Category: RuPaul’s Drag Race

Queens Of The Show

With the mainstreaming of Drag Queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race moving to VH-1 and this season’s contestants being talked about on Saturday Night Live to Drag Makeup Courses being held at the Google Campus in the Silicon Valley, there’s no doubt Drag has made a significant move from its underground beginnings.  But with each move closer to mainstream, are there also things being “lost in translation”?

Are there a lot of people who once shamed Drag and its tendency to piss “straight-edge” people off by being “too in your face” coming to the “dark side”?  Can you come back from trashing drag and feature it in your shows?  Is the Drag community forgiving?  Or does that stance remain a dirty stain on your resume forever?

This may be something we have yet to find out.  Drag has pushed its way through the back alley dive bars, dancing in front of mirrors in the bathroom, and dressing up for Halloween into the forefront of entertainment.  It seems like these days you can’t have a successful show without some sort of inclusion of, what I like to call, “the drag effect” in it.  Whether it’s Alexander Skarsgård in his Kinky Boots Drag (who calls San Francisco Empress Mercedez Munro Drag Mother) or Zac Efron in Baywatch opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson going “undercover” in full drag, these parts are not being shied away from in any.

But there seems to be some leeway when someone who is seen as a straight male dressing up in drag gets dolled up versus a drag queen in a competition.  Somehow, the “drag queen” should know better and be better.  While RuPaul’s Drag Race is “the SuperBowl of drag” it’s definitely got a lot in common with Kinky Boots and Baywatch, it’s all entertainment.  But somehow, the internet critics, who know more than anyone in the world, forget that very important part.  It’s for fun, it’s for entertainment and if at the end of the day you find yourself smiling, laughing, in a better mood because you have the ability to watch a cable television show that is now going on its 9th year running strong with no end in sight, then be grateful, be humble, and enjoy the luxury of drag on television.

Those who do the wonderful art of drag, I salute you, as always, for being brave, being smart, being bold and being able to be the butt of the joke.  Because it takes a lot of courage to get up in front of a crowd to do anything, much less this thing that everyone seems to be such an expert in.  Please do not forget the queens who have come before you, who have paved the way for you to have all the “fame and glory” you do have.  Those who are activists, those who refuse to back down when they are told “you can’t do drag” because drag, while loved by many, can be feared by those who don’t understand it.  And being fearful of something allows way too much power to be given up.  So let them fear you, make them hear you and stand together.  Don’t let them quiet your screams, don’t let them dull your shine.  Whether you’re a queen on a television show, in a movie, a part of a local show, or you dress up in front of the mirror and take beautiful pictures of yourself.  Never let them take it from you.  Be the leaders drag queens were meant to be.

Dragged To Protest

This week marked a change in the landscape of America.  With the newly elected President inaugurated, the eyes of the world and especially the nation were glued to the TV and social media for a glimpse of the change of hands in the U.S. First Family.

The drag world was all a flutter about the election this past November, mostly cries of why, what now, and fear of the unknown.  Would this new President really repeal all the progress made by the previous administration?  Where does that leave the LGBTQ community?

As this week progressed, the countdown to the change of arms brought forth what no one thought possible. Donald Trump and Mke Pence were being sworn in as President and Vice-President of the United States of America.  Although, the states being possibly more divided than ever in modern history, calling them “United” is about as normal as calling Trump and Pence, “Mr. President,” and “Mr. Vice-President.”  But it’s the reality show we’re all in now, but not everyone was willing to take that sitting down.

Saturday marked the coming together of an estimated million women all over the world and especially the United States for the “Women’s March on Washington”.  The outpouring of support from around the country and the world by those who couldn’t go to Washington D.C. was displayed in local marches.  Countries as far as Australia, Cambodia, France, and England joined cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and New York as the Women’s March conveyed its message of gender equality, fair pay, anti-harassment, hope, love, strength, and LGBTQ rights.

Several drag queens were at local events; Drag Queens Galore drag friends, Saint Peter D’Vil and Monistat went to the Los Angeles March, out of drag.  While Pandora Boxx, Manila Luzon, and Willam Belli were in full drag spreading the message that every person deserves to be heard.  And what’s louder than our beloved drag queens?

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And of course, who could miss Courtney Act providing correspondence from both the inauguration and the march in Washington D.C. proving you don’t have to be “Born in the U.S.A.” to care what’s going on in this country.  Catch Courtney’s coverage (if she reads this, yes, you can take that one too Courtney) of the inauguration and march.

