Drag Queen Louie Hearne stands in Hull City Centre in broad daylight in drag to see what the publics responses are.
I AM WHAT I AM
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Drag Queen Nathan Clarke walks through St Stephens shopping centre with disapproving looks given from a member of the older generation.
Story and Photographs by Hannah Walker
hey’re Glamorous, Gorgeous, and The Drag Culture Is Bigger & Better than Ever! So Why Do Some Still Look Down Upon It?
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The journey for Drag Queens has been a long one, but as a society we have progressed to a level of acceptance which has unfortunately not always been a part of our culture. The Drag Culture has continued to grow from strength to strength but the level of acceptance needs to grow with it. Due to its flamboyant
nature not everyone is accepting of the Drag Culture as others, some still hold old-fashioned opinions the stereotype that men are supposed to be masculine and muscly, not dressing up. Most will know what a Drag Queen is when asked, however for those of you who are unsure a drag queen is someone traditionally male, impersonating a woman dressed in drag and often acts with exaggerated femininity. The term “drag queen” comes from a mash-up of “drag,” which has existed in theatre for centuries to refer to men dressing in women’s clothing, and “queen,” an anti-slang word for an effeminate gay man. Characteristics such as make-up and eyelashes will often be exaggerated for comic or dramatic performance. Although drag is commonly associated with gay men and gay culture there are many drag artists of all gender and sexuality which have always been present in the lesbian, gay, DRAG QUEENS
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Onlookers can’t help but stare at someone who dares to be different.
bisexual, and transgender was deemed a national risk and community and pop culture. in the 1950’s homosexuals were Men dressing as women in deemed a part of these groups. performance go back to the ‘Known homosexuals’ were Elizabethan Era, (1558-1603). kept on records by the police In Shakespearean theatre men and FBI and distributed within would play the ational and local parts of women as newspapers leadwomen were not ing to communipermitted to ap- HOMOSEXUALS’ ties to eliminate pear on stage. Howtheir neighbourever early forms of hoods of gays by traditional drag sweeping bars and started to appear nightclubs. Weartowards between ing clothes of the the late 1800s and opposite sex was mid-20th century. banned and
‘KNOWN
WERE KEPT ON RECORDS BY BOTH THE
POLICE AND FBI
AND DISTRIBUTED WITHIN NATIONAL AND LOCAL
publicly humiliFor most of the ating the gay men 20th century, drag and women beand cross-dressing came a pleasuraexisted primarily ble pass-time for as an underground American citizens, culture. During as well as harassthe 1950’s after the ing them and maktwo world wars, national paranoia NEWSPAPERS ing them lose their jobs. was prevalent in America. Republicans won On June 28th 1969 the infaback Senate control, McCarthy mous Stonewall riots occurred took over as chair of the Invesin Mafia-run Stonewall in tigations on the Committee on which was the only gay bar at Government Operations. Anythe time in New York City. Pothing deemed ‘subversive’ lice raided the bar pursuing DRAG QUEENS
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The older generation are known to be less accepting of the drag culture due to strict traditions when growing up.
to arrest all homosexual and advocates but when the crowd front-lined by drag queens and transsexuals fought back this is when the gay right movement eventually evoked in the United States. This was the first time gay people had come together as a community, and ignited widespread, worldwide LGBT activism. The first gay pride happened in 1970. It’s because of these drag queens, and these people, that drags have many of the freedoms they enjoy today. A lot has changed since then within the drag culture, but there are still a lot of people who look upon the Drag Culture with disgust. Some people still have very traditional views upon gender, that your sex is what you are and whichever one you are assigned comes with a restrictive list of “do’s” and “don’ts.”
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A crucial person in the change of perceptions on drag queens in the modern day is Rupaul Andre Charles, a world-renowned drag queen. He worked day and night to push for drag in mainstream culture in the 1990s. In 1997, he hosted his talk show on the VH1, welcoming guests such as Cher and Diana Ross. In 2009, Rupaul’s Drag Race premiered, which further added drag culture into the American and worldwide consciousness. The show follows drag performers vying for the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar,” and is now one of the most popular reality TV shows on TV today. With how popular the show has become it has enabled the spread of positive messages, both about drag and society as a whole. The most important result of Rupaul’s Drag Race, is that Americans and worldwide watchers can see and learn what queens are really like. The show focuses a lot on the contestants emotional struggles as drag queens. It humanizes a
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group who is often the target of vitriol and discrimination.
