I'm a little bit of a purist I guess when it comes to Drag. When I go to a drag show, I want to see a man dressed up like a woman doing his miss thangness like there's no tomorrow. May it be a comical presentation, singing show, or maybe he looks like a fucking goddess from the Miss Universe Pageant or even better, having a man put on that outer facade and knock it out of the park is amazing. Yes, they're usually 30 min late for their own reveal, but when they come out, when it is done well, all should be amazed.
Now I get some of you that just don't understand drag and stay away from it like it's the plague. To each their own. But some of us live for good drag. When we see that queen in the spotlight, we gag. But what about drag kings?
I remember going to the Annual University of Southern Maine Royal Majesty Drag Competition and Show, which had its 16th showing this year. I think I might have attended the 5th year. It was great to see the college kids turn out for this event in droves, not only to perform, but to be audience members and supporters. I think that was the first time I was introduced to the concept of drag kings. I just didn't get it. I understood and liked the drag queens, but I just sat there, blank, as the drag kings performed. I thought, this is what people that don't like any drag must feel like.
Ru Paul was recently asked by Advocate.com about drag kings and if they would make an appearance on Drag Race. The question is raised at about 3:45 into the following video, but the whole video is good to watch.
Was that a good response or a fucking great response?
Or do you think there is no difference between drag kings and queens?
I was talking about this topic last night with my roommates during Drag Race All-Stars. I also mentioned that I don't think it's fair for drag performers to perform in competitions if they have started to transition as some choose to do. I don't think it would be fair for a queen to have breast implants or a king to have had a mastectomy. But then there are those that get the lip and hip and butt injections or nose jobs or brow lifts. Should those who went through plastic surgery be allowed to take part in a competition?
As I said at the beginning, I feel I am a drag purist. A man with all his parts and no extra ones, dressing up as a woman and putting on a show is great entertainment.
What are your thoughts?
h/t: Advocate.com
Hey, Adam. If what you want
Hey, Adam. If what you want to see at a drag show is a cisgender man giving an illusion as a classically beautiful, fabulous woman, then that's your preference and you're entitled to that. I'm curious about how you feel in regards to performers such as Milk who are more androgynous/alien/artsy?
Judging all kings based on newbies who've probably never performed before let alone done drag isn't exactly fair. Have you ever watched a professional king performance? Like queens, we're not all the same. I'm known for my flamboyance and glam looks, so I definitely defy the stereotype of kings as butches who throw on a t-shirt and some jeans and no makeup and lipsync to some basic dude song. If you'd come to the USM drag show this year, chances are you would have been blown away by the amazing professional king emcee from NYC (me, lol), as well as the student performers in every category who have stepped up their game due to the increased availability of drag makeup instruction on YouTube, IG, etc. Or maybe you would've still felt the same, and that's fine. To each, their own.
Do I think that drag kings deserve more air time than we currently get? Yes. Qualified kings should absolutely be able to compete on drag race since we do all of the same things as queens (as the RPDR queens who Landon and I have shared the stage with for years can attest to).
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Yes, I've seen many Drag King performances. USM was just the first of many that incorporated kings and queens. There have been several performances where I've seen Drag Kings and Queens perform side by side.
I want to thank you for allowing my opinion to be my opinion. So many on here are of the fuck you mentality if my opinion differs from theirs or they try to say I have internalized homophobia or I am supporting heterogeneity. Why do they feel by using one of those those two phrases they have won an argument?
I know that Kings do have a following. I've seen great supporters of the Drag King community at performances and it is great.
Thanks again for reading as well as stating your side. What I write on Instinct are blogs, not articles. I am not a journalist and I state that in my bio. I enjoy the interactions with the readers and appreciate when people state their opinions and add to the conversation.
By they way, your pics look great!