptable and Unfortunate
Tennessee May Allow Clerks to Refuse Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples
LGBTQ Venues and Events Continue to be Targeted by the Far-Right
Laverne Cox: Trans People Are Exhausted by Anti-Trans Legislation

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: I Will Survive

Jim Bailey, Female Impersonator, Sings Barbra Streisand on Carol Burnett Show

Before RuPaul There was Danny LaRue

Drag Goes Mainstream

Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years

Madonna and Bob the Drag Queen Go To Tennessee

“The oppression of the LGBTQ community is not only unacceptable and inhumane. It’s creating an unsafe environment. It makes America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color. These so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows not to fuck with a drag queen."

-Madonna

Madonna is set to play a show in Nashville, Tennessee in support of the drag and trans community after recent legislation in the US state.  It was recently made illegal for anyone to take part in a so-called ‘adult cabaret performance’ anywhere that could potentially be seen by someone who isn’t an adult.

However, Madonna has enlisted RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bob The Drag Queen to join her on a special show on her Celebration world tour to stand in defiance against the laws that target the LGBTQ community. In a statement addressing the recent bill, Madonna said: “The oppression of the LGBTQ community is not only unacceptable and inhumane; it’s creating an unsafe environment; it makes America a dangerous place for our most vulnerable citizens, especially trans women of color.  “Also, these so-called laws to protect our children are unfounded and pathetic. Anyone with half a brain knows not to fuck with a drag queen. Bob and I will see you from the stage in Nashville where we will celebrate the beauty that is the queer community.”

Proceeds from the show – which will take place on 22 December at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena – will go to benefiting trans rights organizations.  The concert is part of a further seven dates Madonna has just added to the US leg of the tour.

[Source: Ash Percival, Huff Post, March 2023]

BenDeLaCreme on the Daily Show
Darcelle XV, Iconic Drag Queen, Dies at 92

GMA: Jinkx Monsoon Rocks Chicago Musical

For Eureka, Finding Herself, Her Trans Identity, and Sobriety is Better Than Winning a Crown

Barry Humphries, Known for His Drag Persona Dame Edna Everage, Dead at 89

Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years
Drag Queen Flamy Grant Tops Christian Music Chart

Texas Sued by ACLU Over Unconstitutional Drag Ban
Portland Drag-a-Thon Sets World Record for Longest Drag Show

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History
San Francisco Names First-in-Nation Drag Laureate
World’s Oldest Drag Queen Has Died at 92

Drag King Murray Hill

RuPaul Speaks Out on Legislation Aiming to Restrict Drag Show Performances

Drag queens are the Marines of the queer movement

Queer icon RuPaul says the slew of new legislation throughout the country looking to restrict or prohibit drag show performances is the work of “bullies.” The Emmy-winning drag queen said the anti-drag bills are “a classic distraction technique” turning the focus away from the real issues that lawmakers were voted into office to tackle. Those real issues, RuPaul said, are job security, healthcare and “keeping our children safe from harm at their own school.”

“But we know that bullies are incompetent at solving real issues,” RuPaul said. “They look for easy targets so they can give the impression of being effective. They think our love, our light, our laughter and our joy are signs of weakness. But they’re wrong, because that is our strength.”

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

RuPaul’s Drag Race Crowns First Transgender Winner
Nina West: Drag is Magic

Scott Heierman: Bearded Drag Queen Comedian Rules the Stage

Queens React as Drag Race Makes LGBTQ History
RuPaul Drag Race Season 13: Meet the New Queens

Archie Bunker Meets a Transvestite

Interview With Lady Bunny

RuPaul is host of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” a drag competition show that has been on the air since 2009 and won 26 Primetime Emmys. The show is often credited for bringing awareness of drag performance to a larger audience and, in turn, helping destigmatize the LGBTQ community.  RuPaul went on to say that drag queens “are the Marines of the queer movement.”

