Charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. All traits used to describe the next “Drag Race superstar,” on the reality tv show, Rupaul’s Drag Race. This American reality show was a first of many liberations for the drag community since 2009. This has been the one result of proud drag accomplices that have been mainstreamed. Drag has been a formulator of many very diverse opinions since Japanese kabuki impersonations, and for three centuries, female impersonation and theatrics. In the (so far) heat of the twenty first century, many Americans who see Drag as an act of gay pride and carry more conservative values have grasped at straws to establish laws in hopes of preventing the publicity of acts of Drag. For example, Arkansas Republican state Sen. Gary Stubblefield said drag shows harm kids and “take away their innocence.” There is an absolute slew of lawmakers targeting Drag communities on the grounds of “adult orientedness” sexualization, including Tennessee, Oklahoma, and more that you can read about here. The protection of the young queer community is of upmost importance right now. Fines if over $20,000 for a show is unacceptable. Art is objective, but seeing it as an art form and costumed acting is the premise of it all. The conflict is the conflict of interest- a simple case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder.
