Drag Race started their TV awards season engines and held an Emmy FYC event and performance at the Los Angeles LGBT Center to celebrate the reality competition series. Season 15 queens Aura Mayari, Luxx Noir London, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Salina EsTitties, and winner Sasha Colby took the stage for a special live performance of “Wigloose: The Rusical” — which has been dubbed as one of the best Rusicals in the show’s history!
The night also included a conversation with the queens as well as executive producer Tom Campbell, composer Brett “Leland” McLaughlin, choreographer Miguel Zarate, Senior Producer, resident judge and host of digital companion series “Whatcha Packin” Michelle Visage, and Christine Parker – Staff Attorney in the LGBTQ, Gender, & Reproductive Justice Project at the ACLU of Southern California.
Moderated by Variety’s Senior Artisans Editor, Jazz Tangcay, the panel spoke to the making of “Wigloose”, the importance of Drag Race in today’s political and social climate, the important role RuPaul plays both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, the evolution of the show from season one to the global franchise it is today.
In addition, the guests could scan QR codes in the theater and reception area to donate to the Drag Defense Fund, which was created by World of Wonder with donations from RuPaul’s Drag Race and MTV to support the ACLU’s work to defend and ensure LGBTQ+ rights.
Drag Race has become more than an entertaining show about the art of drag. It’s become more about tolerance, acceptance and celebrating queer artistry with joy — and a lot of shade. With the current landscape, its very existence is a form of protest against the anti-LGBTQ bills and laws being introduced in states all over the country. That said, the trophies are great, but the message of love from the show is what resonates.
Visage recognizes and appreciates the accolades that show has been given but also recognizes what the show is doing, socially and politically. She points out there is so much hate in the world when it comes to queer people and that it is frightening. “We’re going backwards in society,” Visage told GLAAD’s Anthony Allen Ramos on the red carpet before the FYC event. “[Drag Race] a very, very important show with a very, very important message.”
“Things are going into place to try to eradicate all of us,” said Salina. “The diversity of the [Drag Race] cast brings the art and love that is so necessary in these times — and it’s only going to continue to push the message that we’re not going nowhere, baby.”
Luxx tells Ramos that the people who are against drag are trying to frame as something totally opposite of what it really is. “You know, they’re trying to portray drag as something that’s bad and something that people should not be seeing,” she said. “I think that Drag Race is really showing drag in a light that is positive and that’s something that definitely needs to be seen with all of the negative press that drag is getting right now.”
Marcia says that this year’s season 15 winner Sasha Colby is the reason why this show is more important now than ever.
“She’s a beautiful, confident, happy, healthy, talented trans woman… and that is the image of transness,” admits Marcia. “That is the embodiment of what it is to be trans… and I think so many people just don’t understand that.”
Speaking of, Sasha points out that Drag Race has already won numerous Emmys and accolades. This is proof that society is — and always has been — engaged by drag. “We love a good Survivor and Big Brother, but nothing is really as captivating as seeing like internal trauma, instead of just being mean to each other,” she said. “Watching queer people who are s0 strong — you gotta be strong for this life and for them to be able to have a safe space to share all these hardships that we have. It makes people watching feel stronger when they can relate.”
As LGBTQ+ people continue to fight for equality, there are always wins along the way — the most recent one being the reversing of the drag ban in Tennessee. “For me it was like, ‘duh’,” said Visage in regards to the news. “This never should have been in the first place. Somebody with some sense somewhere made a decision.”
“I think if Tennessee can do it, you can probably do it too,” Marcia encourages other states to follow suit. “All of this stuff is based in lies and weird gross exaggerations of things that are not true and that’s not going to last. The truth will always come to light. The truth about drag and queerness is that we are beautiful, wonderful people and you’re just jealous that we’re better than you.”
Luxx says the news is amazing and also hopes that it trickles down to other states are are creating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. For Aura, it literally hits close to home as she is a Nashville queen. “The amazing thing about this was Sasha Colby was actually at Play Dance Bar in Nashville when they announced that the ban [was reversed],” said Aura. “It’s an amazing experience for her and such amazing news as well.”
Aura added, “A lot of girls in Nashville are very scared for their safety over there, but now that it’s not happening, I’m just so happy. I’m really glad and excited about that.”
What made the FYC event even more special was that it took place during Pride month. The event and performance just added to their queer pride and joy.
“Pride for me really encompasses being proud with all of who you are as a person,” says Salina. “Queer for me…it’s being gay, Latina, chubby, thick, loud — you know, proud of all of it. Discovering that pride within myself allows me to exude that in the world and then people can look at that and be inspired.”
“It is about being vocal,” said Luxx regarding Pride. “It’s about being outwardly yourself and not being afraid to show that. I think that having a voice and using your voice, whether it be donating or sharing the message of self-love or even just going out into the world and being outwardly queer and yourself… that is what pride is: just being yourself.”
As the queens bolster the message of “You can’t can’t ban queer joy”, Sasha said that it’s important that the queer community not listen to societal constraints. “We make up so much of the economy,” Sasha explains. “We are in charge of a lot with our votes. So, to have this joy being shown — this celebration of queerness just shows how much we need it and for it to last this long. That’s a testament to RuPaul.”