RuPaul: our evil, problematic Queen? A deep dive...

[@nikolaizarnick1925]

Fun story about Ru. A friend of mine (an Ny/nj architect) was called in to find out why Ru's penthouse roof was leaking. Upon inspection, the culprit was found to be a plethora of small, round holes on the roof...caused by high-heels during drag roof parties. 😂

[@annalisasteinnes]

I'm betting insurance didn't cover that--though it would make a funny Farmer's commercial.

[@nikolaizarnick1925]

@@annalisasteinnes ha! It certainly would have!

[@pembrokelove]

That is amazing… and I bet insurance did cover it! There’s no prohibition on drag parties!!!

[@ellariel7457]

@@pembrokelove I agree! I mean, to deny the claim, the insurer would have had to be a real heel! 👠

[@roxyamused]

great pfp seven.

[@smirbelbirbel]

My ex (straight cis male) grew up in Colombia and had a lot of homophobia in him. We talked about it lots, but what really changed his views was when we lived together and I watched RPDR in our joint living room. At first, he ignored it, then peaked, stood longer and longer beside the sofa, until he finally fully joined. A year later, he came vogueing into the room when the theme tune played, we watched Pose together, he is now an outspoken ally. He is an ex for a reason, but as RuPaul shows, people aren't one dimensional. He didn't turn out to be a good partner for me by the end, but I am very happy that there is one more ally out therein the world.

[@VannahSavage]

This is such a positive and uplifting story, thank you for sharing. ❤

[@livvlife]

I don’t know if you are an ally yourself (bravo for being an ally and educating others then) or a queer person yourself (still bravo). Kind of a wholesome story !

[@BarbieDreamDungeon]

No one is born hateful, we can change minds and hearts

[@angiepangie989]

You literally made him a better man and partner for the next woman (or man, usually the biggest homophobes are secretly gay) and that's the kindest most selfless thing a person could do ❤❤❤

[@chrisz7494]

Happy endings often dont turn out how we think they will. Sorry that your relationship didnt work out, but he saw your example (watching RDPR in an unbotheree fashion) and completely 180'd his mindset. You worded it well: one more ally in the world

[@marymac3572]

Fun fact: there's someone on the RPDR subreddit who makes pixelnart of the queens as pokemon. It's very fun.

[@pl3816]

I need to see that

[@marymac3572]

@@pl3816 I misremembered, they're pokemon trainers. But still. If the link doesn't post in my next comment, you can Google "rpdr pixel pokemon" and it comes up.

[@radschele1815]

I saw Pokémon trainers as well.

[@margottago]

yesss, I love that person! almost as much as I love the moth biologist who finds exotic moth lookalikes of the queens 😍

[@marymac3572]

@@margottago That sounds amazing!

[@damaracarpenter8316]

An icon discussing an icon?! How iconic!! This is dramatic but as a young LGBT in rural Arkansas (circa 2010) RuPaul was TRULY an inspiration and guide to me as I navigated finding myself and even though she's no longer really who I fell in love with she'll forever have a place in my heart.

[@jessicaoutofthecloset]

So much love to you! She truly shaped us all ❤️

[@tylersmith4232]

And that is why they say to never meet your heroes. But what matters is the good we took from it and the things we do to make the world better because of it.

[@straberryshinigami15g97]

I hope this video discusses how he has said the t slur multiple times …

[@damaracarpenter8316]

@@straberryshinigami15g97 as a transwoman I really don't mind queens saying that word.

[@aithne7216]

Hello neighbor! I'm also in Arkansas.

[@uemochi9316]

I feel like RuPaul is a good example of how people can do good things while themselves not being a really good person

[@Anu90421]

true

[@tvcaplan]

Also nine times out of ten, a average-to-good person who experiences decades of fame and success will become a bad person. Getting everything you want and only interacting with people who want something from you is bad for the spirit

[@rubentheactor7853]

So a human being?🤣

[@queenqueen977]

okay sonic

[@JaneAustenAteMyCat]

Every single person has done something questionable in their life. It's when they continue to do it and don't learn or grow that it's a problem

[@pembrokelove]

24:41 it is also worth mentioning that Willow’s sister LITERALLY DIED OF CYSTINOSIS shortly after filming wrapped. That is a huge deal that needs to be talked about if we’re going to talk about someone “rising above”… chronic illness is not always overcome-able, and in Willow’s case it was particularly a gross thing to say.

[@lynxlubbpeeps]

Not to mention how the term 'rising above' is so icky in general. As if everyone else with the disability is 'below' just because they're unable to hide their disability as well.

[@lordfreerealestate8302]

@@lynxlubbpeeps You both have such good points 💛 In my experience, I`ve learned to give up on "overcoming" and simply learn to to work with my illness, not against it, to live a full life. But yes, there's so much pressure on disabled folks to "overcome" and be an inspirational success story. But being pushed too hard can do damage to your body and worsen your condition. It's okay not be strong sometimes.

[@SkyeID]

@@lynxlubbpeeps "rising above" *smh* nevermind the disabled people who are having trouble rising out of bed!

[@snakkomsex]

And Drag race seems to make a point of never making improvements or helping anyone. Larger people have to fight for the same (small) scraps of fabric as everyone else in design challenges, people having difficulties with doing physical challenges often do not get their tasks adapted, and so on. Not really comparable, but the fact that it's a competition doesn't mean that everything must be exactly the same for everyone. That isn't necessarily fair either.

[@ellariel7457]

@@SkyeID Hear, hear!! I’m mobile again atm, but have had periods - sometimes years on end - when I’ve been left bedfast by my disabilities. “Bedfast” is an old-fashioned word, yes - but one I’m so grateful my dad taught me while he was still here as a much more positive alternative to the usual “bedridden.”

[@sintija123]

Thank you for mentioning drag kings, I would love it so much if you made a whole video on them. As a drag king performer myself I feel really upset RuPaul hasn't done anything for kings and doesn't even acknowledge our drag

[@littlecatfeet9064]

It’s a drag queen race. That’s RuPaul’s world. Maybe pitch your own show.

[@wdjkncvgdfsbyt34jgvi]

Drag kings are so under appreciated!!!