“Don’t get it twisted and don’t be distracted,” RuPaul added, before urging people to register to vote “so we can get these stunt queens out of office and put some smart people with real solutions into government.”

The TV personality’s statements come as anti-drag bills in at least 11 states across the country are working their way through legislatures, according to a CNN review. The bills are being pushed forth mostly in Republican-led states. Politicians in those states claim drag performances expose children to sexual themes and imagery that are inappropriate.

The claim has been rejected by advocates, who say the proposed measures are discriminatory against the LGBTQ community and could violate First Amendment laws.

[Source: Alli Rosenbloom and Dan Heching, CNN, March 2023]
 

For Eureka, Finding Herself, Her Trans Identity, and Sobriety is Better Than Winning a Crown

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Drag-a-Thon in Portland Aims for World Record for Longest Drag Show

First Drag Queen Elected to Public Office in US

Dragtastic Photos From Wigstock

Drag King Murray Hill

The Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

Queens Don Jennifer Garner Drag for Zoom Kiki with the Yes Day Star

Bubly Ad: Drag For All Flavors

Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

Best Drag Names of All Time

Video: Drag Show Opening Number

Sugar and Spice: Small Town Drag Queens

Video: Bob the Drag Queen

Morgan McMichaels Video: Drag Slang on Hollywood Blvd

Transforming Ken Into a Drag Queen
Drag Queen Closet

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Interview With Lady Bunny

How America Fell in Love With To Wong Foo
Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?

Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Drag Queen Clothing

HBO Documentary: Drag Time

Crossdressing Boy Goes to Prom as a Girl

Info: Fashion and Clothing

Laws That Dictated How People Should Dress

RuPaul's Drag Race: Most Watched Drag Race Performances 2021

Courtney Act Answers Kids' Questions About Gender
 

Drag Terminology

"Transgender people are some of the bravest Americans I know. And our nation and the world are stronger, more vibrant, and more prosperous because of them."
-President Joe Biden

The etymology of the term "drag" is disputed. It was used in reference to transvestites at least as early as the 18th century, owing to the tendency of their skirts to drag on the ground. A folk etymology whose acronym basis reveals the late 20th-century bias, would make "drag" an abbreviation for "dressed resembling a girl" in description of male transvestism.

Another term for a drag queen, female impersonator, is still used—though it is often regarded as inaccurate, because many contemporary drag performers are not attempting to pass as women.

Wikipedia: Drag Queen

Reuben Kaye: Kids React to Drag
Bob the Drag Queen: Vote, Protest, Be Brave

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

Bob the Drag Queen: Drag Slang Tutorial

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Archie Bunker Meets a Transvestite

Queen of Drag

American drag queen RuPaul once said "I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven-inch heels, four-foot wigs, and skintight dresses?" He also said, "I don't dress like a woman; I dress like a drag queen!"

Celebrity drag couple "The Darling Bears" go so far as to sport full beards for their performances. Going in drag while retaining clearly masculine features is referred to as skag drag. Some performers draw the distinction that a female impersonator seeks to emulate a specific female celebrity, while a drag queen only seeks to create a distinctive feminine persona of his or her own.

There are also performers who prefer to be called "gender illusionists" who do blur the line between transgender and drag queen. Generally transgender performers do not consider themselves to be drag queens and drag queens don't consider themselves to be illusionists, but, as with everything, there are exceptions. Often these distinctions are more generational as laws and acceptance of individuality change and grow.

Drag King Murray Hill

LGBTQ Community Celebrates Paul O’Grady’s Impact on Drag

Sugar and Spice: Small Town Drag Queens

Info: Underground Ballroom Subculture

Video Tutorial: Manila Luzon's Drag Transformation

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

Club My-O-My: New Orleans Vintage Drag

What is Sumptuary Law?

