Austin: Put On Some Makeup

Well thank goodness for YouTube, Justin. And Facebook as well. I actually found an article several months ago in the Metro titled “Facebook, YouTube Increase Productivity”. I hung it up in my cube. The first time one of the higher-ups caught me on one of the two aforementioned sites, I just pointed to the article. They didn’t like it too much. *sigh* Managers. No sense of humor.

Anyways, I really liked the video you posted Justin. Drag queens are fun. They have always been a big part of gay culture. I love the stories of the Stonewall Riots when they talk about drag queens leading the charge against the oppressing NYPD and their bigoted “ethical laws”. There is definitely someone empowering when men put on makeup. I mean, just look at Braveheart and professional wrestling. Add a dress and a wig, and you have an unstoppable powerhouse.

In the past few years (or even decade), I feel like drag queens have sort of fallen out of cultural preference. Now, you really only see drag queens if they are performing at a club or some venue. Back in the New York day, drag queens were more of gay socialites. They would frequent various parties and bars either as an invited guest (to provide street cred) or just to have fun. It was all apart of the glitter and glam of “Old Gay”.

Fortunately, I think drag queens are now back on the rise. They are out and about more often on the scene and even featured on popular television shows (Project Runway, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, et al). I really like this trend, and I being one of the biggest advocates of the Old Gay, I hope to continue to see it grow.

I have recently been introduced into the younger and up-and-coming drag queen generation (mostly though my friend Dallas DuBois, pictured above). These girls are the future of this struggling institution, and I see a lot of promise. Many of them got their start out on Fire Island this summer and some of them were inspired by these fierce ladies to take up the heels themselves.

So if you’re out and about and you see a boy in a dress, do your gay duty to them. Encourage them, be inspired by them, cheer them on at their shows, and for god’s sake, tip them when they perform! ‘Cause if you think drag is easy, I would love to see your attempts.

And by the way, Dallas DuBois will actually be co-hosting with me at Paradise Lost, my weekly dance party at Boots & Saddle. If you want to get a glimpse at the future of drag, I’d love to see you there.