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Up close and personal with LoUis Cyfer ) Drag king LoUis Cyfer was one of the hosts at this year’s EuroStars Drag Contest. We got up close and personal with LoUis to find out all the gossip he has to share with us. Hey LoUis! What’s it like being a drag king in the UK? It’s a very exciting time to be a drag king in the UK. A big change is coming and I’m thrilled to be surfing the wave of mainstream drag appreciation for not just queens or kings, but everyone. Can you see drag being the future? I definitely see drag as the future. It allows you to express your true self beyond the limits of gender.
CHERRY VALENTINE
Are there any drag kings that you really look up to, and why? I really look up to all kings, each one of them has something that I can learn from them. They all have their own different style, they all have their own different message. The kings I look up the most are The Mouse or old kings like Hetty King and Stormé DeLarverie. They laid the road for us to walk all the way to the stage with ease and confidence... Stormé gave us rights; Hetty lit the way!
Celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month ) Last month was Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM), which celebrates the diverse ways in which the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities add to the vibrancy of life in the UK and recognises the varied contributions that these communities have made to British society historically and today. Since 2008, GRTHM has been
celebrated throughout the UK over the month of June. GRTHM shares the history, culture and language of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, as well as other travelling communities, including Showmen and Boaters. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, GRTHM helps to tackle prejudices, challenge myths and to raise the voices of Gypsies and Travellers in wider society. We spoke to RuPaul’s Drag Race series two’s Cherry Valentine, who is a proud Gypsy Traveller from Wigan. Why is it so important to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ people in the Travellers community?
CHERRY VALENTINE
“Because we are here, and visibility is the key and people in the community are valid and important. “Raising awareness highlights prejudices, inequalities, and puts a spotlight on things that need to change. We need be more proactive than reactive,” said Cherry.
You were one of the EuroStars hosts this series. What was that feeling like? I absolutely loved being a judge on EuroStars; it was refreshing and inspiring to be a part of something so inclusive and it opened my eyes to the talent that exists across Europe. Outstanding! D For more info on EuroStars, visit: https://eurodrag.co.uk/the-eurostars-drag-contest
Dutch queens invading Manchester this September ) Comedy queen Sederginne, who placed sixth on RuPaul’s Drag Race Holland, and her partner in crime Janey Jacké - second runner-up of the same series - will be touring the UK this summer with gigs planned in both Manchester and Liverpool.“The biggest thing after you come out of Drag Race is touring the world with your sisters, and for us, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.” said Janey. The Netherlands, like many Drag Race franchises, went into lockdown around the same time the show was aired; like the rest of us, they’ve been quarantined under lockdown rules and are only now in a position to start touring again. We asked Sederginne how she felt about the upcoming tour: “It’s been a difficult year for all drag artists, so to finally see light at the end of the tunnel, argh, I can’t even describe how happy that makes me.” We were also excited to find out exactly what these fierce queens will be doing in the show. “Oh honey... UK ain’t ready for this!” said Janey. The Dutch queens will be touring the UK with FunnyBoyz at New York, New York on Canal Street, Manchester on July 6. D For more information about other dates, visit: www.funnyboyz.co.uk
