Student Life October 2019
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
WHY IS DRAG<br />
SO IMPORTANT?<br />
BY SOPHIE BRACKETT<br />
When I was 14, I discovered the tonguepopping,<br />
sashaying world of drag queens<br />
when I impulsively followed drag queen<br />
royalty, Trixie Mattel, on Instagram. I<br />
had always admired drag queens but my<br />
admiration quickly turned into complete<br />
love when I became absorbed in drag queen<br />
culture. I’m into everything drag from<br />
Rupaul’s Drag Race to ‘Nails, Hair, Hips,<br />
Heels’ by Todrick Halls. I understand that you<br />
may be thinking, ‘why is this girl so obsessed<br />
with drag?’ Well, I’m going to tell you three<br />
reasons why drag is so important in society<br />
and why everyone should appreciate it.<br />
LGBTQ+ EDUCATION<br />
Nowadays, we are more aware of the LGBT<br />
community and I have personally gathered<br />
a majority of my information from drag<br />
queens. In the drag community, there are<br />
people who identify as gay, transgender, nonbinary<br />
and many more. As someone who is<br />
especially interested in supporting all things<br />
LGBTQ+, hearing real life stories featured on<br />
Rupaul’s Drag Race is eye-opening. A great<br />
example of this is Peppermint, who featured<br />
in season 9 of the reality show. Bravely, she<br />
came out as being trans after struggling with<br />
her identity continuously throughout her life.<br />
Her story truly inspires me and I’m sure it<br />
inspires many others.<br />
ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Despite the serious topics surrounding<br />
drag queens, they are extremely<br />
entertaining. After all, they were made<br />
to perform. Drag queens have the<br />
ability to make me laugh hysterically.<br />
One queen that never fails to make me<br />
laugh is Bianca Del Rio due to her dark<br />
and shady sense of humour. Whenever<br />
you’re having a bad day, search drag<br />
queen funny moments on YouTube and<br />
I can assure you, your mood will<br />
be lifted.<br />
UNIQUENESS<br />
According to Mother Ru, drag queens should<br />
have charisma, uniqueness, nerve and<br />
talent but the most important factor there<br />
is uniqueness. Drag queens aspire to be<br />
different and push boundaries within gender,<br />
sexuality and the norm. For example, Sasha<br />
Velour ( the incredible winner of season 9)<br />
defies stereotypes. She combines masculinity<br />
and femininity to encourage individuals to be<br />
who they are. To me, that’s the most critical<br />
message drag spreads, especially in modern<br />
day society with the pressure to ‘fit in.’<br />
88 • 88 OCTOBER • MY LIFE <strong>2019</strong> • • STUDENT LIFE LIFE
Change language