In addition, there were a lot of drag queens posting support of the marches, with messages like that from Raven; “Keep those tiny hands off my … ” and placing the ever important: “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” sign on her Facebook profile.  Drag Queens made it known they were in full support of what it meant to march on Saturday.

For anyone who says “Drag Queens are making fun of women,” they got a huge dose of “shut it” in the form of support of women and women’s rights.  Drag Queens have differing opinions of what it means to do drag, because they’ve all started for different reasons and do different styles of drag.  But one thing they can agree on, it’s important to stand up for the rights of everyone.

Drag Queens have been at the forefront of every major LGBTQ movement and women have been at the forefront of every LGBTQ movement.  It’s no wonder the two go together so naturally.  It’s everyone’s responsibility to stand up for what’s right and working together has always accomplished so much more.   While this weekend didn’t completely repair all the damage this election has caused, it has started the movement.

The next time you think about trashing those queens who put themselves up on a stage to entertain you, you think about what you’ve done to progress the movement of equality first.  Then you remember, these queens have stepped in front of the line, on the stage, and used their talents to speak up for those of you who can’t get out there.  Who can only participate via social media or the TV.  Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words.

Thank you Courtney, Manila, Pandora, Willam, Saint Peter, Monistat, Raven and all the queens who speak up, get out there, use their platform to right the wrongs.  And thank you to all those queens at Stonewall, Pride Festivals around the world, and those who use their stage to spread love, unity, and equality.

Share with us your experiences with the march and send us your messages of hope for the future.  Comment, LIke,

The All Stars Are Coming The All Stars Are Coming!

That’s right, we’ve been talking about RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2 since the end of All Stars 1.   From lyrics in Alaska Thunderfuck’s RuGirls to self-proclaimed reasons why April Carrion didn’t win her season, the queens have been waiting for their next chance at drag super stardom.

But who picked these queens?  Who thought these were the “All Stars” of RuPaul’s Drag Race? We’ve participated in enough online polls by drag websites, Logo TV and RuPaul’s Drag Race social media.  But were your votes heard?

I don’t know about you, but it seems like this is a very heavy Season 5 cast of Drag Race alumni. Which makes one wonder, “does it make better sense to cast those who make great TV?” After all that is what we’re doing, watching TV.  This show didn’t get it’s first official Emmy nod (other than Mathu and his makeup skills in 2015) this year. Proving that a man in a dress can still kick your ass.

All Stars 2 cast from Entertainment Weekly
All Stars 2 cast from Entertainment Weekly

But back to the casting, what if there isn’t a way to accurately calculate who’s voting more than once? What if the producers felt bad for not awarding certain runners-up the crown originally?  What about all those who cried, “but she didn’t deserve to win, [Insert your favorite queen here] did!”

Were people still bothered by Tyra Sanchez winning from Season 2 and thought? Well maybe now that Tatianna and Raven have squashed their beef, we can commence her return to the RuPaul’s Drag Race runway.  Will she be saying “Thank you” or be sent home? (You know you said it in your head as you read it)

What about Miss Phi Phi O’Hara who this year has launched her 365 days (yes-she-knows-this-is-leap-year-give-her-a-day-off) campaign where she’s literally brought us looks to die for every single day! Could that be her way of saying, “Look at my work and worship me like the All Star that I am!”

And who can forget the Coco-Alyssa dance off to end all dance offs for a crown that one lost to the other because of some secret stuff no one really still understands? Bringing back memorable quotes that inspired songs like “look how orange you are girl” and of course, “back rolls”!

But really, does anyone NOT want to see what happens when RoLaskaTox is reunited? While The Heathers may have made beautiful music together (cough-ok maybe not beautiful but fun-cough), RoLaskaTox actually got in trouble by Miss Michelle Visage herself.  Was she trying to break up the playground bullies or did she just want in on the group?

Speaking of playgrounds, what about that Adore Delano? Who’s now on her sophomore album After Party, following her debut album Till Death Do Us Party after her Season 6 appearance. With her return to Drag Race it only makes sense to hear more from her.

But the newest members of the Drag Race family who were “robbed” of their crowns, Miss Congeniality herself, Ekaterina Zamolodchikova, better known as Katya the Russian import (who we later found out had no ties to “Mother Russia”) and runner-up, Ginger Minj.  Both of these queens had their time on stage with now winner Violet Chachki when we thought both may have snatched the crown.