[@ok-wv4st]

for a community thats supposed to be accepting is still very male dominated😞

[@livvlife]

And what also bothers me is how it’s rarely spoken about how cis women can do drag, weather it be a drag king or drag queen. Drag queens aren’t just males or those who identify as males. I notice drag is more accepting of trans women doing it than trans men, but I think that could be rooted in transphobia and seeing the trans woman as “basically a man” so to some there “isn’t much of a difference” but idk

[@BarbieDreamDungeon]

​@@livvlifeMaybe it has to do with the base being a male body? A female body is a big advantage in getting that queen look. Like, I, as a trans man, would have a big advantage in drag because of my real boobs, rather than detachable ones

[@mypathunfolding]

The other day I was driving on I-95 (maybe I-75?) in Florida, and saw a sign that stated that I was close to the Drag Racing Hall of Fame. I smiled and wondered how I didn’t know this was a thing in Florida. Then I laughed out loud at the fact that this museum is actually about car drag racing and not drag performance. Disappointing. 😅😂

[@MrPiccoloku]

"I was...in Florida" I'm sorry

[@daftpixi]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Every time I pass the signs on a road trip I'm like "omg cool here?!" then immediate "oh."

[@whimsybug]

when i used to be on dating apps, I used to put that I loved "drag race"...the amount of men that were so siked a "girl" liked racing was so so funny

[@Zaulr9797]

Oh yeah that’s I-75, just a bit south of Ocala, FL. It’s the Museum of Drag Racing 😂

[@dannork1240]

The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing really is a fantastic museum but I can’t imagine there’s a lot of overlap between the two types of Drag… (other than me anyway) I wish car culture wasn’t so bad at accepting people who are any different than them…

[@ashbee2053]

I’m glad i’m not the only one who thought that when Rupaul was saying how impressive it is that Willow Pill “rose above” her illnesses 😬 When michelle said it’s so great she never uses her chronic illness as an “excuse”, in one episode (might have been the same one) Everyone in the work room grabbed things for the design challenge when she had to take longer to open the boxes, and ended up being left with barely anything. She pulled together a great outfit, but to applaud her for not complaining when the producers gave her no accommodations and nobody other than Kornbread offered to help her is so aggravating!! They did similar things on Yvies season and I hated that mentality ugh

[@dionysus6969]

Ableism in a nut shell unfortunately! Its like why I am so happy for her winning because man did she not only deserve it she is literally one of the best drag queens ever but maybe she can help in bringing awareness to a lot of peeps about their ableist thinking and pov, I really hated it when Ru said that bs tho it further cemented my hatred of him tbh

[@livliveart]

22:22 Texan trans girl here, lifelong musical theatre performer. This conflation of drag (entertainment) and transness (identity)... It reminds me of when my former voice teacher told me that it would be "hilarious" to have a trans woman performing XYZ musical theatre role or song. I know she didn’t mean any harm, but... it was demoralizing. It's tough to explain, because I am a comedic actress. I'm a ham. But it has never been because of my gender. (If anything, my prior male roles were the drag ones.) Thankfully I have a lot of great theatre friends, and I do think Drag Race helped introduce them to gender-nonconformity (without expecting me to be like that), which I truly appreciate. But they aren't the ones casting shows. I want to play Fiona in Shrek, or Ursula... I want to be funny, but not because I'm AMAB. Otherwise it feels like I'll have to pretend to be a drag queen just to have a shot at affirming roles... I hope that makes sense.

[@rainkidwell2467]

If only a cis person could understand this

[@livvlife]

⁠@@rainkidwell2467I think some cis people could understand this while not fully relating to it if they are cis but also queer in some way. Imma cis lesbian, so I cannot claim I know what it’s like to be trans! I definitely cannot fully relate to the comment but I do understand it. Especially because as the comment discusses, identity and presentation aren’t the same. As a masc lesbian though, I can somewhat relate to part of the description, like feeling like you’re almost battling between your identity and how others perceive you? But I probably don’t understand it in the way that I can truly relate, but I can understand in the way that I grasp what OP is saying and have a queer perspective. But I’m also cis so I’ll never really know how it feels, but I have had my gender questioned before for being an androgynous girl. What I notice is a lot of cishet people confuse queer identity with one another and often see homosexuality and transgenderism as the same because they’re too dumb to understand the difference! I’ve met a lot of people who don’t understand the difference between drag and being trans. While both are queer (drag can be done by non-queers but still) it’s another instance of people failing to understand experimenting with gender presentation or androgyny and how queer people often express themselves outside of stereotypes of gender vs actual gender identity and feelings of gender.

[@labellissimabritneyellis7230]

Black people only got to be minstrels until minstrel shows became a relic of the past. And unfortunately until these minstrel shows are done away with we will be condemned to the same fate. It's one of the key reasons I am against this whole drag epidemic. Stay strong sister

[@RaeCarson]

I understand what you're saying. Even as a tween, directors would always cast me in character roles because I (according to each of them) had a natural sense of comedic timing and wasn't afraid to act out or "ham it up". But when some others (acquaintances or even strangers) would point out my height or body size/type as "naturally conducive to comedy" or something cringy along those lines, it was ALWAYS much more of a gut-punch than a compliment. These people don't seem to understand that I LOVE the aspects of portraying a character role -- especially in a production that isn't specifically comedic. It takes a lot of stage presence and pizazz to grab and hold the attention of any given audience and discovering the secrets that'll unlock each particular crowd and get them to laugh and enjoy themselves. Yes, I might use my height body size very much to MY advantage but it's not because I want to be the next Melissa McCarthy or w/e. Oh, and for the record, I'm 5'9" and plus-sized, grew up a cisfemale and came out later in life (age 40) as genderqueer and pan.

[@SkyeID]

@@livvlife "transgenderism" is an offensive term used by transphobic right-wingers who go on to say that trans people have some kind of sinister agenda to convert their children (or society at large) into the transgenderism cult. I know this because I'm trans and those are the comments I've seen on my KZbin videos.

