Brooklyn's Underground Drag King Scene | Listen To America

While “Rupaul’s Drag Race” has made drag queens more popular than ever, these drag kings are still fighting for visibility. Subscribe: goo.gl/xW6HG
Get More HuffPost
Read: www.huffington...
Like: / huffingtonpost
Follow: / huffingtonpost

[@emeraldfern6135]

The comments on this video are a mess....... drag kings are fucking amazing and just as talented as queens. I loved seeing more king content

[@Juicycouturebubblegumwhore]

Em aww thank you

[@DJLargey]

Finally more drag kings

[@cavernofcrows]

Even in the drag world, men (dressed as women) take all of the praise and soak up the spotlight while women are still pushed to side. Disheartening.

[@kazum1809]

Angelique Perez I think it's because men the men are more willing to do the extreme they are more flamboyant it takes more then a good dick joke ya know if they point out the overly many thing then it would be good

[@aisforappol689]

Angelique Perez you have to create a platform for your voice without expecting a man to give it to you.

[@Sakuraaxx3]

Probably because there isn't as much girls doing drag

[@tammierose5043]

The lady kings aren't always as convincing as the queens. Not that said kings don't deserve recognition.... For some, the makeup is wonky. Men don't look wonky extreme.

[@17Indianrose]

@@tammierose5043 I agree with you, one King just drew on eyebrows and a mustache. There are Kings who contour, get caps / wigs, chest out, great clothing and make lesbian AND straight girls question everything :-p that's the King I think would be big, populair and great.

[@wickedamoeba8719]

This comment section is a tad disheartening. It’s not just a paper copy of the queens. This is not new. The drag kings are a modern extension of an old practice. Women have been dressing as men for centuries. There were doctors, soldiers, writers, athletes and even a pharaoh who turned out to be women dressed as men.

[@joyousorrow]

Drag Kings have been around about as long as Drag Queens... people just don't realize it b/c people never heard of them at all until maybe now.. i knew of them since i was a teen and always wanted to get into it.. and guess what.. i got an instagram now for my drag king alter ego >w> (if you wish to see it at all. @parkertristin.dragking). but yeah people need to do some education assuming this is brand new and made up since everyone knows what drag queens are =_=

[@silentj624]

@wicked Amoeba, no, that's not even the same context. just stop.

[@joyousorrow]

@@silentj624 if you are refering to the comparison to drag kings and women/girls who disgused themselves as men/boys do the reasons that the wicked amoeba made... then yeah that comparison is off since Drag Kings are performers.. Drag is an illusion and deception in a theatrical way... they never dressed in drag to go into war, become dipolmats, or anything like they said. They are just putting on a show like drag queens are known to do and even a bit more than their counter parts (the drag queens are the counter part) in theatrical ways... why do you think they pick masculine stereotypes or different kind of guys usually (however there are drag queens who have adopted this idea and are making their drag queen persona based on that since their are females are different in their own way... not all of them are glamour queens.. some are bookworms, some are tomboys, some are athletes, some are nerds/geeks, etc.) but the true thing is that Drag queens and drag kings have been a thing for years (even bio/faux kings and bio/faux queens have been a thing as well :P)

[@olavu11]

I believe what has also propelled drag queens is the normalizing of men who dress up as women in movies and on TV. The list of male comedian cross dressers could stretch a mile long, but you rarely, if ever, see female stars and celebrities dressed as men even if it's for laughs.

[@kazum1809]

olavu11 lol that’s because girls do it in every day life and it doesn’t look weird but if a guy wears a dress then oof

[@rosesgarden8622]

Kazum180 a girl wearing a fake beard and a suit looks normal??? Hell nah! Girls are usually super feminine have you seen Instagram??? Make up is thriving

[@Crybatty]

@@rosesgarden8622 I think that's part of the problem, the expectations for women that they dont u know?

[@pplcantuseyouifyoureuseles6705]

Rose's Garden no one always wanna look like a thot or a superficial robot

[@julijakeit]

@@rosesgarden8622 women wear pants and tee all the day, not all men wear suits and beards.

