A drag show is a performance by drag artists, or individuals
who dress and use makeup to emphasize their gender. Drag queens have
traditionally been transwomen or gay men who dress up as women to imitate them.
Gender identity is now less significant for drag, however, as cisgender women,
transmen, and non-binary individuals are all accepted.
A drag show is a form of entertainment performed by drag
artists, or people who dress and apply makeup to enhance the appearance of
gender. Drag queens are traditionally gay men dressed as female impersonators
or transwomen who exaggerate their appearance. Gender identity is now less
important in drag, as cisgender women, transmen, and non-binary people are all
welcome.
The History of Drag Shows
The art of drag has only recently entered popular culture,
but it is a centuries-old art form. It's not hyperbole to say that for as long
as there has been a stage, someone in drag has been performing on it.
Cross-dressing dates all the way back to ancient Greece, when the concept of
theater was first conceived. Women were barred from participating in
productions at the time due to the perception that acting was too dangerous, so
men played all of the roles.
The modern drag movement can be traced back to Julian
Eltinge, an early twentieth-century American vaudeville performer, singer, and
actor who elevated the act of female impersonation to a new level of artistic
cachet. These performers had to deal with a legal system that punished
non-normative gender expression in the United States. 45 cities passed
anti-cross-dressing ordinances between 1848 and the outbreak of World War I.
Despite this, the drag tradition thrived, with queens playing an important role
in the Stonewall riots (a catalyst for the gay rights movement) and gay
liberation.
The 1990s film Paris Is Burning provided a brutal look at
what it takes to perform in drag at Harlem drag balls. The play The Adventures
of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which featured two drag queens in the lead
roles, and the first international Drag King extravaganza”in which women dress
as men”were other notable events of the decade. Over the course of 10 seasons,
the reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, created by drag superstar
RuPaul Charles, has introduced drag to a whole new generation. The rest is
"herstory," as they say.
What to Wear to a Drag Show
In drag culture, individual expression is paramount. Wear
whatever best represents who you are, whether it be for a drag brunch at a
restaurant or a performance at a gay bar. This might be a lavish look complete
with feathers and sequins or just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
Before you go, check the venue's website or social media
accounts. While some bars might host themed nights or parties, others might
host regular drag shows. By doing this, you can decide whether to dress up for
a theme.
5 Tips for Attending a Drag Show
Before going to your first drag show, keep the following
advice in mind.
1. Give drag queens a tip. Drag performers are independent
artists who frequently rely on tips to make ends meet. Make sure to have some
cash on hand before you attend the show. Kindly request that your bartender
make change for you if you don't have any single bills on hand.
2 .Consent is essential. Drag performers are actual people.
Never act in a way that the performers might find uneasy or unsafe. Respect
drag queens and always get their permission before touching or taking pictures
of them.
3. Be supportive of the queens. You shouldn't boo a
drag queen even if you didn't enjoy their performance. Drag performers spend
hours perfecting their appearances and performances, so jeering anyone dampens
the atmosphere.
4. Help out your neighborhood drag queens. Many successful
drag queens, including Bianca Del Rio, Bob the Drag Queen, and Sasha Velour,
have launched their careers on TV shows like RuPaul's Drag Race and The Boulet
Brothers' Dragula. Many performers, though, who have never competed, require
assistance. Along with larger gatherings like DragCon, take into account going
to regional performances to support your hometown queens.
5. Have fun. It was never intended for drag to be taken
seriously. Drag performers want the audience to enjoy themselves just as much
as they do.