[@NihilisticWhim]

Thank you for this dive. I am an oldhead fan, someone who was a masc4masc cis-whitepassing gay man (or at least thought I was) when the first season came out. My first thought was "Oh great, I guess now LOGO is going down the drain" until I actually sat down and watched it a season later. It was eye opening to me, allowed me to get in touch with my feminine side and also understand the queer community more. I had to do a lot of heavy lifting and I still do, my drag mother was able to slap the casual transphobia out of me years ago that I had learned from RuPaul's early seasons. I am no where near whom I was when RuPaul's show came out and I still watch a lot of it almost religiously out of respect of what it has done for me and for the queer community as a whole. That said, I am not a vocal part of the fandom anymore. I am not a blind believer in RuPaul's image. I know the show can and should do better. Camp Wannakiki (which started here on KZbin!) and Dragula have both broken barriers seasons ahead of RuPaul. Camp Wannakiki had the first Drag King performer by one season (though they have their own issues with Kings) and they broke a few other barriers. I use those two shows as reference because they have done better, they show different aspects of this niche in our community, and they stride forward. RuPaul's Drag Race (Main Show + All Stars) feels very manufactured now, almost like I'm watching a calculation being worked out with late minute additions by fan theory or responses thrown in. I love drag, I love how it got me out of complacency and stifled stagnation and into activism and helped me discover my own identity as a queer person. I know our current era isn't perfect but man, I'm going to miss it when it's gone.

[@droolingfangirl]

Also a fan from the first show. Me I’m cis, straight, white, etc. I loved from the start how the show seemed to be about humanizing the people who do drag. I was very sad at the problematic aspects, especially how the contracts that they sign end up with them being restricted and used. :(

[@Acidfunkish]

My bro was definitely an assimilationist gay, and always had trans male friends, but def had some problematic views around drag queens and trans women (eg: the act, itself, is disrespectful and inherently appropriation). He was a good person, but lack of exposure kind of narrowed what he deemed "acceptable," unfortunately. Now, he's a huge drag race fan, and able to see more of the nuance behind it. He's even opening up, a tiny, tiny bit, to his feminine side, and isn't so automatically dismissive of femboys, anymore. It has allowed him to grow, as a person, and I'm so proud of him, for that. And, yes, drag can be used for evil, for disrespect, and as appropriation, just like any other art form. But, it can also be used for good, just like any other art form. I hope we continue to see more of the latter. 😊

[@arsena5209]

I was never a Ru Paul or Ru Paul's drag race fan, only a fan of a few queens who were on the show, mainly Katya and Trixie but at some point also Raja, Raven, Bianca, Bob the Drag Queen and some others, so I don't really have any opinions on Ru Paul, though I have heard about the transphobia before and of course do not approve of it, but I love hearing about people's experiences with him and the show, your comment was very insightful! 😊

[@agxryt]

​@@Acidfunkish is that a "problematic" view? That drag is appropriation? That seems like one of the very few counter-drag views that are actually reasonable. Not everyone who disagrees should be labeled "problematic". That will just isolate people

[@Acidfunkish]

@@agxryt Didn't even bother reading my whole comment. Cool.

[@Mushroomelixir]

"did you see that article from instinct magazine?" "oh the fracking?" "NO NOT THAT-" "🙅‍♀️" "🙅‍♀️"

[@moonsnakesheddingskin]

Lol Bob & Pep are the best 💚

[@Mushroomelixir]

@@moonsnakesheddingskin Ikr??? Icons fr

[@noorieboorie]

With the unintentionally synchronized flailing 😂

[@QueenRee17]

Probably my favorite clip on youtube

[@sarahconnors8909]

thinking about the s14 finale where ru asks willow pill about how her chronic illness is and she goes “i don’t see how that’s any of your business” and changes the subject. also! love yvie oddly. i find it worth noting that in AS7, she was talking to ru and michelle about how hard it is to have eds and actively losing mobility. she started crying and made a diffusing joke and both of them commented about how “at least you can laugh about it”. that struck me as really icky when i saw it because she was clearly upset about it

[@TheYouPoop]

I think that's a bit Ru has; she says it's the perfect answer for any question

[@beckstheimpatient4135]

Yvie breaks my heart... you can see she's trying to do as much as she can before her body fails her. To have her mistreated as she was on AS7 is heartbreaking.

[@ellariel7457]

Wait! I have checked into and out of watching Drag Race through the years … and have skipped most of AS, obviously, including AS7! As an EDSer myself - there was an EDSer on the show?!? Dropping everything I’m binging to go find Yvie and AS7 - and her original season - NOW!!

[@ariazuniga7193]

​@@ellariel7457yvie was originally on S11

[@DeaDiabola]

​@ellariel7457 GOOBLE GOBBLE ONE OF US! ONE OF US! As another EDSer I also gotta catch up with AS...though I don't know if I want nor need to see someone like us being mistreated.

[@MKMonsterr]

Jessica, do you know about Deafies in Drag? I feel like that's a KZbin channel you might be interested in. They make a lot of videos about their experiences as deaf people, and are very fun to watch, especially as a hearing student learning ASL looking to see signing used naturally and in a non-academic setting.

[@resourceress7]

Yes! Great suggestion. And also, everything is fully captioned in English, so any of you who are intrigued should go ahead and watch. They really have fun with comedy sketches, in exaggerated style. (Best wishes on your ASL learning journey. For building your skills with natural, everyday ASL, find some local Deaf events and be sure to chat with people. In the meantime, KZbin comedy. :) Also, I encourage you to watch the news in ASL. Try a KZbin channel called The Daily Moth.)

[@Moon17ob]

I just watched all of there shorts. There hilarious and I loved it. Much fun

[@Elirum]

I really recommend watching a video called “Drag and Feminism” here available on KZbin. Several drag queens (AFAB, AMAB and non-binary) talk about how much of modern drag is controlled by Drag Race (which can lead to lack of funding to other ventures and very specific views of what drag can be), and how much of drag history starts with trans women and how it’s been hidden. They have a great conversation about gender and performance, and recognizing how much class and education is part of the discussion around it. Also, some genuinely lovely human beings!

[@sophiiiiaaa]

I couldn't find the video, can you give me the link or the exact title / channel name ? thank you !

[@Elirum]

@@sophiiiiaaa Of course! It’s on the Power of Women channel and the full tittle is Drag & Feminism - Bimini Bon Boulash, Ginny Lemon, Tete Bang, Dr Dinah Lux, POW Thanet 2021

[@weefiah1]

“To Woo Fong” Best slip I’ve heard in a while. 😂😂

[@mildsoup8978]

Very underrated kung-fu movie

[@RTGrimmer]

I literally ran down to the comments to be like... "Woo Fong? ... Woo?! FONG?!"