[@elsakristina2689]

We need more drag kings not just the queens

[@Sakuraaxx3]

Ouran Host Club High School is my biggest inspiration for wanting to be a drag king honestly

[@dazzle3264]

YESS it was a huge inspiration for me too.

[@danaknapek4084]

They all look so handsome I cannot take my eyes off them! Wish I could see their performences live!

[@dannydisco]

Love this!! Ppl in the comments who think kings are boring clearly haven't been to a show & are missing out big time

[@kazum1809]

Chloe Borison I have Been to few in Vegas back when my chosen used to be a queen out there idk kings and just less willing to be crazy

[@anz10]

@R Berg like drag queen dont make women look like asses sometimes lollll

[@alterdune]

I really love the inclusion of drag kings that aren't cis females in the discussion. I really think it's beautiful that there's a community so accepting and bonding such as this.

[@julianaragan7955]

We got trans men in my drag scene, there's a certain comradery between the king community that's just really special I think half of it is just being underappreciated by the audience and working together to change that. At least the local queens are welcoming.

[@DeborahStephens-bt5nnGhost]

All the odds are supposed to be against myself at 60 just starting into King Drag. But it doesn't matter, because I have nothing to lose and alot of fun to gain. ❤theole lesbo.

[@areeniebeanie]

"Being able to go out there and be like, 'hey this is my body' and people are like, 'YAAAY'" I'm deceased that was too cute

[@taiipotatoie]

I would love to see drag kings in mainstream media ;-;

[@Dan-B]

Someone please do a drag king show. If Dragula can do it on a 2nd hand shoe string budget, then anyone can.

[@alexandrosteck8015]

I'm a gay man and I'd like to see more of the Drag King community because I don't understand it!! I just say is the opposite of Drang Queens!!

[@EveryDayALittleDeath]

I really want to get into drag. I used to be involved in theatre and it was hugely theraputic for me, but I developed an autoimmune disease and I no longer have the stamina to do a full two-hour theatrical performance. But I could handle the rehersal and performance of a song or two.

[@julianaragan7955]

King drag changed my life, it's a great way to get into the spotlight as a disabled person if the local queens are welcoming or there are already kings around.

[@danielorlovaquinn]

This is actually really inspiring

[@stephaniecleveland8264]

Ironically I think it’s because they are women socialized as women that they expect to be looked at; however, masculine energy is aggressive, pushes forward and repels/pushes the viewer away, out. Plus it is considered “normal” so nobody looks at men, in our culture. This is why women dress boyish when we want not to draw attention. Feminine energy draws you in. Many if not all male actors and performers know how to draw in an audience through feminine energy which is just about being, softness and receptivity. This is why men being like women/drag queens (and women being womanly) draw us in and drag kings don’t. All the “inclusion” language feels like a misguided attempt to ignore that obvious phenomenon.

[@gc6929]

kinda sad that in 2022 I'm trying to learn more about drag kings and 90% of the stuff I'm finding is 2000-2018, and /maybe/ some stuff from 2020 if I'm lucky. it's rough seeing so much hope for this form of performance to grow more mainstream and seeing that the amount of content & coverage they're getting has only lessened since then. I really hope as the pandemic begins to peter out, we can see more interest in kings and other drag performers. I'd love to get involved at some point but it's hard to find info. every time I think I've found something local, the article is 3+ years old.

[@nataliebalic2613]

I love drag kings soooooo much ! They give me more confedence to cosplay males XD

[@joyousorrow]

damn straight :D

[@hannahrosereviews5073]

I want to be a drag king SO BADLY!!! But, i wanna do it on Instagram.

[@estrella-h9l7r]

If you want to be a drag king, just stop it.

[@mackinzie5241]

@@estrella-h9l7r ??

[@endergem-tk9pc]

@@estrella-h9l7r Why such the asshole comment?

