From performing in Shakespeare plays to hosting “drag balls,” the art of drag is an important part of LGBTQIA+ history and activism. Drag is a performance art that uses costumes, makeup, and other tools to present a theatrical exaggeration of gender. It challenges gender norms and critiques inequalities. However, in 2022, some US states introduced legislative measures regarding where and when drag can be performed. This fueled harmful rhetoric and misconceptions about the art form itself, which is not the first time drag has come under scrutiny.
Drag culture is as old as human culture. Many indigenous cultures practiced long-standing traditions of gender variance and non-binary identities. One of the first known drag queens was William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved man, who began hosting drag dances at his Washington, DC home in 1882. Frequently raided by police, his dances were some of the first recorded acts of resistance in America’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Nino Testa, an associate professor at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, says, “The pleasure was the resistance…The celebration of queer joy when it’s been denied in all these other spaces is activism.”
Drag has played an essential role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, including the Stonewall riots of 1969. Drag performers were among those who took a stand against the mistreatment they experienced. This sparked a series of protests that paved the way for modern LGBTQ+ activism today. As we near the end of Pride Month, we encourage you to not only continue learning about LGBTQIA+ history but to celebrate it too! While drag is activism and resistance, it is also a source of joy for people of all ages, races, and genders around the world. Check out the upcoming Twin Cities Pride events, which includes drag bingo, drag shows, and drag brunches!
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