Ru Paul is a household name and drag queens are doing story time at local libraries. Has drag become mainstream? Certainly, drag is more visible than ever before, but not all drag is made equal when it comes to what we see on our televisions (or increasingly, our computer screens).
Transgender performers, who play a large part in the drag community, have noticeably been absent from Ru Paul’s Drag Race. Ru Paul and Drag Race have a complicated and at times controversial relationship with the transgender community, with alumni and fans frequently calling the show out for its lack of inclusion of openly transgender performers. In January of 2020, Drag Race alumni once again slammed the show’s casting of season 12 for its lack of gender diversity. Though a number of former contestants have since come out as transgendered and gender non-conforming after tapping their seasons, only Peppermint and Gia Gunn have appeared as openly transgendered women (Peppermint on Season 9, and Gia Gunn on All Stars 4).
Whether you think Ru Paul is misusing his platform by casting in a certain way, there is no question that Drag Race fails to capture the full variety of stories within the drag community. That’s why I love documentary film. For an hour or two, I am able to deep dive into a specific story and hear unique perspectives. The 1990 Paris is Burning, for instance, gives us a look into the NY ballroom scene at the end of the 1980s. I’ve recommended this documentary on the show before and for good reason. Scenes alternate between ballroom footage and interviews with members of the scene. Fans of Drag Race will enjoy the competition footage and the lengths performers go to in order to prepare, while those who feel Drag Race lacks a critical lens of gender, class, race, and sexuality will appreciate the candid interviews from a variety of voices, including transgender perspectives. Viewers will also learn how now popular terms like shade, reading, and voguing originated and were appropriated by young queer people living within the subculture.
After watching Paris is Burning you may be interested in spending more time in the ballroom scene. Speaking to the popularity of drag, Netflix has made available the 1968 documentary, The Queen, which depicts the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest. Blink and you might miss a quick shot of Andy Warhol. This documentary also discusses the themes of transgender and sexual identity. In one scene in particular, contestants discuss frankly about whether they would undergo surgery to become women if they could afford it, again speaking to the historical reality of transgender experience in the drag community.
Drag Race does attempt to interject episodes with gay history and politics, but as a reality television competition, I argue that the show can only do so much given the restraints of the medium and network demands. Documentaries like Paris is Burning are able to discuss difficult topics like transgender violence and AIDs without having to be palatable or accessible to mainstream sensibilities. Many would argue that Ru Paul should use his platform to promote more diverse examples of drag, but until then, if you’re looking for a side of history with your pop culture, considering watching Paris is Burning and The Queen this Pride Month.
*Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Paris is Burning, and The Queen are all currently available on Netflix.