[@joyousorrow]

i think that might be the best place to start I am on there as well on my drag king alter ego (if you wish to look mine up.. it's @parkertristin.dragking).. but i'd deff go there and there are kings and queens whow been in this for so long and have no issue with each other or bio kings and bio queens... don't be afraid to reach out to them and ask for their advice and experience

[@joyousorrow]

@CH "Parker" and I apprieciate the support ^-^ And making your day full of brightness :3

[@AerisDubleau]

Can we just get a new series of drag race with kings. Ive wanted to see something like this for a long time and i think it would be interesting and that it could gain traction.

[@kaseygrace1396]

Unfortunately I think the biggest reason queens will be more popular and successful at least for a while is because masculinity is not commodified and put on an aesthetic pedestal the way femininity is. It’s kind of the same as the modeling or porn industry, masculinity just isn’t seen as entertaining/beautiful/sexy/fun the way femininity is. But i think it absolutely can be, especially in a time where “toxic masculinity” is a hot topic. And more drag kings showing how masculinity can also be performative and fun and aesthetic based will help show people how gender in general is simply expression.

[@eclipse1002]

I really want do be a drag king!! Any tips? 😍

[@JadeVincetteEntien]

FallenAngel yeah we should help each other lmao I'm trying do drag for pride

[@joyousorrow]

i started about 2-3 years ago bur made my official insta account for my alter ego last year.. there are a lot of other people on instagram both kings and queens that are willing to help ya out

[@JadeVincetteEntien]

@@joyousorrow may I ask for your insta handle?

[@joyousorrow]

@@JadeVincetteEntien my insta for my drag king persona? @parkertristin.dragking

[@williwildfang8032]

Wait you wanna tell me the man in the grey suit is actually a woman? Holy cow!

[@Juicetheeunuch]

this person was watching with a mute button stuck.

[@zoedixon2344]

I want to be a drag king really bad but its so hard to find representation. all I find is videos of drag kings preforming filmed on the iPhone 4 with horrible audio

[@mamylany1819]

Omg I would love that. My drag King character would be a French man (I'm French), I'd stuff my crotch area and I would be the biggest flirt xD

[@johanvannadier5573]

Its nice seeing femmenine girls ( pic from far lol) wanting to become a drag! I want too lol guess id be a Mexican with big mustach hahaha

[@muzduza44]

Magnificent

[@mrp21_]

I only heard of drag queens but never knew drag kings existed

[@joyousorrow]

they are a real thing.. infact there's also another kind of drag which are known as bio king/faux king, bio queen/faux queen, drag prince, drag princess, bio princess/faux princess, & bio prince/faux prince :3

[@peanutbuttertoast7742]

*You learn something new every day!* ^^

[@mattm7378]

Maybe we need to rebrand drag as "gender performance". Then the audience is expecting to see any gender performing either masculinity or femininity. The market for super niche groups like bio queens or bio kings is small at this point and it can grow by allying with others in the gender performance world. The reality is, you need a market so you have to be willing to carve it out in creative ways.

[@christinecannibal844]

Drag is gender performance though. That should be common knowledge. We shouldn't have to rebrand it because people are too dumb to know what it means lol. I know what you mean though

[@lilygriffin2615]

I'm curious, would the drag king scene be open to straight women as well?I'm a straight female and I'm growing more and more warm to the idea of developing a drag king persona but as a straight female, would I receive hate

[@ΜάρωΖ]

Sexual orientation has nothing to do with being a drag king. Straight males can't do drag? They can. So can straight females. Go do your thing and don't listen to anyone

[@peanutbuttertoast7742]

@@ΜάρωΖ Agreed! ^^

[@bsb0801]

RPDR is just for Drag Queens. What about a new show?

[@ZariDeMg]

It's not called "RuPaul's Drag Queen Race" but yeah, that would be interesting!

[@bsb0801]

Zariih yes but it would be much more fun to create a complete new thing. To create a new fandom for a new show and separate two things

[@christinecannibal844]

That's how I feel too. Drag Queens and Drag King's shouldn't compete together, not because "one is better than the other" but because they are going for a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LOOK. Drag Queens try to look like women and Drag King's try to look like men. It's a totally different competition. Just like how beauty pageants are separate by gender. Example, its good for a drag queen to have a good tuck. For a drag king they need to stuff their pants. Drag queens wear fake tits, drag kings hide their tits. They are judged on different criteria. That's why there should be a drag king show and a drag king show. That's just my opinion though lol .

