Last night we had a fabulous locally produced and performed drag show here.  "Dragalution" is the third annual iteration and I recognize my perspectives have changed since my transition started.  I formerly had some real discomfort about drag, likely part of my past self loathing and trans repression.  I also had discomfort about people conflating drag with being transgender or gay.  I feared the caricature is what straight people think of us.  Dragalution:

Last night was different and I was more relaxed and comfortable being in the mix with my friends who were in the show.  The audience was encouraged to show up in drag too so there was also the opportunity for cross dressing and play without it being Halloween.  We laughed, hooted, and danced our butts off!

So how do you feel about drag shows?  Love em?  Leave em?   Wana be in one?

i'd love to be in one, but my mom would hate it. she doesn't like anything "abnormal". like it's ok to be gay, but don't marry someone of the same sex, and no butch girls or men wearing girly clothes.
*sobs*

Quote from: Taka on August 10, 2013, 11:39:58 AM
i'd love to be in one, but my mom would hate it. she doesn't like anything "abnormal". like it's ok to be gay, but don't marry someone of the same sex, and no butch girls or men wearing girly clothes.
*sobs*

Taka your mom is at least part way with being OK about gay?  Maybe attending a drag show would loosen her up or desensitize her?  You might look pretty "tame" in comparison to drag?  Normal is sooo over rated!  I hope you do get in the show some day.......

I don't care either way, but it makes me uncomfortable when trans guys are drag kings because I don't understand how that's drag. I can understand a little more for drag queens because many of those outfits are unique to drag shows (ridiculous in a fun and artistic way).

Quote from: Edge on August 10, 2013, 11:50:54 AM
I don't care either way, but it makes me uncomfortable when trans guys are drag kings because I don't understand how that's drag. I can understand a little more for drag queens because many of those outfits are unique to drag shows (ridiculous in a fun and artistic way).

I get that Edge.  The audience last night was given $5 off for showing up in drag.  I showed up in my now routine Tessa presentation and figured If I totally passed it would cost me that $5 and if I didn't I got a deal;-)  Darned if the clerk didn't give me a long second look but also gave me the deal, sigh.  Several friends did point out I that if I was really in drag i'd be in boy mode.

I feel there are trans people who are drag queens and kings. I know a guy who does drag king stuff (mostly for charity now) and he is a transguy. I think he went into it with the feeling that it met his needs and then found out later that it didn't, that the few minutes on stage wasn't enough and he had to be male all the time. I don't know any drag queens well, but I know that some are kind of part of our (trans) community and some are not. Edge, I think it's in the acting. The guy that I know is a quiet reserved guy in real life and his drag king character is boisterous and loud.


--Jay

Quote from: Tessa James on August 10, 2013, 11:32:10 AM

So how do you feel about drag shows?  Love em?  Leave em?   Wana be in one?

my main problem is like you said people conflating Drag queens with trans womyn - I won't show up

1) because some ->-bleeped-<- is sure to try to pick me up and get mad when I tell him I am a lesbian - you see here in my city it is not valid for me to be of that orientation. and at a drag show or at the on gay bar where they do them is the only place where I actually get clocked in town.

B) would I be in a show? that would make me be a drag King - sorry I don't cross dress I am actually a Femme lesbian 

OK.
Drag is a perfectly acceptable part of the spectrum on this site, and both kings and queens are totally part of our community.

I know this thread will end up in tears so be very careful please.

Tessa  you may think of removing it.

Your choice
Cindy

OK locked before the arguments start.

Let me just add to Cindy's comment.  Drag is just one form of gender expression within our community.  I think we should all respect the gender expression choices members of our community make.  I know my own feelings shift from time to time - being bigendered does that.

It is important to respect each and every member of our community.