Drag, as in drag queens. Otherwise known as female impersonation. Is anybody else here really intrigued by drag in general? The concept of transforming from a masculine figure into a very feminine figure is really interesting to me. The purpose of this thread is to discuss all things involving drag, and a few resources for those who want to learn more about it.
Before I get into some things, I'd like to clear up some misconceptions and whatnot.
Firstly, RuPaul's Drag Race is an excellent resource for anybody who likes to watch reality TV while also bringing in serious discussions on issues regarding the LGBT+ community. For anybody who wants to watch it, it's on Netflix in some countries and other streaming devices such as Amazon Prime as well. This is where I found my footing in the drag scene and found myself captivated by it! My friend introduced me to the concept and at first I was very hesitant and found it strange. However, once I started, I couldn't stop. Here are some cool contestants and clips from the show:
This thread isn't purely for discussion of RuPaul's Drag Race, as drag exists outside of the show, but it's a great platform for drag queens. Many drag queens, most notably Courtney Act, runner-up on Season 6, Jinkx Monsoon, winner of Season 5, Peppermint, runner-up on Season 9, and RuPaul himself, have stood loudly and proudly for LGBT rights. Drag queens influence LGBT culture in a way like no other and the platform provided to them to speak out against inequality is truly notable and worthy of praise.
To kick off discussion, I'd like to discuss the upcoming All Stars Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race. I'm personally very excited to see all these queens in action! And, as you can see from my profile picture, I'm #TeamBenDeLaCreme. How about you?!
What if you don't watch the show though? Then, let's talk about something else: do you enjoy drag or know anything about it? Would you like to learn more? If you haven't learned about drag and such, I encourage you to check out some of the stuff I've linked in this thread and discuss what you've found!
Please keep this thread semi-serious. Making fun of drag isn't really acceptable in this thread, as it only derails from discussion. Furthermore, I would hope that we don't shit on or disrespect queens that we don't like. We should encourage drag and drag queens together! LGBT discussion should be kept in the LGBT thread, though discussing how drag has influenced LGBT people and its culture is more than welcome!
:]
Before I get into some things, I'd like to clear up some misconceptions and whatnot.
- Drag isn't always about wanting to be a trans person. Drag queens and trans people are both and neither at the same time. For example, Peppermint is a very famous drag queen who is also a trans woman. To quote another queen, Monica Beverly Hillz, "Drag is what I do and trans is who I am". It's all about expression of oneself.
- While in drag, a drag queen is typically referred to as she or her, though some prefer they or them. Most drag queens are just referred to as she when being referenced as their drag career and persona is what is being referred to, not the actual person themselves.
- Drag is a career or hobby. Many drag queens make it their full-time career. One such example is RuPaul, who I'm sure most people are familiar with due to her long career and famous TV show, RuPaul's Drag Race, which I will get into.
- The main purpose of drag performing is entertainment. People, including myself, love to see such creative people have a platform to dance, sing, lip sync (usually), and entertain!
Firstly, RuPaul's Drag Race is an excellent resource for anybody who likes to watch reality TV while also bringing in serious discussions on issues regarding the LGBT+ community. For anybody who wants to watch it, it's on Netflix in some countries and other streaming devices such as Amazon Prime as well. This is where I found my footing in the drag scene and found myself captivated by it! My friend introduced me to the concept and at first I was very hesitant and found it strange. However, once I started, I couldn't stop. Here are some cool contestants and clips from the show:
- Alaska (Justin Honard) is my absolute favorite drag queen. Her story is incredibly inspiring and really shows true legacy and strength. Her ex-boyfriend actually won Season 4 of RuPaul's Drag Race (RPDR for the rest of this post to save time), and she competed on Season 5 and was runner-up. This led to a bad break-up and a lot of drug abuse. However, she turned this around and went on to win the second All Stars season of the show very convincingly. She's one of the most adored queens to ever compete and has made an incredibly solid career off of her music and performances. Your Makeup Is Terrible is one of her most famous songs for example, and her performances, such as this solidify her as an entertainer.
- Bianca Del Rio (Roy Haylock) is famous for being an insult comic and winning the sixth season. Here's an excellent video which showcases her humor:
Her lovable personality is found with how kind she is to her other queens and her fans. People really do love this bitter old clown! - A big proponent of the show is lip syncs, which are what most drag queens perform. These lip syncs are for queens who do badly in challenges and wind up in the Bottom 2. However, my absolute favorite lip sync is Alyssa Edwards vs. Tatianna from All Stars Season 2, where they are fighting for re-entry to the competition after already being eliminated. This lip sync is an excellent demonstration of the entertainment that drag queens provide. I mean, come on! The level of energy and just absolute excellence of this video is a highlight of the show for me, majorly.
This thread isn't purely for discussion of RuPaul's Drag Race, as drag exists outside of the show, but it's a great platform for drag queens. Many drag queens, most notably Courtney Act, runner-up on Season 6, Jinkx Monsoon, winner of Season 5, Peppermint, runner-up on Season 9, and RuPaul himself, have stood loudly and proudly for LGBT rights. Drag queens influence LGBT culture in a way like no other and the platform provided to them to speak out against inequality is truly notable and worthy of praise.
To kick off discussion, I'd like to discuss the upcoming All Stars Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race. I'm personally very excited to see all these queens in action! And, as you can see from my profile picture, I'm #TeamBenDeLaCreme. How about you?!
What if you don't watch the show though? Then, let's talk about something else: do you enjoy drag or know anything about it? Would you like to learn more? If you haven't learned about drag and such, I encourage you to check out some of the stuff I've linked in this thread and discuss what you've found!
Please keep this thread semi-serious. Making fun of drag isn't really acceptable in this thread, as it only derails from discussion. Furthermore, I would hope that we don't shit on or disrespect queens that we don't like. We should encourage drag and drag queens together! LGBT discussion should be kept in the LGBT thread, though discussing how drag has influenced LGBT people and its culture is more than welcome!
:]