RuPaul explains the difference between drag queens and transgender people
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/03/02/rupaul-explains-the-difference-between-drag-queens-and-transgender-people/
Pink News/RuPaul has attempted to explained the difference between drag queens and trans people.
"The world-famous drag artist was speaking on chat show The Real, ahead of the launch of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 in the US on March 7.
Though it has a huge gay following, the show is divisive among parts of the trans activist community who say that they are getting 'confused' with drag queens – while some would apparently rather ban drag altogether."
If anything, drag is very different than most of us. Few of us ever dress up like that. Perhaps for special occasions I'd wager.
I might say that people expect us to all look like that? When they see us "normal" folk in public, they tend to look past us?
I have nothing against drag. The more fun in this world, the merrier.
Cindi
I have to say this, RuPaul's answer did a lot to bring back the respect I had for him prior to the "->-bleeped-<-" episode. He's not there yet, but better.
Dee
Favorite Drag !movies: "Victor/Victoria", " Connie and Carla", "To Wong Foo" (not trying to commandeer the thread)
Several contestants on Drag Race have come out as transgender, too.
The transgender umbrella is already big enough to include drag queens and drag kings. Still, there is a difference I feel between myself and my friends who do drag. For most of them, they remain cisgender, and drag is an act or performance for fun, laughs and $. For me it is as serious as a heart attack and not just about the clothes I wear but my most basic, inherent identity.
I do have fun and can take a joke and laugh at myself. And then I also want to be respected and not be seen as just putting on an act.
Acknowledging our differences with respect is ok and needed while the bigger transgender tent remains open to all.
Quote from: Shiratori on March 02, 2016, 01:00:34 PM
Several contestants on Drag Race have come out as transgender, too.
When I was in the process of coming out, I was drawn to drag. I was not sexually active (never really have been). At first, I went to Phinochios in San Francisco when I went there on business. Then, while living in Salt Lake City, my gay friends asked me to do drag events. I did. It was fun. I travelled with them to a couple of coronations and was sort of the drag performer representing SLC. I was never drawn to do more than that.
I met some really good performers and I knew immediately that other than dressing up nice and sharing the stage, we had very little in common.
So, yeah, I get it. Some of us start out in many places and I would never discourage anyone to get out and explore their inner AND outer self.
Cindi
"They've used their victimhood to create a situation... Don't you dare tell me what I can do or say. It's just words. You know what? *****, you need to get stronger." ... ya a situation where you've had to drop two tired jokes from a tv show. Big deal lol I know if some segment in the show was making viewers bored they'd cut it because they don't want to loose $$$, why is this any different? The 'You've got shemail' line was not what made the show, the T-word doesn't add anything to the show... idk
As for victimhood there's barely any episodes that don't have a tragic contestant backstory, which is not a bad thing, but it's just a bit... yeah we'll exploit these poor gays' victimhoods to make the audience feel like the show is fighting homophobia but but if some trans people feel alienated... well there's no dollar in that
The thing with drag queens and the T word, particularly on dragrace, is that the viewers acquire all the slang that the queens use and can't be relied upon to differentiate between drag queens who won't be offended and trans people who will be. I don't really care if they're not offended, but they're normalising or 'reclaiming' a word that's not really theirs to reclaim, just like if white people decided to use the N-word.
I also did not like the attitude Michelle Visage had where when Carmen Carrera spoke up about the ->-bleeped-<- thing, Visage said she shouldn't have opened her mouth and should be grateful to the show and that if trans people want to be part of the LGBT community they basically have to let the gays do whatever they want and not complain. :(
Kat Blaque made some pretty interesting videos about RuPaul if anyone wants to check them out too, they're on youtube
I know that for me drag was kind of a stepping stone I never hit it was crossdressing then I realised I was trans for me it's like there is no half way