[@mariefellensteinhalerealto6263]

I love Jessica & tried to let it go, but also went back and checked again to hear how she said the title and then headed to the comments too... I wish she had seen that movie so she knew the title. Yes, fictional & fun & superficial perhaps about so many things, but there were many layers to that movie And great that it was about a town of people who started off close-minded but ended up more accepting. Yes, simplistic about complicated themes, but Wow... we need something to help a large part of the country stop being so weirdly close-minded to so much (including all sex for all people and not being realistic about sex, identify, expression, contraception, pregnancy, etc.) the repercussions are going to be huge if this goes too far, basically affecting everyone except old white men. It may just be targeting women's reproductive choice right now, but I have a feeling the next to be toppled will be same sex marriage and LGBTQ rights. But back to the movie: "To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar!" The title seems weird till you find out that "Its title refers to an iconic autographed photo of Julie Newmar that they carry with them on their journey. Newmar also has a cameo appearance in the film as herself." For those who aren't from the US & of a certain age, Julie Newmar will mean nothing... But to those who know, Julie Newmar played Catwoman in the Batman TV series. She was sexy as anything. So here's this TV show, sort of made for kids, but with characters like that. Total girl crush on her. She was also a strong female icon... such a contrast to women portrayed on TV back then as "the little woman." More info on Julie Newmar: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Newmar

[@kelly6677]

"thanks for everything, *Julia Newmark*" Iconic 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@tolson642]

I had to pause and replay twice to make sure I hadn't heard it incorrectly, and then a few more times to watch her saying it with such proper English enunciation! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5LNXpqQisZpd8k at 7:31

[@jennifers5560]

So well presented! People are nuanced and I love it how Jessica can talk about the good and the not so good things that people have done without defending or condemning them as people.

[@KeilaAnn3610]

I was introduced into Drag culture by my best friend's mom and her boyfriend(longstory short, he was a trans man before even gay people seemed to accept it, she constantly referred to her own SO as she but I will not) who were both Kings, it was fun to learn more about them.. we lived in a very small town and her mom was the first openly lesbian woman so I got to overhear a lot of the town's opinions before I was allowed to go to her house. Even from my own family. But they both introduced me to their life, in an age appropriate way, and really helped me learn to express myself without caring what my midwest town thought of me.

[@arsena5209]

wonderful story, hope the trans man you're talking about is doing well if he's still here and if not then that after what you described he was doing alright

[@KeilaAnn3610]

@@arsena5209 they have since broken up, but I do see him every now and then at my job and we say hi to each other. He seems much happier now, from my outsider's view

[@triplef-funfromfreddy4356]

Just a quick side note: just because Drag Kings are not visible, that doesnt mean that they are less common. They do exist... many of then do.

[@feathersoffancy8988]

100%!! They’re less publicized, but (at least from my perception in the community) there’s not less drag kings than drag queens! I’d argue there isn’t a market asking for drag kings so you don’t often see it on tv or performed at gay bars and stuff

[@triplef-funfromfreddy4356]

@@feathersoffancy8988 Well... that's kind of my point, except for the rumors that a market is on the go.

[@naomirmckay3368]

I think it might have to do with the idea that femininity is entertainment, while ~of course~, masculinity is serious business, so why would I watch masc drag lol (I do not agree with this lmao)

[@annnoying5513]

@@naomirmckay3368 Nah that's not the reason. You think the average queer bar guest views masculinity as "serious business"? We live in a world made by straight men for straight men, so of course the market for diving into a feminized queer fantasy is much bigger than one involving yet another performance of masculinity. It's more fun seeing feminity celebrated as that is an aspect of us we are usually mocked for embracing, no matter your gender. You gain a sense of not being wrong for who you are. That's an important liberating message which a performers of masculinity lack, cause it's already normalized by society at large to perform masculinity, even to a ridiculous degree. Masculinity isn't comforting/liberating, it's oppressive. That being said I'm not against Drag Kings and even really want them on Drag Race. But that's my personal analysis why Drag Kings simply haven't had the same appeal and market as Drag Queens. The underlying message is just completely different.

[@cottonblend]

​@@naomirmckay3368I never thought of that! Thats probably true, and I think we are a bit more confident in men's talents and performances

[@spoookley]

FINALLY SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT RUPAUL’S FRACKING!!! i’ve known about this for a while now, looked into it during a drawfee livestream cuz someone in the chat mentioned that they worked on an oil rig with a bright pink star painted on it or something lol

[@annalisasteinnes]

Hello from another Drawfee fan! That's wild about the oil rig. Like, it's evil, but in an inclusive way?

[@dr.latency34]

Lmfaoo???? (drawfee mentioned letsgooo)

[@lilcarttheoneandonly]

woah wtf a drawfee mention in the wild???

[@AliNo-r3n]

Bro what ☠️

[@andrewgawlik4961]

​@@annalisasteinnesI think the phrase might be "pink washing"

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I really appreciate your well balanced take on Ru and Drag Race! I especially like how you addressed the way chronic illness is depicted!

[@paws2reflect]

Microaggression can feel like violence, I believe. Someone can experience so much racism or other type of discrimination so often that they're in a perpetual state of feeling like they're rubbed raw and bleeding. As a cis white woman, everything is so much easier, and I'm glad to know it and try to be aware. Fatness can be a hot button issue for me, but when you mentioned Ru's comment congratulating a contestant on "rising above" her chronic illness or disability, I LITERALLY, physically flinched away from the screen. "Not being a victim" raises my hackles, too. Acknowledging your race, ethnicity, size, chronic illness or disability as a fact is not playing victim.

[@kaworunagisa4009]

Yup. There's a reason Lingchi is a thing, and hopefully a lot of us are aware now that psychological wounds are as valid as the flesh ones.

