Above: RuPaul. Queer representation has led to a queer revolution...
With twelve seasons featuring over one hundred different queens, RuPaul's Drag Race has evolved from cult hit to worldwide phenomenon. You’ve probably seen the memes that have come out of the show, be it Alyssa Edward’s tongue pop cut to the beat of a Justin Bieber song or the compilation of queens in the 'Untucked' lounge slurping their cocktails to the backing of unbearably awkward silence. What you probably haven't seen, though, unless of course you have watched the show, is the astounding heart and bravery on display within each group of contestants, and the way in which their voices are expanding the minds of millions.
It's not just a fun, bitchy reality show. RuPaul's Drag Race was, for a very long time, one of the only television shows to depict and respect effeminate queer men, and remains the only programme to give a worldwide platform to over one hundred drag queens from around the globe. The impact of this extends further than your local gay nightclub and Netflix's home screen, however. Slowly but surely, the impact of Drag Race is helping to shape the social landscape of today; put simply, queer representation has led to a queer revolution, spearheaded by RuPaul herself.
The show, on one hand, makes an effort to humanize the queer tragedies that have led some to view our community with disdain or contempt. One contestant in season one of the show, Ongina, shocked viewers and the judges when she came out as HIV positive, exposing America to a sub-set of the queer male demographic that are regularly outlined even by members of their own community. RuPaul replied with love and acceptance teaching the world how to react if a loved one reveals their positive status to you, and Ongina has gone on to make waves with OraQuick, a HIV home-testing company, as a spokesperson for HIV awareness and support. Charlie Hides of season 9, a self-professed 'older queen', spoke of his struggles with the disease last year. While her HIV status is negative, she spoke of the torture of living through the 80's as an openly gay man and losing all of her friends to the illness. Together with the shows, these queens have not only educated viewers on the illness, but have exposed a younger demographic to the impact that it had; it is important as queer people become more accepted into society that we remember the struggles of the people that gave us the rights we have today.
Above: Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolochikova
(featured on Season 7, UNHhhh, The Trixie and Katya Show, All Stars 2 and All Stars 3)
The show has seen multiple spin-off series featuring it's most popular queens. The web series Fashion Photo RuView starring season 3 winner Raja and the Emmy nominated Raven is a queer-centric 'fashion police' which garners hundreds of thousands of viewers each week. The popular Netflix film Hurricane Bianca starring season 6 winner Bianca Del Rio is expecting a sequel this year, and the phenomenally successful UNHhhh web series fronted by All Stars 2 contestant Katya Zamolochiova and All Stars 3 front-runner Trixie Mattel was recently picked up by Viceland. Now dubbed The Trixie and Katya Show, the programme blends surrealist comedy with important queer discussion and has been a great success for the network.
Queens like season 7 winner Violet Chachki and All Stars 3 contestant Milk have had huge success in the modelling industry, and Sharon Needles, the winner of season 4, has had groundbreaking success with her original music. Little Mix even featured the self-dubbed 'triple-A girls' (Alaska Thunderf*ck, Willam and Courtney Act) in their Power music video, after their success as models for the American Apparel chain of stores. The fact that Drag Race has provided so many talented queens with a worldwide platform already proves it's deserving of its revolutionary moniker. More than ever, fresh, new and relevant queer voices are being uplifted into popular culture, promoting acceptance and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. The show is also inclusive to trans performers, with queens like Peppermint and Gia Gunn helping the general public to understand and support trans voices in a politically volatile time for their community.
Above: Alaska Thunderf*ck and Bob the Drag Queen
(featured on Season 5, Season 9, Scared Famous, The Trixie and Katya Show, Cherry Pop and All Stars 2)
Drag Race has, for a while now though, had its influence spread beyond the pink-walled 'werkroom' in which it is filmed. UK audiences were recently exposed to season 6 finalist Courtney Act in the hugely popular Celebrity Big Brother reality television show. As well as being hugely entertaining, the Australian fan-favourite engaged in multiple important queer conversations with her Big Brother housemates that were positively accepted within the UK's general public. Fellow housemate India Willoughby, a transgender news reader who's recent transition made waves within the reporting industry, was aided by Courtney, real name Shane, in explaining her identity to other contestants, and the drag superstar also regularly stood up for young queer people across the country; his fiery but smart composed debates with anti-LGBT MP Anne Widdicombe highlighted the logical fallacies that forms the basis for intellectualized homophobia.