Everyone should learn to appreciate drag because, by expressing ourselves, we are all drag queens.” - Rupaul Andre Charles DRAG QUEENS
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On the undercover photo-shoot, the initial purpose of this photo feature is to delve into the expressions of spectators of drag acts. Society may be more accepting to this newly defined culture but the few that are still accustomed to their out dated attitudes. Drag Queens are associated with the younger and gay communities in after hour bars entertainment, so when we arranged a photo shoot with a drag queen in broad daylight in the city centre, it was interesting to document how those from all communities reacted. 110 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Some of the publics reactions were more positive than others.
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“You are not your religion. You are not your skin colour. You are not your gender, your politics, your career or your marital status. You are none of the superficial things that this world deems important. The real you is the energy force that created the entire universe.� Rupaul Andre Charles JUNE 2015
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Paul O’Grady rose to prominence in the UK and within the drag queen culture with his alter ego Lily Savage. In 1978 when he developed his drag act, basing the character upon traits found among female relatives. Touring Northern England as part of drag mime duo, the Playgirls, he eventually went solo as a standup comedian. He performed for eight years as Savage in a South London gay pub, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT). His popularity grew and grew among the city’s gay community and he used his character to speak out for LGBT rights. O’Grady was nominated for a 1992 Perrier Award, where he attracted mainstream attention and made various television, radio, and theatrical appearances. As Savage, he presented morning chat show The Big Breakfast (1995–96), game show Blankety Blank (1997– 99) and comedy series Lily Live! (2000–01) where he earned various awards and became a well-known public figure.
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Leeds-Born Drag Queen Tommy Tucker answers our questions on his views of the drag culture.
1. . What is a drag queen to you? “A drag queen to me is a performer; a guy dressed as a girl paid to perform and to entertain whether it’s a show or hosting it’s all about being over the top and exaggerating what a female perspective is.”
Lily Savage was a massive influence on Hull-born drag queen Nathan Clarke, and when he watched Rupaul’s Drag Race in 2009, he thought he’d give it a try.
Although he very rarely appears as his alter ego in the current day, Lily Savage has helped many people become more confident within themselves and coming out in drag as well as changing views of many people within the UK. 114 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
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2. What do you believe are misconceptions about drag queens? “Misconceptions mainly come when you perform for some straight guys they think you do it for a thrill that you are an actual cross dresser and sometimes we can be mistaken for flirting when actually we are entertaining, some women and it’s only a small amount of women think you are real that this is the real you that this is how you are on a normal day however the above is a very small amount from my own experience as my motto is open and honest.” DRAG QUEENS
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Spectators could do nothing but stare at our Drag Queen Model
3. Can you tell me about an average work day? “An average work day for me as a Drag Queen was; I would plan music mix the show together so i would have my tracks ready - rehearse my comedy, dance routines - getting ready for a show is always a nightmare as i suffer really bad with my nerves as a guy meeting new people no one see’s my nerves but i can smoke double my daily amount 2 hours before getting ready. I have to soak my face to shave as i have sensitive skin so when i have to close shave i have to be extra careful also all chest hair must be non-visible. Putting my make up on can sometimes take hours and that is my pet hate being late so I have to make sure my makeup is perfect although sometimes it doesn’t go the way i want it to, but I have no choice but to settle for how it looks. After getting my make up on I have to pack costumes to take with me which is very time consuming making sure I have every outfit I need, and making sure I have matching shoes,
“getting ready for a show is always a nightmare as i suffer really bad with my nerves as a guy meeting new people no one see’s my nerves but i can smoke double my daily amount 2 hours before getting ready.” matching wigs etc. and it has to be carefully packed to avoid damage. I would book a taxi 15-30 minutes before I’m ready. Sometimes i would get in taxi with just make up on but in boys clothes sometimes the rides are ok sometimes you get blanked it all depends on who’s driving. When I have arrives at the location I’d set up my equipment if necessary and carefully unpack and arrange my costumes in a particular order that i know will work. I then arrange my music on my laptop or arrange with the DJ depending on which type of night it is. i would then get changed into my first costume and the night would follow with performances throughout the night with my final sketch being transforming from a girl (Drag Queen) to a boy which is always a tear jerker i would then have chats with girls then onto packing away followed by taxi home and back in the bath to freshen up then onto bed. 118 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