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years

Andrew Levitt (Nina West): Going Big and Being Kind

Drag and Pronouns

The Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

RuPaul: Greatest Drag Queen Looks of All Time

Dragtastic Photos From Wigstock

Huff Post: Iconic Drag Queens

Dragula: Reality TV Show

Craig Russell: Female Impersonator

Russell Craig Eadie (1948–1990), better known by his stage name Craig Russell, was a Canadian female impersonator and actor, whose precise imitation and broad comedy led to a cult following in the 70's, culminating in the popular film "Outrageous" and its obscure sequel.

His impersonations included Carol Channing, Bette Davis, Mae West, Barbra Streisand, Tallulah Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Bette Midler, Anita Bryant, Shirley Bassey, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland. While performing, he always spoke and sang in the voices of the celebrities he was impersonating.
 

If She Wasn't a Woman, Dolly Parton Says She Would Have Been a Drag Queen
Things You Didn’t Know About Drag (According to Drag Performers)

Myths About Drag Queens

How to Make a Living as a Drag Queen

Jim Bailey, Female Impersonator, Sings Barbra Streisand on Carol Burnett Show

Best Drag Names of All Time

Courtney Act Answers Kids' Questions About Gender

Miss Fame Tutorial: Becoming a Drag Queen

Video: Queen of Drag Queens

RuPaul: Greatest Drag Queen Looks of All Time

Reuben Kaye: Kids React to Drag

First Drag Queen Elected to Public Office in US

Info: Underground Ballroom Subculture

Drag Queen Story Time
 

Drag Queen Storytime
Brief History Of Drag Queen Story Hour

Drag Queen Story Hour: Spokane Public Library Joins National Trend

Drag Queens at Local Bookstore

Drag Queens Reading To Kids in Libraries
Drag Queen Story Hour Offers a Different Kind of Page-Turner
Drag Queen Story Hour: With Pickle the Drag Queen
To Be A Drum: Read by James Earl Jones
Drag Queens Reading To Kids in Libraries
Drag Queen Story Hour UK
New Book Teaches Kids How to Swish, Snap, and Twirl Like a Drag Queen

Feather Pride

The first Drag Pride flag was created, in 1999, by artist Sean Campbell and was called the Feather Pride Flag. The phoenix was used as a symbol of rebirth and fires of passion.

The newer Drag Pride flag features a crown. These flags represent drag entertainers, drag queens, drag kings, and crossdressers. It came to be as a result of the efforts of the Austin International Drag Festival (AIDF) 2016. The drag fest is an annual event that encompasses all forms of drag across many platforms from around the world. AIDF created a contest to create the official flag of drag. This was a way to engage the drag performers and drag lovers from every walk of life to share their passion for the art form.

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Todrick Hall: Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels

Be Unique: What is a Drag Queen?

Ranker: Best Drag Queens of All Time

First Drag Queen Elected to Public Office in US

Tips for Being the Best Drag Queen You Can Be

Kinky Boots Song: These Boots Are Made for Walking
Gigi Goode: Black Lives Matter, Trans Lives Matter

Time Mag: How Drag Queens Took Over Bingo
Drag Queens Reading Books to Kids in Libraries

Kids Meet a Drag Queen
Drag Queen Shows at the Drive-In

Restaurant Employing Drag Queens to Deliver Food to Customers

NYC Drag Queens Go Virtual Amid Pandemic

RuPaul: Drag Queen Icon

RuPaul Andre Charles (born November 17, 1960) is an American drag queen, actor, model, singer, songwriter, and television personality. Since 2009, he has produced and hosted the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, for which he has received three Primetime Emmy Awards, in 2016, 2017, and 2018. RuPaul is considered to be the most commercially successful drag queen in the United States. In 2017, he was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world.

