Drag resurrected
The queens are back and reigning once more
by David Stout | Associate Editor
May 26, 2012
http://goqnotes.com/15074/drag-resurrected/Drag, i.e, men dressing in women's clothing for entertainment purposes, is an age-old concept. It's thought by some that the word itself dates back to Elizabethan-era England. At that time women were barred from the stage — acting was considered an unseemly pursuit for the fairer sex — so men portrayed all the parts. It's said that ye olde playbill used the term "dressed as girl" to credit a male playing a female role. Over time, dressed as girl simply became "drag."
In the gay community drag has a long and storied history. We can't forget that the fight for LGBT rights began in earnest in 1969 when drag queens fought back against police during a raid of New York's Stonewall Inn. The establishment was a popular gathering place for black and latin queens, making it a frequent target of police harassment. In the early morning hours of June 28, Stonewall's patrons had had enough and their physical resistance sparked three days of rioting that officially birthed our equality moveme
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But, as the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt. Over the last decade it felt like we were steadily moving toward the tipping point where, to the post-"Ellen," post-"Will & Grace" generation, drag was little more than a relic from the past — an obsolete antiquity to be dismissed the same way previous generations rejected the touchstones of their forebears, e.g., "classic" gay films featuring tragic characters, the obsession with Judy Garland or rainbow colored everything.
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Is drag still a relevant and vital part of the LGBT community?
TalkBack
by QNotes Staff
May 26, 2012
http://goqnotes.com/15102/is-drag-still-a-relevant-and-vital-part-of-the-lgbt-community/We asked qnotes readers to give us their personal thoughts on the drag community and its impact on the LGBT community and the gay pride movement. Below is a response from Janice Covington:
The art of Drag is a very serious part of the LGBT community. Being a Drag Queen makes you a member of a unique family that many others don't understand. I hope this article will enlighten you in a way that will help you understand and give them the respect that many of them deserve. Drag Queens have been known worldwide, like the renowned Drag Company Phenocio's in San Francisco from 1940 to 1991. Baton's in downtown Chicago is also a well-known nightspot since late 1968.
Drag Queens have been known to be the leaders of and staging protest like the Compton's Cafeteria demonstration in 1967 and the Stonewall neighborhood bar in New York City in 1969. If there is trouble the Drag Queen is at the forefront of the problem to make a stand and take action. Drag Queens patrolled the streets in the tenderloin of San Francisco as the Lavender Panthers to protect the gay community from assaults and murder during 1970 to 1974.
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Drag, not just for queens anymore
A look at the drag king community and Hunter Down
by O'Neale Atkinson | Editor
May 26, 2012
http://goqnotes.com/15065/drag-not-just-for-queens-anymore/The drag queen community seems to have reached a new high with its mainstream media breakthrough, thanks largely to drag long-time celebrity figures such as RuPaul and the attention her Logo shows have brought to the art form. Their drag king counterparts are still in the early stages of breaking into the forefront of the community. Despite their lack of mainstream presence, the drag king community can be found everywhere with a lot of local talent here in the Carolinas, as well as a rich history both abroad and here in the U.S.
Charlotte artist Kit Thomas is known for both her colorful punk style art, as well as her alter ego, Hunter Down. The New York native is an Iroquois of the St. Regis Mohawk tribe located partly in upstate New York and Canada. In the past two years, along with delving further into her artistic interests, Kit has also discovered a love of being a drag king performer.
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Ready, set, DRAG!
3rd Annual Queen City Drag Race works it out for charities
by O'Neale Atkinson | Editor
May 26, 2012
http://goqnotes.com/15078/ready-set-drag/If you're a NASCAR fan, this may not be the drag race you were looking for, but, oh what fun it was! Teams of four gathered at Hartigan's Irish Pub to take part in the 3rd Annual Queen City Drag Race on May 12. The event is an annual fundraiser that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well as other charities selected by the contestants.
Taking a nod from the success of shows like "RuPaul's Drag Race," the Queen City Drag Race puts competing teams against one another, not for personal glory or fame, but to financially support organizations and causes. Contestants participate in a series of individual competitions and team relay races and are scored on their performances to determine the winners.