[@naluzoniro]

Yeah, enough of RuPaul already, let's crown some new royalty !

[@DrediWest]

I can't believe I'm just finding out about drag kings😩🤦🏼‍♀️ Better late than never tho. It's time to educate myself

[@alfredbaeumer3643]

So cool❤

[@rage3475]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@oddanderson9131]

Be careful scrolling most of the comments are filled with shit

[@crestfallen_anino]

We totally need a Drag King Competition :0

[@MoonchildOfDarkness]

This is awesome and there will be more of it, enjoy being the beginning of a new kind of storm

[@historyjunkie3144]

I found my people!

[@Moondustsmellsfunny]

Such beautiful people

[@nevertoooldfordolls]

I would love to get into drag but I barely know what it is and I have no idea what/how to do so.

[@pheonixrises11]

Never Too Old for Dolls find a person you want to look like or just buy what you think would be fun. elwhat kindbof hair would be fun, what kind of eyebrows, do you want facial hair? to wear a suit? to wear sweatpants so low they show your boxers? a leather jacket with sunglasses? you might want a wig and binder, maybe even a packer l hope these ideas help.

[@ks.f.1203]

Drag queens/women have more range when it comes to looks solely because there are very few limitations on what a "drag queen" can be. The representation of masculinity has always been limited due to the shallow parameters of what society views masculinity as being. Plus, in my opinion drag kings are not very interesting subjects unless they "loosen their ties" in deliberately reframing those signifiers of cultural masc. Although, one could say that the formation of the punk scene decades ago helped to subvert tne roles of homosociality and gender performance. This community is still crucial to changing the shape of what masc. can be.

[@happybeetz]

I think this is very similar to women's sports, the size of the scene (monetarily and culturally) is always going to be proportional to the size of the audience.

[@jessicachuon7948]

Omg, Im in love

[@jba28]

Never knew this was a thing. Pretty cool

[@elghanzitho.7401]

hillary i better see you one day on the tv :) i kinda wanna be drag king

[@EsDoncor]

Rupaul is a Cis-man who created a show where other Cis-men transformed into the idea of femininity. Ru is not responsible nor a voice for every single drag expressionist and that's why nobody should ask him to include demographics that were not intended to be on his show; is not like you change the formula of a show just to make everyone feels good. Swimming and Running are two different sports and you should judge the contestants' abilities in separate competitions, the same with different art forms. We should have a drag king race or an all inclusive drag race made and produced by someone else and let Ru be himself

[@jotunnhime]

Yah I think a drag king or at least someone more involved with drag kings should do it, I think it's too big of a jump for rupaul and I don't think it's really what people want cuz I dont think he can criticise them in a constructive way the way an experienced drag king can and already there's way too many rupaul drag race seasons in the last year and too many rumoured in the next one its too much to catch up with honestly

[@lmcb8447]

the stereotypes... lots of masc men and masc women do watch drag performers, queens and kings alike, regardless of sexuality... some of y'all have limited views on fem abd masc and of men and women....

[@polydipsiac]

I wanna see some drag king shows

[@LioMurdest]

WE NEED A DRAG QUEEN TV SHOW!

[@oregongirl4352]

Well my friend your representing John Gacy w that look lol 😂

[@makenziefullen696]

Make a drag king show!!!!!

[@HiNinqi]

This is so cool

[@dnnnforfordnnn7838]

YES! LIFT. WOMEN. UP.

[@hanswurst579]

I love how the world is driving nuts XD

[@acroissant3721]

I gotta try thiss

[@allisonfleming2113]

Gawd damn it! Someone give him a competitive show!

[@alarcon99]

Murray Hill is the American Don Francisco and I’m Here For It 👏

[@geofferypmeyers]

I came here bc I just found out about drag kings today 😧

[@ahtijansson9283]

i find drag kings so alluring

[@iridiumSerpent]

The first King looks like a mafia boss lmfao

[@christianacevedo2741]

Dragula has 2 drag kings now 💜

[@BridgetNakuya]

If you don’t see yourself represented, go out and represent yourself.