Bio: RuPaul

Official Site: RuPaul

Fandom: RuPaul's Drag Race

Video: Groundbreaking Story of RuPaul

RuPaul's Drag Race: Drag Dictionary

Video: RuPaul Answers Your Burning Questions

RuPaul: Greatest Drag Queen Looks of All Time

RuPaul was born and raised in San Diego and later moved to Atlanta to study performing arts. He settled in New York City where he became a popular fixture on the nightclub scene. RuPaul achieved international fame as a drag queen with the release of his debut single, "Supermodel (You Better Work)", which was included on his debut studio album Supermodel of the World (1993). In 1994, he became a spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics, raising money for the Mac AIDS Fund and becoming the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign. That year, he received his own talk show on VH1, The RuPaul Show, which he hosted for over 100 episodes, while co-hosting the morning radio show on WKTU with Michelle Visage. He has had continued success as a recording artist, releasing 14 studio albums to date (as of 2017), including Foxy Lady (1996), Champion (2009), Glamazon (2011), Born Naked (2014), and American (2017).

RuPaul is noted for his indifference toward the gender-specific pronouns used to address him, as stated in his autobiography: "You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee. I don't care! Just as long as you call me." RuPaul has also played men in a number of roles, and makes public appearances both in and out of drag.

Drag Queen Vacation

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: I Will Survive

Video Tutorial: Miz Cracker's Drag Transformation

Trixie Mattel: Legendary Make-Up

Aesthetic Journey: 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion

Sharon Needles: Monster Mash

Drag Queens Reading Books to Kids in Libraries

Going to Your First Drag Show? Here’s What You Need to Know

Archie Bunker Meets a Transvestite

Best Queens From RuPaul's Drag Race

Be Unique: What is a Drag Queen?

Drag-a-Thon in Portland Aims for World Record for Longest Drag Show

Wikipedia: RuPaul

Nina West: Drag is Magic

Drag Queens Reading Books to Kids in Libraries

Laws That Dictated How People Should Dress

Dragtastic Photos From Wigstock

Drag Continues to Change the World for the Better

Queen of Drag

Info: Black Gay Drag Slang

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

What is a Drag Queen?

“We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.”

-Ru Paul

"If I wasn't a woman, I would have been a drag queen."

-Dolly Parton

Drag is an art-form that’s sweeping the world!  And if there’s an art-form that’s more misunderstood than most others, it’s probably drag. Drag is an art-form that’s sometimes compared to clowning by performance analysts, but is so much more. Like clowns, drag queens dress in exaggerated costumes and makeup to perform a show. Makeup is often drawn to accentuate features that will make an act funnier or make the performer more beautiful. Drag is where glamour meets comedy
 

However unlike with clowning, drag isn’t being dragged down by horror films and changing audience tastes. While incredible shows like Cirque du Soleil are helping clowning stay alive, the global heartbeat of that ancient art is barely beating compared to its historical popularity. A different heartbeat is taking its place, and this heart is fierce and fabulous.

Todrick Hall: Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels

Interview With Lady Bunny

The Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

Going to Your First Drag Show? Here’s What You Need to Know
Brief History Of Drag Queen Story Hour

Trixie Mattel Bakes 6-Layer Gay Cake With Easy Bake Oven

Pastor Dresses in Drag to Teach Kids about Joy

Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years

Be Unique: What is a Drag Queen?

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

No Rules

A big misconception of drag is that it’s only performed by men, a misconception that goes against the golden rule... There are no rules in drag. Drag often attracts those that feel marginalized and misunderstood by family and society. Hyper-creative people, these artists feel that they can’t create or perform within the realm of what’s appreciated in the towns and cities where they’ve grown up. But we now live in a world where technology allows people to be seen wherever they are. Now more than ever, people are adorning drag and taking to social media to show the world what they can do. From costume making and makeup talent, to performing arts skills; drag performers have a lot to show. Both men and women can perform however they like. The only barrier to fame is talent and memorability.
 

