National Drag History Month
By Janice Covington
The art of Drag is a very serious part of the LGBT community. Being a Drag Queen makes you, without question a member of a unique family that many others in our community don’t understand. I hope this article will enlighten you in a way that will help you understand and give the Drag Queen the respect that many of them deserve. Drag Queens have been known world wide, like with the renowned Drag Company Finocchio's in San Francisco from 1935 to 1999. Also the Baton Show Lounge in downtown Chicago a well known nightspot since 1968.
Drag Queens have been known to be the leaders of and staging protest like the Compton’s Cafeteria demonstration in 1966, where Drag Queens, Transvestites and Hustlers were harassed by the police to the point that they took all they could stand. And the Stonewall neighborhood bar in New York City in 1969 where the police raided this establishment and all they locked up was Drag Queens. If there is trouble, the Drag Queen is at the forefront of the problem to make a stand, take action and will not lie down. Drag Queens patrolled the streets in the tenderloin of San Francisco as a vigilante group named the Lavender Panthers to protect the gay community from assaults and murder during 1970 to 1974. They took on this task because the police would not help, the Police would turn their back and let these atrocities happen. With no choice, the Drag Queen community took the initiative to move forward and organize to provide this protection without fear.
Drag Queens have been out and proud for many years before the Gay movement started in 1955 Philadelphia or any other organized equality group such as HRC. The first organized Drag Queen group was the Imperial Court in 1964. Many Drag Queens’ offer support to the community in many ways, from Bingo’s to Pride festivals and to raise money for both the Red and Pink ribbons. I have never seen a pride event without a Drag Queen riding on a float, displaying her crown with pride and gracing the makeshift stage with her beauty to entertain you during the festival.
What makes a Drag Queen is true grit, dedication and a strong sense of pride. A Drag Queen has to be strong to take the ridicule that some people even from our own community dish out because of misunderstanding. They must be strong because many will never have the chance of being a CEO of a Bank or upper management of a large Corporation. Not because Drag Queens are uneducated, on the contrary they are very intelligent and can hold a very educational conversation. Many have collage degrees and also they take advantage of the community collage system to enhance their education. But because of the fact that most choose to wear their Badge of Honor as a Drag Queen can only do. This outer pride causes some in our community to feel a drag queen is to flamboyant and only good for a show on a Saturday night at the club. I can relate because I am proud to be a Drag Queen myself. I have been in meetings and on the board of directors with some LGBT organizations and hear them speak of drag queens as a lower part of our community. Believe me I don’t sit there and take it, most of you know it will light a fire under my ass. How easy they forget the sacrifices that Drag Queens have made in recent history. Being a Drag Queen is not just about wearing woman’s clothes, it’s a state of being who they are.
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Drag Queens have a sense of loyalty to each other in the Drag community. Oh sure there is atamonsity and arguments among each other but never holding a grudge. I have seen arguments and hard feelings, and then in the next minute they are helping each other through a crisis or with getting ready for a show. Never for one minute think you can get over on one without the whole lot of them jumping back on you. Drag Queens’s stick together no matter what city they travel, they have friends off commonality. Drag Queens are a unique people and are very family oriented.
Doing Drag takes a very talented dedicated person to move from armature to professional statues. It takes a lot of financial support for makeup; material to make clothes, if you know how, or like me buy some anywhere you can lol. It takes a lot of preparation whether just doing one number or doing a pageant. To a Drag Queen it is a privilege to entertain on stage, she never makes back what she spends. She will be there for the show come hell or high water. So the next time you see a Drag performer entertaining at the club, or any venue, show your support by tipping her. Speak to her to say hi and most of all give her, her Honor due.