[@schiros123]

I hate that drag kings aren't represented like drag queens but the fact of the matter is kings need to update their craft. The looks and the skills are dated. Drag kings do not seem to have the same committment to drag as the kings. Their makeup has not even half the effort or skill or realism of drag queens. Just true.

[@lunalovegoodwitch]

Also to say weirdo is very rude and disrespectful and insulting

[@stephaniecleveland8264]

I think many women don’t find drag kings attractive. You can’t force people to find you sexy or entertaining. I don’t know. I’m not a lesbian but many lesbians I know don’t like the look of men, and straight women don’t want to ogle other women. Traditional drag is very popular with heterosexual women according to the Internet. I like seeing pretty men.

[@kitsunefaye1661]

I’m bisexual, and I love stud girls. I love drag kings.

[@nicholasdeubler]

WHERE WAS SWEATY EDDIE?!?!

[@lunalovegoodwitch]

Intresting but when they said RuPaul and her it is not her it is his

[@plworld5315]

Well I think drag kings are boring and drag queens MUCH funnier

[@maramorha]

rupaul was referring to trans women in drag not drag kings when he made those statements.

[@naluzoniro]

Doesn't make it any better

[@maramorha]

naluzoniro wow dude way to reply to a year old fucking comment.

[@ivanova9553]

Totally down to be entertained by drag kings, but I just don’t find Murray funny or charismatic. He looks part, but the delivery is flat- definitely going to scope out some better drag kings though.

[@leandromonteagudo1198]

Why there are no Kings at RPDR???

[@mattm7378]

because its a completely different beast. Why are there no bio queens in that show either? It's king of like asking why there are no submarines at a car show...

[@CoCojoy420]

Only in North America try this in a Islam country, and see what happens yo!!!!

[@annawimpey5307]

Drag queens always joke about the "side" money. They receive tips as they perform. Kings are entertaining but are not as salacious as queens.

[@mattm7378]

True! The reality is that MANY if not most Queens turn tricks to supplement their income. No one likes to bring that up on Rupaul (Except Willam). The truth is there are a group of men who lust after queens and that drives the demand for them. Drag Kings arent generally involved in the sex trade industry in my experience and that hinders their marketability. Its an unfortunate truth

[@BeccaMoses]

[@fjordsi7404]

It is not the same level of extravagence, exaggeration, artistry and acting. Andro Gin is an example of that, but I don't see many performers like them.

[@pleasesteponmepaulsimon5689]

I appreciate drag kings, hell, I think id start doing it! But I don't think the first person was very humorous, not the best first impression.

[@silentj624]

honestly the difference between kings and queens, just from this video, is that the queens are just more interesting to look at. just like with men's and women's clothing in "regular" fashion you can just do more with women's style. the female aesthetic is just supreme. there's no way around it.

[@Lord_Brownie]

I feel like drag kings are far too similar to drag queens to stand out, in order to bolster their brands they need to differentiate themselves from the queens. Even their naming conventions are reminiscent.

[@krisrodrigues1]

It’s sad to see that people think being who they really are is being anything but who they really are. And that accepting themselves for who they really are is loving themselves more for not being who they really are.

[@Juicetheeunuch]

Anyone find it interesting that all the videos of drag kings are documentaries or "how-to" videos? Few performances or few clips of the performances because they are awful. Both forms are utterly ridiculous (in the purest meaning of that word). But drag kings bring the absurdity more to the forefront. Drag Queens are consciously or unconsciously mocking the female.

[@feltmaedchen]

That mocking aspect has always limited how much I could appreciate drag, even though I still have immense respect for drag queens' bravery and ability to embrace feminity so unabashedly in the modern patriarchal world... Your comment about limited restrictions made me curious about other drag queen personalities. I don't know many names in that field, and my impression has always been that they're very flirty, sassy, bold, and entertainers at heart. But are there any drag queens who take on other stereotypical feminine roles? I'm talking complete opposites: bookworms, wallflowers, elderly matrons (and yes, I don't mean drag mothers lol)?