How America Fell in Love With To Wong Foo

Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Ranker: Best Drag Queens of All Time

Transforming Ken Into a Drag Queen

Kylie Sonique Love: First Trans Contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Crowned Winner

First Drag Queen Elected to Public Office in US

Dragtastic Photos From Wigstock

RuPaul's Drag Race: You Tube Channel

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: I Will Survive

Courtney Act Answers Kids' Questions About Gender

Tips for Being the Best Drag Queen You Can Be

Kinky Boots Song: These Boots Are Made for Walking

Drag Queens
 

Drag Queens tend to be performers who dress and perform in an exaggeratedly female persona. While appearing female, most of these performers don’t want to actually be female; they don’t even try to fool you into thinking they’re biologically female. As a drag queen they’re able to perform their act, show their skills and be their true self. Arguably the most famous drag queen in history, RuPaul has said, "I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven-inch heels, four-foot wigs, and skintight dresses? I don’t dress like a woman; I dress like a drag queen."

While a lot of drag performers aren’t hoping to be mistaken for the gender they’re performing as, some are. This is often the case for Australian superstar drag queen Courtney Act who has used this mistaken identity to her advantage during her career.

Drag Kings

Drag King is the term used to define a drag performer who dresses in an exaggeratedly male persona. Often the costume and personality of the performer will be a lot larger than the look and feel of an everyday man. While performing as a drag king is as legitimate as a drag queen, it hasn’t enjoyed the fame and accolade provided to drag queens through RuPauls drag race.
 

Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?

Scott Heierman: Bearded Drag Queen Comedian Rules the Stage

RuPaul Drag Race Season 13: Meet the New Queens

Archie Bunker Meets a Transvestite

Queens Don Jennifer Garner Drag for Zoom Kiki with the Yes Day Star

Kylie Sonique Love: First Trans Contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Crowned Winner

Queen of Drag

Andrew Levitt (Nina West): Going Big and Being Kind

Bubly Ad: Drag For All Flavors

RuPaul's Drag Race

Starting on the small cable network ‘Logo’ in 2009, RuPaul's Drag Race has grown into a cultural phenomenon today. 11 seasons down, Drag Race has not begun to slow in popularity. It now shows on VH1 and has gained millions of fans all over the world. Unlike with other reality shows, fans are not fatiguing.
 

Competing shows are not coming close to distracting viewers from the show. (Can you name even one of the competing shows?) TV shows usually have to plan for viewers leaving and must strategize ways to attract new fans. Instead, Drag Race retains its fans and draws new ones in droves. Fans aren’t just coming from the queer demographic either. Straight, gay, man or woman; people love drag race. Because of this global popularity, there’s an upcoming British version of the show which will begin shooting later this year. This version will also be hosted by RuPaul.

Interview With Lady Bunny

How America Fell in Love With To Wong Foo

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

The Wild Life and Untimely Death of Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Female Impersonator of the Year (1985)

Kids Meet a Drag Queen

RuPaul's Drag Race: Variety/Talent Show Performance Ranked

Aesthetic Journey: 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion

Video Fun: Drag Queens Acting Hilarious

Time Magazine Article: How Drag Queens Took Over Bingo

Why do we love it? It tackles issues. Right from season one there was a contestant that was openly HIV positive. This is an issue that has affected the lives of so many people, and was talked about honestly and in the open. Unlike with other shows, the competitors truly come in every size, shape and form. From large to small, from beautiful to individual. One size does not fit all on the RuPaul stage. The last element is RuPaul himself. Someone that achieved worldwide fame as a drag queen supermodel and superstar. He has been breaking barriers for years. He doesn’t obsess over small things and truly loves his competitors. He has shown the world that you truly can be yourself.

One thing I love about RuPaul is his relaxed stance on gender pronouns. He has said and Tweeted, “You can call me her, you can call me him. I don’t care! As long as you call me.” He’s made acceptance mainstream and relaxed, and that’s why we love him. It’s through him that we can understand and appreciate drag better.
 

So next time your local club features a drag host or performer, try to have a more open mind. This isn’t a man wishing he was a woman, dancing around like a silly girl. This is a professional artist. What this person is demonstrating is a difficult, labor intensive skill. I sure as hell couldn’t do it. So clap like you mean it. And buy that brave person a drink.