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4. How do you think the media portrays drag queens? With the media i couldn’t really say to be fair i never really take notice of drag stuff in the media although one time when i appeared on TV’s come dine with me i was made out to look like utter rubbish the producer was horrible. i almost walked out however i continued and when it went onto TV all my best parts was taken out and all the rubbish was kept i think the media probably only like to show what they want to show or write about to make the story sound more what people want to hear. 5. What could the media do to help change views and perceptions on drag queens? I don’t really read or watch anything however i will say that from when i was young when i just come out at the tender age of 16 it was scary and from how i heard of drag queens they made me cringe and i did not want to associate myself with them. However, 8 years ago i met a drag queen for the first time and it changed my mind about drag queens i even became
one only a few months after. The media could help by making the drag queens seem less scary and intimidating which is how I have sometime seen this and its nothing like that all. 6. What do you think/see the general public’s opinions are on drag queens? The general public will generally make up their own minds. A lot of my followers never wanted to see me as a drag queen but it’s how you introduce yourself. A lot of people don’t like me and that’s fine i get it each to their own but a lot of people love it whether it’s me or another drag. You can read all you like but it only takes one person to change someone’s mind of how they see a person. 7. What do you think could be done to help change negative perceptions on drag queens? What could be done? Well times are changing in my own opinion i feel that the way my drag career has gone i wouldn’t change it one bit i think it’s all down to what queen you see me. I’m just me but some are a little more eccentric, some DRAG QUEENS
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come across as bullies and some are just slags and that’s a fact. So in regards to change if there was a lot more pro’s out there things would be fab for everyone however you cannot change someone’s attitude problem only they can. 8. Do you think drag queens are seen as ‘abnormal’ in society? How accepted are they? To some people yes but again it’s the same with foreign people coming across (racism). We all live in a world where there is always conflict when really we all should love one and other however we are human we are evolving. Abnormal is mainly more towards trans people they were born with the wrong anatomy and I believe god can be cruel and we are associated with trans to small minded people who just don’t understand life itself. Transgender people are becoming who they are supposed to be and as for drag queens we are merely men who dress as women to entertain that’s as simple as that. I feel I am accepted by everyone i know which a positive thing is for me but I believe everyone should be accepted no matter who or what they do.
9. Have you ever received any negativity? Negativity for me is never an issue i respect people’s opinions it’s as simple as that. I have come across some abuse but i work in a social society where people drink and people have more of an outspoken opinion but i can handle myself i know when to stop and i know when people don’t like something I’m doing there is always an alternative but when it comes to drinkers there’s nothing you can stop them from having an opinion. To the people who have negativity it’s simple if you don’t like it you don’t have to read, listen or watch it! Simply watch, listen or read about something you like. If someone was to pick on let’s say your son because he had a disability it’s no different and plus we are here to do a job and that’s to entertain and look fabulous.
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10. What would you like to say to those who have negativity towards the drag queen culture? I always say this and I’m sure others do it because they are uncomfortable with their own sexuality that is it why else would you yell abuse I believe it all comes down to jealousy.
“It's a sort of piss-take on culture, because a drag queen is a clown - a parody of our society. It's a sarcastic spoof on culture, which allows us to laugh at ourselves - but in a way that is inclusive of everyone”
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“I think drag comes up against opposition because drag queens break the fourth wall, because we say, ‘you are not who you think you are. You are actually much more than that” NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC . JUNE 2015 DRAG QUEENS 127
Through social media we asked for opinions from those who aren’t comfortable with the drag culture and reasons behind. Chrissie Anderson said “I personally feel really uncomfortable around drag. They scare me. I think it is a practice of mocking the cultural concept of femininity and mocking transgender women. Basically, the whole thing rests on the concept that men in dresses are somehow funny or a spectacle. That’s bad enough to make me not want to have anything to do with it.” Sammi Taylor commented “The reason I don’t like the drag culture is that I have never met one that wasn't bitchy and mean. Not just on stage where that's their act, but off stage as well. I've never met one who was nice. They've all been bitter, and mean spirited. It's like once the makeup and the wigs go on; good manners and kindness leave the room. They're all fairly f**cked up individuals, aren't they? As far from fabulous as you can get.”
The drag culture will continue to grow, whether certain individuals society like it or not. DRAG QUEENS
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