[@dopaminedrought395]

They do feel like violence, and they make people feel unsafe. And yeah, +1 to everything you said about "rising above" and "not being a victim". Me stating a fact about myself like my chronic illness isn't "being a victim". The whole 'rise above' narrative is another way of saying "don't rock the boat, don't attack the status quo, ignore systemic issues, it's your personal responsibility"

[@ariadne0w1]

Well-said. We are learning, again and again, about just how bad stress is for the body. It can be genuinely disabling and lead to early death. And if someone has reason to believe, because of how microagressions reveal a person's beliefs, conscious and subconscious biases, that "I am not safe here/I can't trust this person" again and again in all aspects of their life, well that does real damage.

[@tryingnot2bdumb]

Thanks for acknowledging that.

[@Dekubud]

You're very right. As a trans guy who it still struggling to pass, I never know if I will get misgendered by someone unless I know them well, so every time it happens, it feels like a slap to the face. Even if most of those slaps as accidental, an accidental slap is a slap regardless. You have to steel yourself for every new interaction, which is exhausting, but if you don't, you get emotionally hurt and have to recover from that, which is even more exhausting. I'm also have invisible disabilities, chronic illnesses and am a cultural and linguistic minority where I live so I always do my best to show others in a similar position that they are safe around me. If I can get a racialized person or someone with a disability more incapacitating than mine to make jokes about their situation around me, I take that as a badge of honor. Weight issues make me sad because as a guy, I don't know how to comfort women about their appearance. Things I could say before I started my transition could now be misinterpreted, which would just lead to them feeling worse. Hopefully listening and complaining how bullcrap some expectation are is enough.

[@jaguarenduda]

30:01 ok. I'm writing my academic thesis on Drag Race right now AND Iw watched The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent last night. did you make this video for me?

[@calebash82]

Celebrating somebody's ability to rise above their chronic conditions, whilst in a position of extreme power, in this case, reeks of "Thank f*** I didn't have to accommodate for this in any way for you to be on my show".

[@gh0stcup]

Miss Jessica said "oh, we are gonna talk about the fracking!"

[@bbangnyaz]

29:45 Hi! Just to clear something up, Sasha Colby is the first openly trans winner in fhe main RPDR series but there have already been 2 trans winners from other spin-offs prior to her. First was Angele Anang of Drag Race Thailand S2 and Kylie Sonique Love who won All Stars 6 (previously competed in Drag Race Season 2 where I believe she came out as trans during the reunion episode).

[@micheledeetlefs6041]

You mistakenly listed Tennessee as being in the process of implementing a drag ban. In fact, the law which would have banned drag performances in the presence of children was overturned in a federal court the end of 2023 and not only was never enforced, it can never be enforced. So Tennessee is not in the process of implementing the law. Yes, technically it could be appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court, and heaven only knows what they would rule. But the Tennessee attorney general informed the state legislature proposed resolution was unconstitutional before they even held the first vote on the bill, and they've been extremely lackluster in defending the the law, so I sincerely doubt it will ever be reinstated. It reminds me of our old sodomy laws. I worked for the office of the attorney general of Tennessee in the '90s when those laws were challenged in court. Since the attorney general had already told the governor, the law was unconstitutional, and the governor insisted that the laws be defended anyway, the then sitting Tennessee attorney general assigned it to the single most fabulous and flamboyant gay man on the entire staff. It was hilarious watching his defense of the law. And little wonder that it was defeated in court! Still one of the few good memories I have of working at the attorney general's office!

[@nobody08088]

That's amazing! Good to see tennessee isn't implementing any laws like that. 😅

[@micheledeetlefs6041]

@@nobody08088 Well, Don't give Tennessee the credit. Give the court that invalidated the law of the credit. Because, frankly, our state legislature and our governor seem to be utterly without common sense. They keep debating whether or not to outlaw things which are not proven to exist.

[@tryingnot2bdumb]

​@@micheledeetlefs6041❤❤❤❤

[@BarbieDreamDungeon]

​@micheledeetlefs6041 Reminds me of laws like no skydiving on tuesdays and can't have a donkey in your bathtub type stuff

[@BarbieDreamDungeon]

​@micheledeetlefs6041 Reminds me of laws like no skydiving on tuesdays and can't have a donkey in your bathtub type stuff

[@justynmatlock8873]

'Drag Race' resulting in Drag Queen slang passing into the mainstream has echoes of how the characters of Jules & Sandy on' 'Round the Horne', led to the mainstreamization of Polari in the 'sixties. Which was covered, of course, in the video on Polari.

[@charlymicky1722]

Your pink sparkly dress in the very last part of the video! It is so sparkly it looks like a soft pink glittery mist. Very cool! And of course thanks for this interesting video!

[@mchlle94]

I expected a more critical deep dive. RP has said some pretty sexist things and there is unfortunately a lot of sexism and misogyny in the world and history of drag. I mean, it literally came to be because women weren't allowed to perform on stage. There was also this idea that men were better at portraying women than women themselves. Yeah, let that sink in...So much "humor" in the world of drag depends on misogyny (e.g. the "fishy" comments, women as ditsy or hypersexual). Let's also not forget that RP doesn't want women to be on his show, and he's repeatedly turned down Drag Kings for the show. I find this so telling, as Drag Kings portray/make fun of those in power (men), whereas it's the opposite for Drag Queens.

[@philipbloomquist1580]

Drag Race Drag Kings slay would be good spinoff series. You mention Drag Kings makes fun of those in power (men) and is a different dynamic than drag queens that logic would make a spinoff make more sense than trying to shoehorn a drag king into a show that is so focused on the dynamics of drag queens.

[@Gabrielle-bb2zq]

For information, there was drag king guests in the French Franchise while 2 mini challenges. Obviously, I think they deserve a completely emission too.

[@secondhandmuse6374]

It’s only one example on hundreds of queens in the franchise, but I do want to point out that Victoria Scone in two of the British seasons is AFAB and actually had a conversation with fellow contestants about the derogatory uses of phrases like “fishy.” Misogyny within the queer community is an important issue to be addressed and I hope we’ll see more conversations like this on Drag Race.