[Source: Jordan Fraser, Aug 2019]

New York Times Article: Drag Queen Story Hour

RuPaul's Drag Race: Drag Dictionary

Bob the Drag Queen: Drag Slang Tutorial

HBO Documentary: Drag Time

Kylie Sonique Love: First Trans Contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Crowned Winner

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

Dragside Pick-Up for Carry-Out Customers

Golden Girlz in Quarantine

Drag-a-Thon in Portland Aims for World Record for Longest Drag Show

Coronavirus Pandemic Through the Lens of Drag

Restaurant Offers Dragside Pickup During Quarantine

Drag Activism

Activist, actor and comedian, Bob The Drag Queen, shared his thoughts on the importance of voting and staying politically aware. He is the winner of Season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race. "Drag queens are the mascots and spokespeople for the queer community. Ever since the Stonewall Riots we've been at the literal forefront. This is our armor.  And the people with the most armor are the ones who are going to get out in front and sacrifice themselves the most. We are the visibility. Whenever people want to raise money for their charity, whenever people want their message to get out, they contact the drag queen. And the drag queen is the one who really helps propel the message forward."

[Source: Bob the Drag Queen]
 

Worried About the Future of Our Country? The Drag PAC is Here to Help

Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

First Drag Queen Elected to Public Office in US

Bob the Drag Queen: Vote, Protest, Be Brave

Time Mag: How Drag Queens Took Over Bingo

Bob The Drag Queen: Bitch Like Me
Sugar and Spice: Small Town Drag Queens

Why Drag Queens Will Lead the Revolution

Myths About Drag Queens

Drag King Murray Hill

Drag Continues to Change the World for the Better

LGBTQ Community Celebrates Paul O’Grady’s Impact on Drag

Drag Queen Story Hour

Info: Underground Ballroom Subculture

Time Mag: How Drag Queens Took Over Bingo

Biographical Notes: RuPaul

RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Variety Show Challenge (Compilation)

Lynn Carter: Female Impersonator

Born in Cleveland in 1924, Lynne Carter served in the United States Navy during World War II. He began his performance career in 1947 in a Chicago nightclub where he met Pearl Bailey, who became an early supporter of his act. In 1971 he became the first female impersonator to perform at Carnegie Hall.

His first big break was Kay Thompson's much-publicized lawsuit seeking to ban his lampooning of her act, and thanks to that publicity he became known in Los Angeles, while Josephine Baker gave him numerous gowns and tutored him in French.

Often billed as "the boy with the Pearl Bailey personality," he impersonated many famous actresses and singers including Pearl Bailey, Josephine Baker, Tallulah Bankhead, Fanny Brice, Carol Channing, Cher, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Phyllis Diller, Hermione Gingold, Hildegarde, Eartha Kitt, Ethel Merman, Barbra Streisand, Kay Thompson, and Mae West.

Carter recorded one album entitled ‘She's a He’ in 1957 on Fiesta Records, and appeared on the Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas TV Shows in the 1960s. His final performances were in the revue "Hooray for Hollywood" at the St. Regis-Sheraton Hotel in 1984.

After suffering declining health caused by multiple heart attacks and AIDS related complications, Carter died in Manhattan in 1985. He was emphatic that his death from AIDS be publicized and announced to promote public awareness of the then unknown epidemic.
 

Lynne Carter - She's A He, Introducing Mr. Lynn Carter
Lynne Carter: Boy With the Pearl Bailey Personality

Lynne Carter as Bette Davis

Cross Dressing

"I like to wear dresses because they're comfortable. Men wearing dresses really should not be controversial."
-Kurt Cobain
 

Cross-dressing is the act of wearing items of clothing and other accoutrements commonly associated with the opposite sex within a particular society. Cross-dressing has been used for purposes of disguise, comfort, and self-discovery in modern times and throughout history.

