"We're Born Naked, the Rest is Just Drag." --RuPaul

Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been in training for two new jobs.  In the two weeks that I've been training, I've gotten to know some of the people I've had classes with well.  In some cases, to the point of being slightly uncomfortable... I mean, when you're talking about doing restraints, you get really up close and personal with them, physically.  Thus, the uncomfortability.

How many times has Bugs done drag?

Anyway, given the fact that I've been going to the fundraisers for Portland Pride, there were a few days that I felt exhausted, while I was in class.  One of the ladies in my class, asked me yesterday what the fundraisers were for.  So, I told her.  They're for Pride, and I'd attended to support the fundraising effort, but more importantly to support Shaunna Rai.

Spongebob does drag.

And, Manilla Luzon, a drag queen,
does Spongebob.

Through the course of the discussion, a few things came up.  She knew nothing of Pride, aside from the parade, so I gave her a rundown, of my understanding of the events of the past year, and why it's no longer called Southern Maine Pride, and now called Pride Portland.  (I pretty much glossed over it, because I don't personally know everything that has gone on with it.  I just know that the name change is for legal reasons.)  Anyway, one of the events that I've heard talk of, is a drag bowling event.  Just bowling, and Drag queens.  Personally, I can't see why a person would not allow their kid to bowl with drag queens.  It's just another way to prove that you're accepting of everyone.

Robin Williams shows up a second time, as Genie "cheers" for Jafar,
in Aladdin

Divine IS Ursula. Just sayin'...

What followed, was "Well, how do I explain drag to my kids? They're young, and I just don't know how to get them to understand it."  My gut response, which was unfortunately, not the response that I gave, was "Why do you need to explain it to them?"  Kids, in general, have a better grasp of what Drag is, and what it means, than most adults that I know.  I mean, think about it: Mrs. Doubtfire: Robin Williams in drag.  Aladdin: Genie and Iago BOTH impersonate women.  The Lion King: Timon literally says he's going to "Dress in drag and do the hula, OY!"  Looney Tunes: Bugs Bunny has been dressing in drag for well over 50 years.  The Little Mermaid: The Sea Witch, Ursula's character is based on the drag queen Divine. And, that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places where kids have seen drag, and it hasn't had any kind of negative impact on their lives.

My actual response was a quote from To Wong Foo, Thank You For Everything, Julie Newmar. Wesley Snipes's character Noxeema Jones said, "When a gay man has way too much fashion sense for one gender, he is a drag queen."  My thinking was that a kid could understand that. But, I realized after talking to Dan about it later, that I am not a parent, and I have a much more open mind to things that aren't necessarily "normal," than your average person does.

When I explained the situation to Dan, he reminded me that kids usually don't have an issue with drag.  Given the exposure that they get from both cartoons, and shows on the Disney Channel, or Nickelodeon, it doesn't require a lot of explanation.  The issue is not with the children, but rather with the parents who are closed minded.  He also reminded me of the title quote from RuPaul.  "We're born naked, the rest is just drag."

Dan says, "Every person, no matter who they are, does some form of drag.  Every piece of clothing that you put on, you're putting on to impress someone.  Every bit of makeup a person puts on is to impress someone.  That's drag.  That's what drag is all about.  It's when a man dresses as a woman, or a woman as a man, to entertain another person, in an attempt to get some attention.

With that explanation, you really don't need anything else.  There's no reason to have to explain drag.  Drag just is. It always has been.  Back in the day, male actors played female characters, because there were no actresses, with the exception of those who played in drag.  In more recent times, drag has been a part of society that was solely for entertainment...take Cabaret, for example, or Victor/Victoria...

I was reminded that I was being ageist, when I tried to "defend" the asker, stating that she appeared to be an older woman.  And, I was reminded, that this was a personal issue, not necessarily an age issue, as some of the best tippers, at shows, and biggest fans of drag queens, are people over the age of 50.

So, after all that, my revised answer of how to explain drag to your kids?  Expose them to it. If they have questions answer honestly. There's nothing weird about someone who does drag. If you don't have any experience with drag, do some research.  Drag queens are people too, and more often than not, they're willing to answer any questions that you may have.