Drag Race awarded Act the exposure and opportunity to compete within the Big Brother house, and in doing so she used her platform to help people understand trans issues, queer culture and what it means to be an effeminate gay man in the modern world. Shane/Courtney also formed a strong friendship with Andrew Brady, a former Apprentice UK contestant who identifies publicly as straight; their intimate friendship broke down barriers on what it meant for straight and queer identifying men to be friends, a notion that still remains shocking to some.
Above: Courtney Act, winner of Celebrity Big Brother UK
(featured on Season 6, Australian Idol, Celebrity Big Brother and UNHhhh)
Courtney's presence on Britain's TV screens during her time in Big Brother was undoubtedly crucial in not only promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance within the straight community but also within the queer one. Many people, myself included, went through or are going through a period of so-called 'internalized homophobia', predominantly referring to when a gay man is comfortable in his sexuality but still shows discomfort or sometimes hatred towards more effeminate members of the community, men who don't conform to social ideas of masculinity.
It was only through watching RuPaul that I began to accept feminine gay men. After going through a strict Catholic secondary school it was my understanding as a teenager that it was okay to be gay, as long as it's not shoved in people's faces, as long as you don't act gay. For many gay teenagers, male and female alike, to pass as straight is the aim, it is the highest compliment rewarded. Through watching Drag Race, though, I began to see the beautiful, artistic queens for who they were. It started a revolution within me, I realized it was okay to display femininity, to "play with all of the colours in the crayon box" as RuPaul himself puts it. I grew up. Some members of the community, though, still hold this archaic ideal that masculinity is better and more attractive. Dating apps are regularly plagued with the demand 'no fats, fems or asians', something the Korean-American queen Kim Chi re-claimed as an empowering slogan for people who identify as such during season 8.
Above: Milk and U.S. Athlete Adam Rippon
(Season 6, All Stars 3 and Marc Jacobs alum)
Indeed, this queer revolution led by the hit show is empowering millions of LGBTQ+ people all over the world to proudly accept themselves. Just last month in the 2018 Winter Olympics, figure-skater Adam Rippon, a huge fan of the show, made history as the first U.S. gay athlete to compete in the Winter Olympic Games. Not only did the athlete take the time to meet with Drag Race All-Star Milk, a queen known for her love of skating, but he also used his voice to promote queer acceptance in a turbulent political time. Bedazzled in glitter, the self proclaimed "glamazon bitch ready for the runway" publicly confronted Vice President Mike Pence when he refused to meet the VP due to his historically anti-LGBT views (Pence was leading the U.S. delegation at the Games). "You mean Mike Pence? The same Mike Pence who funded gay conversion therapy? I'm not buying it", the athlete was quoted to have said after the politician lashed out at Rippon for the public snub.
Many celebrities have enjoyed their time as judges on the show with Ariana Grande, Graham Norton and Lady Gaga being among the list of almuni. Others have proven to be huge fans of the talented queens that walk through the doors of the 'werkroom' each year. Mick Jagger himself was recently spotted enjoying a drag show in Chicago headlined by the All Stars 3 star Aja, and Cher has regularly expressed her love for the drag race girls, especially Charlie Hides, Courtney Act (who is friends with her son Chaz Bono) and Chad Michaels, a professional Cher impersonator and the winner of All Stars 1. This wide-spread acclaim has culminated with multiple Emmy wins and nominations. It cannot be underestimated how important it is for an established awards organisation to declare their respect for a show highlighting and celebrating queer culture, artistry and voices. This was further discussed in RuPaul and Michelle Visage's hit podcast What's The Tee?, available on soundcloud. Due to the show's success, a Thailand-based version of the show has just begun it's first season, highlighting the regions own, unique drag culture.
Above: RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage at the 2016 Emmys
(featured in RuPaul's Drag Race, The 'What's the Tee' Podcast, Watcha Packin', Celebrity Big Brother and Ireland's Got Talent)
A show that helps people accept others, accept themselves and understand varying perspectives in a time more divided and fearful than ever is a magical, special thing. With it's rising support, that increases with each new season, a generation of accepting, free and open-minded young people are emerging to revolutionize the culture that we live in. No tea, no shade, but drag culture and queer culture is changing lives, helping people come to terms with their own identity and enabling artists to fulfil their potential on a scale previously unattainable to drag performers of old.
It's not just a fun, bitchy reality show - it's a queer revolution.
You can catch RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars on VH1 or Comedy Central every week, and RuPaul's Drag Race Season 10 in March on VH1 or Netflix, where all other seasons are currently available to view.
Written by James Green
No comments:
Post a Comment