Almost every human society throughout history has had expected norms for each gender relating to style, color, or type of clothing they are expected to wear, and likewise most societies have had a set of guidelines, views or even laws defining what type of clothing is appropriate for each gender.

The term cross-dressing denotes an action or a behavior without attributing or implying any specific causes for that behavior. It is often assumed that the connotation is directly correlated with behaviors of transgender identity or sexual, fetishist, and homosexual behavior, but the term itself does not imply any motives and is not synonymous to one's gender identity.

The Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

Courtney Act Answers Kids' Questions About Gender

Drag Queen Shows at the Drive-In

Every Miss Continental Pageant Winner Over the Years

Going to Your First Drag Show? Here’s What You Need to Know

Restaurant Employing Drag Queens to Deliver Food to Customers

Todrick Hall: Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs

RuPaul's Drag Race: Most Watched Drag Race Performances 2021
The Wild Life and Untimely Death of Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

NYC Drag Queens Go Virtual Amid Pandemic

Things You Didn’t Know About Drag (According to Drag Performers)

Drag Continues to Change the World for the Better

LGBTQ Community Celebrates Paul O’Grady’s Impact on Drag

Tips for Being the Best Drag Queen You Can Be

Kinky Boots Song: These Boots Are Made for Walking
Reuben Kaye: Kids React to Drag

Dragside Pick-Up for Carry-Out Customers

If She Wasn't a Woman, Dolly Parton Says She Would Have Been a Drag Queen

Golden Girlz in Quarantine

Coronavirus Pandemic Through the Lens of Drag

Restaurant Offers Dragside Pickup During Quarantine

Before RuPaul There was Danny LaRue

DQSH: Drag Queen Story Hour

Video Tutorial: Naomi Smalls' Drag Transformation

First Drag Queen Elected to Public Office in US

Dragaholic

Transvestism and Cross Dressing

“I’m not ashamed to dress like a woman because I don’t think it’s shameful to be a woman.”
-Iggy Pop

Most drag queens perform for personal fulfillment as a hobby, a profession, or an art form; as a way to be in the spotlight; or as a road to local or wider fame.

Historically and currently, there are and have been gay and straight men who perform in drag. There are also transgender, transsexual, and genderqueer people who perform as drag queens.

Drag queens are sometimes called transvestites, although that term also has many other connotations than the term "drag queen." "Drag queen" usually connotes cross-dressing (or CD) for the purposes of entertainment or performance without necessarily aiming to pass as female.

Crossdressing Boy Goes to Prom as a Girl

Brief History Of Drag Queen Story Hour

Info: Fashion and Clothing

Laws That Dictated How People Should Dress

Video: Drag Show Opening Number

Trixie Mattel: Legendary Make-Up

Aesthetic Journey: 100 Years of Drag Queen Fashion

If She Wasn't a Woman, Dolly Parton Says She Would Have Been a Drag Queen

Reuben Kaye: Kids React to Drag

Before RuPaul There was Danny LaRue

Be Unique: What is a Drag Queen?

Drag-a-Thon in Portland Aims for World Record for Longest Drag Show

Transforming Ken Into a Drag Queen

Sharon Needles: Monster Mash

It is not generally used to describe those persons who cross-dress for the fulfillment of transvestic fetishes alone, or whose cross-dressing is primarily part of a private sexual activity or identity. As for those whose motivation is not primarily sexual, and who may socialize cross-dressed, they tend not to adopt the typical over-the-top drag queen look.

Among famous straight entertainers who have dressed in drag are Milton Berle, Flip Wilson, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Tyler Perry, Mike Myers, Gene Hackman, John Lithgow, John Travolta, Jamie Fox, Tom Hanks, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemon. In rock-n-roll circles, crossdressing straight folks include Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, and Keith Moon. Also, every member of the Monty Python crew. Even the Three Stooges, Bugs Bunny, and the Flintstones dressed in drag. And, yes, Ronald Reagan too. It's hard to forget straight actors Patrick Swayze, Welsey Snipes, and John Leguizamo in To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar.  And Dennis Rodman, the NBA basketball player, has also dressed in drag.