In the end, Mama Ru knows, you can’t please all the people all the time.  So let’s hope for the best for each of these already stellar and successful queens as we watch their journey next week. Remember to play nice on social media and go out to your local drag show, you never know who’s going to be on the next season or even an All Star.

Nor-Cal Tour Of Love Final Stop!!

You only have one last chance to catch Roxxxy Andrews and her Drag Baby Axel Andrews in the Nor-Cal Tour of Love as they celebrate the lives of those lost and those who we are still lucky enough to have with us.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE DISPLACED STAFF AT ORLANDO’S PULSE NIGHTCLUB!!!

Tonight she joins our queen, Pollo Del Mar at The Cafe, San Francisco

Nor-Cal Tour Of Love Part 2

Catch the much needed Tour of Love, coming to a Northern California Gay Club near you.  You still have Saturday and Sunday to catch Roxxxy Andrews and her Drag Baby Axel Andrews as they celebrate the lives of those lost and those who we are still lucky enough to have with us.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE DISPLACED STAFF AT ORLANDO’S PULSE NIGHTCLUB!!!

Tonight, Splash, San Jose

Splash Cover Info:
9PM-Close
$10 Cover
$20 VIP Package 1: Includes Meet & Greet w/Photo, and a July 2016 VIP Club Pass

$1000 VIP Package 2: Includes Everything from VIP Package 1 Plus Hosted Bottle Service with a 

Private VIP Room for up to 20 People.
(Email them at info@splashsj.com to book this package)

100% of Door Charge & VIP Packages Donated to 
The Pulse Employee Recovery Fund
 
THEY’VE ALSO SET UP A SPECIAL PAYPAL LINK TO ACCEPT ONLINE DONATIONS FOR THIS SPECIFIC EVENT:
https://www.paypal.me/touroflove

Nor-Cal Tour Of Love

The much needed Tour of Love is coming to a Northern California Gay Club near you.  You have all weekend to catch Roxxxy Andrews and her Drag Baby Axel Andrews as they celebrate the lives of those lost and those who we are still lucky enough to have with us.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE DISPLACED STAFF AT ORLANDO’S PULSE NIGHTCLUB!!!

First stop Badlands, Sacramento tonight at 8PM!

Jasmine Masters Has Had Something To Say

wp-1453941678479.pngJasmine made quite the entrance during the season premier of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 7, coming off as one of the most grateful contestants that had ever appeared on the show with… “We made it bitches!” She had the audience thinking, “Wow, a humble drag queen with great abs?” But she soon fell into the “Old School vs New School” feud that seemed unending on the show and was eliminated after difficulty placing facial hair during a bearded queen challenge by simply placing makeup instead of actual fake facial hair.

With Season 8 upon us, it seems like Jasmine is starting this season off the way she did last year, with something to say… take a look:

Well, as expected, this started the drag world talking about Jasmine, pageants and some of the different styles of drag. She mentioned several times that certain styles were not for her, she said she doesn’t consider certain things drag and that’s just her opinion. Of course everyone’s entitled to her own opinion and we love seeing what the queens think. But just watching this, you can almost see what people are going to say.

There were many in support of her, “wearing panties and bras on stage… and reaching for something that ain’t there…” is not drag. There were shares and re-posts with, “Yass queen!” and “Agree!” This comes from those who probably feel they put in a lot to their drag, they take careful thought about what they’re putting on, they’ve created something special for their performances and want others to do the same. Definitely an understandable view. Not to mention, there are more and more costs that go into being a fan of drag than ever before. So as fans, there’s the desire for “more bang for your buck.”

But there were also people who disagreed and feel like drag is an art form. These are men in women’s clothing which breaks the rules to begin with, why do there have to be more rules? If you can perform, draw a crowd and get support like that, why not do what makes you feel good? That’s definitely a great point as well, when someone performs in what they’re not comfortable in, you can definitely see it in their performance.

So who’s right and who’s wrong? Is it wrong to get in your bra and panties and perform when others are bedazzling and sewing and doing whatever they do to prepare for each performance? Do you think there’s a right and wrong way to do drag? Do you think in a subculture such as drag that the “Old school” way is being lost with the “New school” values? Does it take a pageant to be a great drag queen?

We’re curious, so share and let us know what you think!