[@bib4eto656]

Actually I - personally - don't find the term "fishy" offensive to me as a cis woman, but what I hate is the insistence that a drag queen has to have a certain body or a certain extremely -feminine style. Even "weirdos" such as Sharon or Yvie who did very non-glamourous outfits still generally conformed to a specific femininity and "attractiveness". On the British S2, I'll never forget how they bullied Ginny Lemon to put on huge tits and make a more classic dress. Because apparently her dressing as a crazy old bat isn't her being feminine enough? There's plenty of women in the world who dress like that. Let us be weird and old and unattractive. But that's just my take 🤷

[@podfruwajk4]

Let's not forget they didn't let Manila wear her menstrual pad dress because it was in 'bad taste'... I like the show but I sometimes feel like it exploits feminity instead of celebrating it.

[@thedragonsunicorn]

jessica talking about mother ru??? i never thought this day would come 🙈

[@jessicaoutofthecloset]

😂❤️

[@Elektrochoke]

Sisterhood, not cisterhood! And above everything, humanhood 💖Thanks for the video, Jessica.

[@redblaquegolden]

Without RuPaul, I don't know if I would be a drag queen now. Without that, I don't know if I would have fully discovered my transness... It's wild how much this man I've never met has impacted my literal actual life.

[@rainkidwell2467]

It's weird because many of us have the opposite experience. I avoided transition because I feared being seen as a drag queen, was told that's what I'd be if I transitioned. Drag kept me in the closet for twenty years

[@dionysus6969]

@@rainkidwell2467 kinda makes me think of how homophobia leaks in from all kinds of angles for no good reason like being passed down to us thru parents or society both directly and indirectly making something seem as a negative thing etc etc, like I remember trying to google about trans people but at the time they were still called the t slur and were just seen so negatively that that was all I understood at the time so I avoided anything like that also including when I asked my mother about it and she was ignorant about it too so that didnt help. Drag itself isnt a bad thing but society often painted it as such etc its so silly isnt it?

[@MaxTax3D]

I am a drag king, I may not have been inspired by Rupaul but Trixie Mattel seriously got me obsessed. Trixie is a huge fan of Rupaul, despite not being a fan of Rupaul he still has effect me into being a Drag king somehow. It’s so incredibly interesting how influential he is.

[@HOHNancy]

I’ve seen RuPaul in an old 1980s music video by the B-52s’ “Love Shack”. Tin Roof Rusted!

[@SkyeID]

I never even noticed her in that video, but then again, I never looked very closely at that video. "Love Shack" was played to death in the 90's!

[@eykyra]

I only watched season 13. And besides the fact I didn't understand many things like how they seemed to poke on drama between contestants and the whole pit crew being naked thing, I perceived the message and attitude to be very positive and I appreciated the contestants had deep and meaningful conversations on race, their families, diversity and so on. I also appreciated that Gottmik was very vocal about being trans and overall his identity seemed to be unquestioned in the show. Now that I see all this, I realize that part of that might have been redemption from past criticism. Especially since you mentioned both racism and fatphobia being endorsed, I feel like he might have been overcompensating that with the special treatment given to Kandy Muse.

[@dionysus6969]

Yeah I see it purely as a PR redemption thing.. Which is still good in a way because we all got blessed with Gottmik! It reminds me about when companies will market LGBT+ during pride month and such just to get the muns, even if its not representation done with heart it can still do SUM good at least IMO

[@eykyra]

@@dionysus6969 Yeah I totally agree. Eventually if someone with a platform is criticised for certain representation or views and they correct those, I think it's a win whatever the reason. The impact is what really matters and I think seeing people like Gottmik in Drag Race is positive because it's telling that trans people can in fact and want to do drag as well (and that they can be very good at it too!)

[@dionysus6969]

@@eykyra indeed honestly obsessed with Gottmik 🥺

[@eykyra]

@@dionysus6969 My fave although I do admit Symone worked hard for that crown and was well deserved

[@dionysus6969]

@@eykyra oh yeah 100% agree also loved Symone

[@Mallory-Malkovich]

You nailed 'Pintrest Librarian!'

[@qryptid]

I can appreciate what drag in general and RPDR have done for queer people while still not supporting RP. The amount of transphobia perpetuated by a celebrity in a scene where so many transwomen find themselves is baffling and honestly any queer person who has a single disrespectful thing to say about transwomen needs to learn some things about 20th century queer history. Mattel is honoring RP with a Monster High Collector Doll and I'm like 🤢🤢🤢 while all icons are people and people are inherently flawed, there are so many better choices for a brand about being unique and yourself than a person who publically promoted and spread hate without apology.

[@dionysus6969]

I agree with this sentiment but I can also see it as like Trixie being professional about Ru since yk Ru also signs her paycheck essentially (like in terms of winning her season and such), it makes it harder for someone in that position to speak out about anything and I can get that HOWEVER that being said Trixie specifically has her own money thanks to her own makeup company which is quite successful so idk haha

[@wiseathena97]

@@dionysus6969 girl I think they were referencing Mattel the doll company, not Trixie 😅😅

[@dionysus6969]

@@wiseathena97 yeah could be XD

[@luistigerfox]

Man, as a queer person (gay male) who has loved quite a bit of drag performances because of RuPaul but only vaguely ever kept up with anything beyond the performances... It saddens me to hear that RP has this whole transphobia issue going on... I legitimately don't understand anyone in/around the queer community being exclusionary and hating on trans people. Legitimately, with all of the struggles we've been through, we should be expected to hold a high standard of empathy toward the other, to not add to their own struggles by refusing to accept or acknowledge them. I have numerous trans friends in my life at this point, and I cherish them and support them in their fight to just be true to their gender and the ways they want to express their gender. Trans rights are human rights.

[@SkyeID]

@@luistigerfox I can't count how many times gay cis men have had an issue with my existence as a trans person. Can we stop this madness and come together to support one another? Life as an LGBTQIA+ person is hard enough as it is!

[@zozo624]

I must applaud your transition to the ad. I barely noticed and I love how creative YTrs get when insertinng them!

[@lauravampire1276]

The fracking episode in Bojack makes so much more sense now lol

[@Handnail]

For furture endeavors may I offer a possible PG version: Motherfluffer! Could apply for everything fluffy like cute pets or in terms of costumes everything with impressive ruffles? Or general fluffy shapes, skirts and so on. ^_^

[@sarahblack9333]

Replying to boost this excellent suggestion and to also suggest the term "son of a biscuit" as another KZbin monetization friendly alternative to a common phrase

[@kseni_vely]

Every time Jessica says "RuPaul" (even though it's not exaggerated) I'm transported to Dela's snatch game as Dame Maggie Smith 🪄💫 😆

[@madeleinetremblay9315]

That’s exactly what came to my mind too 🤣

[@RosesTeaAndASD]

An awesome Snatch Game moment.