The Rich Queer History of American Drag Queens

Most Iconic and Influential Drag Performers in Modern History

HBO Documentary: Drag Time

Drag Queen Clothing

Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Nina West: Drag is Magic

Sugar and Spice: Small Town Drag Queens

Video Tutorial: Manila Luzon's Drag Transformation

Queen of Drag

Info: Underground Ballroom Subculture

What is Sumptuary Law?

RuPaul's Drag Race: Variety/Talent Show Performance Ranked

Bob the Drag Queen: Drag Slang Tutorial

Things You Didn’t Know About Drag (According to Drag Performers)

Best Drag Names of All Time

Drag and Pronouns

RuPaul: Greatest Drag Queen Looks of All Time

Dragtastic Photos From Wigstock

Huff Post: Iconic Drag Queens

Drag Queens Reading Books to Kids in Libraries

Kylie Sonique Love: First Trans Contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race Crowned Winner

Dragula: Reality TV Show

List of Famous Drag Queens

PBS Video: Drag and Gender Expression

Trixie Mattel Bakes 6-Layer Gay Cake With Easy Bake Oven

Video Tutorial: Miz Cracker's Drag Transformation

Why Was Crossdressing Illegal?

Dumplin: Drag Queens Cover Dolly Parton

The Wild Life and Untimely Death of Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Morgan McMichaels Video: Drag Slang on Hollywood Blvd

Drag Continues to Change the World for the Better

Drag Queen Closet

Nina West: Drag is Magic

How America Fell in Love With To Wong Foo

Kids Meet a Drag Queen

Ranker: Best Drag Queens of All Time

Courtney Act Answers Kids' Questions About Gender

Drag Queen Vacation

Bob the Drag Queen: Drag Slang Tutorial

Drag Queens Reading Books to Kids in Libraries

HBO Documentary: Drag Time

RuPaul's Drag Race: Variety/Talent Show Performance Ranked

Best Drag Names of All Time

Female Impersonator of the Year (1985)

Video Fun: Drag Queens Acting Hilarious

Divine: Drag Queen of the Century

Drag Queen and Cross Dressing in Film

To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar (1995)

Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994)

M. Butterfly (1993)

Birdcage (1996)

Connie and Carla (2004)

Princesa (2001)

A Girl Like Me (2006)

Tootsie (1982)

Victor Victoria (1982)

Soldier's Girl (2003)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

Kinky Boots (2005)

Flawless (1999)

The Crying Game (1992)

Paris is Burning (1990)

Agnes and His Brothers (2004)

Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

Hairspray (1988)

Just Like a Woman (1992)

Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Cabaret (1972)

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Strella (2009)

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

Female Trouble (1974)

Pink Flamingos (1972)

Yentl (1983)

What is Drag? A Primer on Drag Queens in Popular Culture

Flamy Grant: What Did You Drag Me Into?

RuPaul's Drag Race: You Tube Channel

Video Tutorial: Miz Cracker's Drag Transformation

Info: Fashion and Clothing

Club My-O-My: New Orleans Vintage Drag

What is Sumptuary Law?

Andrew Levitt (Nina West): Going Big and Being Kind

PBS Video: Drag and Gender Expression

Queen of Drag

Miss Fame Tutorial: Becoming a Drag Queen

Why Was Crossdressing Illegal?

Drag Continues to Change the World for the Better

Info: Underground Ballroom Subculture

Going to Your First Drag Show? Here’s What You Need to Know

Wikipedia: RuPaul

Myths About Drag Queens

Drag Kings You Should Definitely Know About

Time Mag: How Drag Queens Took Over Bingo
Todrick Hall: Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels

HOME
 

QUEER CAFE │ LGBTQ Information Network │ Established 2017