I follow a lot of drag. Like, a ton. I follow good makeup artists and not so great makeup artists. I follow some who should be far more famous than they are, and some, who...well...in my opinion, could use a lot of work.
I can appreciate anyone who has the guts enough to put on a persona of the opposite gender, and be comfortable. It's not an easy task.
But, over the years, since I started following drag royalty on social media, I have come to hate one aspect of drag. And, that is the putting down of other people. I may question a performer's choices, but, it is a genuine question. It's not a read or "I could do better."
Reading, as they say, is fundamental. It's a part of drag that comes in the form of a "roast" of sorts. It's meant to be done in fun. And, not as a moral or mental attack. But, far too often, I have seen one small read turn into a flame war, with a number of casualties, who may or may not recover. This to me, is unacceptable.
For a sub-group in a minority, you would expect there to be support and encouragement. But, it often times, will come down to someone feeling a sense of entitlement, or having an opinion that they are better than they are. It comes down to not having a desire to learn from those who have come before. It comes from a belief that just because you are doing drag, you know better than everyone else what is going on and how to make things "better." And, it all ends up turning into a shit show, and people get hurt.
When attacks are made about a person's mental or physical health, that is a line that should not be crossed. That could be considered by some to be abuse. When the attacks cause a performer to throw in the towel, it's a sad day.
Whether it be in Maine, or anywhere else in the US, or around the world, we need to honor drag. Or, we will lose it. In Maine, we're losing performance spaces. When I first started going to drag shows, there was Blackstone's, Styxx and Mama's Cabaret. Studio 55 came later. Mama's is gone. Styxx, is due to be closed after New Year's. Golden Goddess Productions holds shows every couple of months. But, here in Maine, before long, there will be an abundance of Queens and Kings with nowhere to perform, at the rate things are going.
Don't let fighting be the death of drag. There are already enough factors working against drag on its own, without adding drag against drag.
Drag is supposed to be fun. Let that be the determining factor as to why a performer retires. Who cares if they're good, if they're having fun...aside from the audience, who will either tell them the truth, or lie and make them think that they're amazing. If a performer is bad, don't ask them back. Simple as that.
If I shared every opinion of every performance I have seen over the last 4 or 5 years, I would make a lot of enemies. I have seen good drag. I have seen bad drag. I have seen people who have the it factor. I have seen people who I would advise to hang up the wig and move on. But, my opinion doesn't have, and shouldn't have a bearing on the performers I see/work with regularly. Because, quite honestly, I have been disappointed in RuPaul girls, and I have been blown away by brand new performers. And, vice versa.
Social media is not the place to play out drag drama. While it may be fully entertaining, it sets a bad precedent for future entertainers. It gives them a reason to think that it is fully acceptable to be a bitch, just 'cause. So, think twice before airing your dirty laundry online. Karma is a bitch, and will hit you back with three times what you put out.
So, just remember. Play Nice. Make good choices, and, don't be a dick.
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