[@amylou22snowhite]

I watched Drag Race 15 years ago, while pregnant with my oldest. I was so mad when Ongina lost that I swore it off for years. It’s still my favorite tho.

[@BearlyAiden]

I wanted Ongina to win so badly

[@amylou22snowhite]

@@BearlyAiden They inspired me to start making fascinators, which I now do professionally. I am still such a fan of their work.

[@BearlyAiden]

@@amylou22snowhite That's awesome! Congratulations!

[@KattReen]

Oh, Ongina was so sweet, and fabulous! I liked Nina Flowers. I wasn't all that peeved about the result, the first season was not very high stakes, and sometimes I miss the more relaxed way of things. I think I made it until season 7 or 8 before RPDR burnout. I also watched the season they made in my country, Sweden. It was fun, but didn't get great numbers past the premiere, so I don't think they're making any more. It's a shame, I really liked the vibe.

[@dionysus6969]

her and Nina really really deserved the win over Bebe IMO they were both such amazing people that had so much more to offer as a whole rather than Miss Bebe eugh

[@lizard1325]

oh wow this video came at a perfect time for me, when I'm in the middle of a drag race / queens from drag race hyperfixation. I double-taked when I saw the thumbnail lol. Super excited to dive into this one.

[@theythemgae9025]

Finally, it's like everyone is afraid to talk about it! He can be amazing in some ways and also not be perfect in other ways and downright unpleasant in other ways. There was a lot of upset around RPDR UK when it first started because the community is quite diverse and it's not uncommon for non binary folks, women (trans or cis) to be part of local scenes and the non cis men & cis dude allies were pretty concerned. Not sure if anyone other than cis men are in the show as I can't get it in NZ and honestly we have a lot of serious stuff going on rn (and my chronic migraines don't exactly help) so looking into all the UK drag race peeps isn't worth my spoons but I hope everyone got a fair shot. Enjoying the video so far 😊 good stoof! Edit: great to hear this discussion included, also great to see a figure being acknowledged and criticized respectfully, with an acknowledgement that he's human, a flawed, beautiful, neuanced, glorious human.

[@CalamityCannon]

A ton of contestants identify as trans now - there are surely listicles online - but Peppermint (s9) was the first trans woman and Gottmik (s13) was the first trans man to enter the competition openly identifying as such. Both superbly talented queens. I remember Gottmik in particular being allowed to compete was a big deal, reported as arguably a bit of a PR response to Ru's previous trans bias (that I must assume - still watching - the video gets into)

[@AleeshaWeesha]

The community, especially the drag community have been talking about this for years. I've known of RuPaul since his club kid days. I agree 100% when you said, "He can be amazing in some ways and also not be perfect in other ways and downright unpleasant in other ways."

[@theythemgae9025]

​@@CalamityCannoncheers, yeah I kinda went off drag race for a bit. It was just bad timing as I was dealing with a bunch of transphobia at the time (both personally and within the country there was an uptick) so when I saw RuPaul's comments abt trans contestants drag race went from a fun show in my mind to a "I'm probably not welcome here" space. So I kinda of avoided it. Not because the show is anti-trans but just because I think there was so much painful negativity and I saw the comments and honestly couldn't bring myself to look deeper in fear of there being some really darkly anti trans stuff. Having watched this video & read yr comment I can see that's not the case, which is good because I've kinda missed it and have been thinking about watching again 😊 Thank you for sharing what you know too as I am glad to hear so much has changed. I've been aware of some of the queens, Bob, Sasha & Jinkx are a couple of my faves. I've never stopped watching drag performances irl and drag queens who have been on the show in their own projects.

[@CalamityCannon]

@@theythemgae9025 Oh I feel you. And fans of the same! Jinkx holds a special place in my heart. The "all winners" All Star season is pretty fun. Or you can just search yt for a compilation of her best moments in that season (I think posted by the DR account) and get your cackles but save a lot of time

[@CalamityCannon]

@@theythemgae9025 I feel you! And understand and am sorry for all you've been dealing with. If you want a serotonin boost, search YT for a compilation of Jinkx in the "all winners" All Stars season. I think posted by the official DR account. You don't need to have seen the season to enjoy it. It's a real treat, especially for a fan

[@thriftedgem222]

as an afab drag artist i'm not ready to watch this one just yet, but i appreciate you Jessica!!!🩷 would love if you did one on Dragula too💞

[@thehauntedwitch1313]

The word DRAG was first used by William Shakespeare. When righting his plays he would write the word DRAG in the corners of the page to indicate "Dressed As Girl" in that scene . . . As all actors back in the day were men.

[@RLelling]

This is apocryphal and a widely believed myth that is not true.

[@anotherlemontree]

This origin story is almost certainly a myth, alas.

[@jeffafa3096]

Drag is not being trans, and being trans is not drag. There are drag kings/queens out there that aren't trans, and there are trans people out there that aren't drag kings/queens. But they can meet, and that's a personal preference. Not all people have similar interests (thankfully)...

[@KxNOxUTA]

Here we go. If we cannot talk calmly about problems within our own communities, then how can we expect ppl outside said communities to calmly talk about problems that we bring up with them and they also bring upwith us. The whole GOAL here is for everything to be so normal, that people can be safe with each other, especially when addressing conflicting need and wants. Regardless of us doing so with individual matters or group dynamics. AND often forgotten: this also includes the normalisation to the point where people can be safe when issues can be brought up with them. Aka ppl asked for support and accommodation to be safe, as the dynamic works like: "I care for ppl around me, so their needs are important to me. And my needs are important to them, so they'll also attend to my needs and boundaries in the process". We're aiming at reducing "competition of needs" and normalising "cooperation of needs"

[@popsicleemperor]

I would hesitate to suggest that someone in such a position of power and wealth has 'changed their views' based on public statements (and on social media) versus actual treatment and engagement with trans and gender diverse people and communities. I also don't think calling trans folks 'teachers' and a vague 'apology' is actually making noticeable change and acknowledging behaviors and problems (not to mention its not trans and gender diverse folks responsibility to teach you to not be a bigot). It seems that these 'changes in attitude/belief' only came after backlash. He should still be held accountable for his actions. I would be DEEPLY hesitant to remove the responsibility of harm and continued problematic behavior of Ru Paul overall. I appreciate the nuance you included in this!

