Are you offended by drag shows?

[dalebert]

I recently linked to an event that included drag shows on a TG Facebook page and got an angry response. This is honestly new to me. Is drag generally considered offensive? I've never been a huge fan of it myself. I can enjoy it in small, occasional doses, but I have not heard of too many people in the LGBT spectrum actually being offended by it.

[Joeyboo~ :3]

DQ make everything better.

[Shang]

I don't enjoy the shows, but I'm not offended by it.  I like really well done outfits, but they're usually over the top so I don't care for it.

[Sephirah]

I can't speak in general terms. However, personally I'm not offended by them in the slightest. In my view, it's a method of self-expression and creativity. If that's how people choose to perform, and they get enjoyment and maybe even a healthy living out of it, more power to them.

[King Malachite]

I don't think so.  Drag shows seem exotic.  If I had the right body I wouldn't mind doing anime girl drags. o.o 

Then again to be fair I've never been to a drag show so this is all just speculation from my end.

DQ make everything better.

Do you mean the ice cream?   

[kelly_aus]

I don't find the concept of drag offensive.. But it depends on the show.. A good show is great.. A badly done show I can be offended by - mostly because I've done it myself...

[Jamie D]

I know what dalebert means, but I think back to all-male kabuki theater, whcih is a cultural staple in Japan for hundreds of years.

[Cindy]

They don't offend at all. But most (I have seen) are quite amateurish and make me cringe. But I wouldn't deliberately go and see one. If it is on in the club/hotel when I am there, fine; but unless a friend was involved I wouldn't bother to seek one out.

To me it is very like stand up comedians. Do you go to places to laugh at the bad ones or be entertained by the good ones? I get upset/sick laughing AT people, I respect people too much for that to be entertaining for me. JMO.
C.

[Cindy]

I know what dalebert means, but I think back to all-male kabuki theater, whcih is a cultural staple in Japan for hundreds of years.

I went to a kabuki event at the Adelaide Festival of Arts years ago. I think it was the first time the National Japanese Kabuki Theatre (?) had done a tour , this is 25yrs ago ish, Goddess it was boring. Sorry. The audience was a quarter of the sell out size after the interval, and then I walked out, I'd had enough, I was trying to be polite but lordy I prefer laser hair treatment.

[Jamie D]

They don't offend at all. But most (I have seen) are quite amateurish and make me cringe. But I wouldn't deliberately go and see one. If it is on in the club/hotel when I am there, fine; but unless a friend was involved I wouldn't bother to seek one out.

To me it is very like stand up comedians. Do you go to places to laugh at the bad ones or be entertained by the good ones? I get upset/sick laughing AT people, I respect people too much for that to be entertaining for me. JMO.
C.

I'm going to have to take you a Vegas sometime. 

[Cindy]

Oh I've been to great ones. S**T woman Carletta and her boys at Les Boys in the Cross revoluntised drag shows.

I was talking about the local hotel ones, the amateur, , I thought that was the track of the thread.

I have no probs with the 'big production shows' I may have got the wrong drift

[justmeinoz]

I agree that it is more about quality of the performance than anything.  I have seen some great shows, and some that were awful.  Not really my thing I must admit, I'd rather listen to a jazz  or blues band actually.

Karen.

[luna nyan]

As other have said, it boils down to how good the show is.
A good show is enjoyable, bad one is cultural cringe - and that's for any sort of live gig as far as I'm concerned.

[AbraCadabra]

As other have said, it boils down to how good the show is.
A good show is enjoyable, bad one is cultural cringe - and that's for any sort of live gig as far as I'm concerned.

+1

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I have seen several and I was never offended by them.  In fact, here we have Darcelle XV Showplace, which is famous.  Always a good show.

I had, at one time, thought about getting into drag.  But I love being a Veterinary Tech.

[SourCandy]

I didn't like my High School's "Drag" show, which seemed to be the more ugly they intentionally made themselves the better people received it, but otherwise it doesn't bother me.

[JenJen2011]

Not at all. I've actually done a few "drag shows". It doesn't bother me that they call it a drag show but I don't consider myself to be a drag queen so it doesn't quite fit me. I don't do all the extreme make-up and costumes that drag queens do but I do admire them. Seeing the way these boys transform behind stage is truly remarkable. It's definitely an art form.

[Shang]

I know what dalebert means, but I think back to all-male kabuki theater, whcih is a cultural staple in Japan for hundreds of years.

I love Kabuki, which is also very fun to preform.   Still not a fan of drag shows, but I can watch Kabuki for quite a bit.

[dalebert]

When I think of drag, I think of theatricality. Someone can be a really good cross-dresser (not necessarily trans, but maybe that's part of the spectrum of trans) and be convincing and blend right in as the gender they're displaying. On the other hand, a drag queen or king to me, generally, is being over the top and attention-getting, which is completely appropriate if it's for entertainment purposes.

It seems one can even do "drag" within one's identified gender. I don't watch it regularly but I saw one episode of a show where drag queens act as guides for cis women looking to spice things up and maybe get a confidence boost. I only watched it because a friend's sister was in it. They had a "drag" competition involving make-up, outfits, putting on a show, etc. It was kinda cute.

[dalebert]

Update: The person who left the angry response is still raging on the FB thread. There were positive responses by several other people and she seemed to lighten up a little bit and take a "Just not my thing" approach, but then sort of reverted back to "It's really offensive". I really triggered something, I think.

I haven't gone into any details about the actual shows. I don't even know them. Someone else is handling those details and they're still in the works. All I've said is "drag shows".