[@LadyOrland0_]

@@feltmaedchen miss Coco Peru

[@NougetChops]

Lawd there's so much wrong with this thread

[@prem_patel7]

I am first

[@iamthisiam]

Ew.

[@V8V88]

WTF!!

[@wyatts_view]

they want us to give them attention but gay men are just more entertaining

[@daverodriguez8595]

Or maybe because their culture is so sensitive and not funny. I mean you have to feel yourself before you want anybody else to feel you.

[@daddydaddy4835]

these people are a result of a fallen society.

[@tumblebugspace]

I fail to see how drag is different than blackface.

[@ravenclawthestral3964]

Get back under your bridge

[@tumblebugspace]

@@ravenclawthestral3964 That’s the realm *you* need to return to.

[@ravenclawthestral3964]

@@tumblebugspace Nah, internet trolls live under bridges. Get it? It's like a pun.

[@tumblebugspace]

@@ravenclawthestral3964 You call that a *pun?* Pathetic. As usual, no substantive reasoning, just empty headed-ness from the gender ideologists.

[@ravenclawthestral3964]

@@tumblebugspace lol Imagine telling a joke to you. 'You call that a joke? Pathetic. As usual, no reasoning to it. Exactly what I would expect from a type like you.'

[@cassiesmum]

Just looks like kids playing dress up...I could never take a 6`2" female and a 5`2" male...with curves.. :)

[@datgurlky1]

They're all confused. And that's ok. Drag kings are ... Meh. They look afraid to let go. Like confidence is lacking in some way. 😑 The men acting like women ...amd the women acting like men. They could ultimately be together. 😬

[@draghorrorstory]

Nope nope nop Drag kings should NEVER be allowed on drag race. Make a new show for them. They dont need to go ruining RPDR

[@vicktorcasais3670]

Drag kings are just boring.

[@entity3810]

Vicktor Casais then why are you here? Ugh get over yourself

[@estrella-h9l7r]

As a woman myself, I find this disgusting.

[@mackinzie5241]

It if you think this is disgusting then go out into the real world hunny.

[@burn1ngsh0pp1ngcart]

WHY?! I find drag kings SO inspiring, and I'm a girl and this doesn't disgust me one bit!

[@TheChristianCunningham]

Gross

[@alyfepoisonbunny2716]

Christian Cunningham why? Because it's different from your views? Ok so why did you watch the video if it's not your cup of tea? So you can spew your own hate and insecurities on others? I think some contents are gross on KZbin and other platforms do I watch no. I stick to what I like and try new content if I do not like what I see I just leave or not watch or read it. But yeah...so if you came to this channel and video knowing full well what the content is why even bother waste your time and energy. Find something more productive with your life like donating to cancer center of America or something along those lines.

[@kazum1809]

Alyfe Poison Bunny Shadow I think it’s just girls trying to be funny but girls aren’t funny

[@draghorrorstory]

@@alyfepoisonbunny2716 I watched it because I thought it was cool. Up untill the part where they said kings should be on RPDR. Yaaaaa No

[@entity3810]

Kazum180 the misogyny jumped out

[@sofiadz.8148]

@@kazum1809 lmao u say that as if Ellen wasn't one of the most famous shows ever

[@Otacon-ek4rw]

Barf

[@theprettyaverage9899]

Yes, you're correct your attitude is vomit inducing

[@kazum1809]

The Pretty Average drag kings is stupid it’s only there because women have thing where they copy men

[@ruthlesswolf1218]

Kazum180 And your grammar and sentence structure suck as well.

[@williwildfang8032]

Yes that describes you perfectly

[@kazum1809]

RuthlessWolf 121 drag kings are boring really boring drag queens are crazy they do way more exciting things I mean queens know that they are male and use that they are disgusting and point out everything wrong with them self’s that’s why they are good kings don’t trust me I’ve been to at least six drag shows and five of them had at lest a few kings and they where all trash because there’s only one way to act and that’s masculine and masculinity isn’t fun sooo yeah