[@vilukisu]

And are we not mentioning the time RuPaul tweeted something about trans people, intended to put a trans flag, but the flag he got was something to do with trains, and apparently he didn't notice the mistake, since he posted it lol

[@dionysus6969]

Exactly my thinking! It sucks too cause its like damn I WISH it was just a simple mistake that he was actually trying to improve upon but he literally hasnt actually expressed any of that besides just a vague apology as you say and I mean I wish it was genuine because of all the good he HAS actually done besides the awful things at least and the things he COULD do or represent for with the LGBT+ community, its just so sad and disappointing really :( Literally makes me think of the Tyra Banks meme of "we were rooting for you! WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!!"

[@mentalclutter1]

Tu Wong Fu: Thanks for everything Julie Newmark. That was a halarious movie. Great video, love your style! ❤

[@zjadacz_agrestu420]

ooh I can’t wait to hear Jessica’s opinion on this

[@morganer5378]

OMG! I'm french and I never notice the hidden word in" Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent".

[@andreyhenriquethomas9554]

It took me years to understand it too, sucks to not have english at your first language, sometimes you just completely miss the joke/reference

[@smithscullyx]

@@andreyhenriquethomas9554if it makes you feel better, English IS my first language and it took me a long time to realize that it stood for something 😂

[@RaeCarson]

I was today years old when I learned about this particular backronym.....and I was born, raised, and currently live in the US with English as my primary language. Sooo....you've got AT LEAST 3 different things up on me in this case. xD

[@podfruwajk4]

I realized it the moment Jujubee called Tyra "just unt" 😭

[@t1dotaku]

I love how Drag Race is such a huge icon for the LGBTQ community that is was bordeline controversial on the show that there was a *gasp* cis straight whote man on it. Its like the reverse of what normally happens and I LOVE the drama it caused. Really put a lot of things into perspective with how silly people act whenever there's a *gasp* LGBTQ person/character in a show.

[@creepycutiecrafty]

What an excellent exploration! I love the details and issues highlighted here, and I love that both the good and … “needs improving” point have been covered. It’s beautiful that RuPaul and co are actively learning - and learning how to use their position for positive change. We all stumble, but how we move forward makes all the difference

[@thedragonsunicorn]

alternatively, some think that the title 'drag' comes from the acronym 'dressed resembling a girl'... take that with a pinch of salt as the origin of the title is not definitively known.

[@13myrrh]

Most docos I've seen link it to dragging long train dress and capes.

[@jesslikescoffee24]

Yeah that’s a backronym, not history

[@OpalLeigh]

⁠@@jesslikescoffee24I didn’t know “backronym” was a word I needed in my life 😂 I love it.

[@pattheplanter]

The first use of drag in this sense is at least as early as 1860. However, in 1909 it was explained in a dictionary of Victorian slang as: "Drag (Theat.), petticoat or skirt used by actors when playing female parts. Derived from the drag of the dress, as distinct from the non-dragginess of the trouser." "Also given to feminine clothing by eccentric youths when dressing in skirts." J. R. Ware, Passing English of Victorian Era 117/1

[@helensernett9477]

This was a masterpiece. The three costumes/characters…the asides…and good research. Well done. Usually in the US the mineral rights go with the surface land use, but some states and jurisdictions have different restrictions, etc. So for anyone buying land in the US or a house and the land it is on, generally speaking you won’t have to worry about someone coming along and fracking under your home.

[@Byronlegrand6470]

This is the first video of yours that's been recommended to me, and I thinks it's time for a channel binge. History, specifically LGBTQA+ history is one of my favorite things. And your voice/energy/humor are all *chefs kiss*

[@trisharaichatterjee2578]

Jessica, thanks for making the vid... I use to watch the show but I have only watch so much. Until I kind of lost track.

[@WendyWinchester]

I love "To Wong Fu". One of my fave movies ever. :)

[@VioletFem]

I appreciate your thorough and thoughtful summary of RuPaul‘s impact on pop culture. RuPaul is a controversial person because he’s done a lot of great things to provide a platform for hundreds of drag queens to be able to have careers lucrative careers . However, as you detailed in your video there have been times he has said some very hurtful things. I think it’s good that he’s also been open to that criticism and has actually evolved and changed his position on many issues. I think one of the problems that RuPaul still runs into is that he overly romanticizes the idea of the personal narrative of an individual overcoming systemic barriers. In someways, he has been able to overcome a lot of barriers in his life that have resulted in him being extremely successful. However , I think it’s hard for him to understand how he is kind of exceptional in that regard. For most people facing discrimination, expecting them to overcome every barrier they encounter without any change in the society is unreasonable. I also think he doesn’t recognize how much society had to progress to even be able to accept a drag queen to succeed to the level that he has.

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

💯

[@michcarp]

not me (a Michelle) having to check the screen to make sure mother was not scolding me 🤣 26:45

[@nickalbin3523]

Regarding the fracking... I won't say I know all the laws regarding mineral rights, but when I bought a home in the Midwest and inquired about Mineral rights, I was told they go with the land unless there is a specific note for them in the paperwork. If it is the same in that state as this state, they most definitely have a say in whether fracking happens.

[@nikolaizarnick1925]

To anyone interested in some FIERCE drag kings, I recommend looking up the influence that Dope Saint Jude has had on the growing South African drag scene.

[@RosesTeaAndASD]

Thank you. I am desperate to see the artistry & performance of drag kings.

[@BADwolf4032]

I love your vibe great video and I am surprised that Rupaul doesn’t have collectible, playing cards of all of the queens😂

[@Zelda0Lah]

Your voice is so soothing, if you read audiobooks it would be amaaaaazing

[@migoreng7789]

rupaul is very american exceptionalism-pilled. his most recent book is basically all about how he's special and that's it. and the fact he mistreated mathu (someone who created the rupaul look as we know it) and acts like he doesn't exist anymore? it's crazy rupaul is not your friend

[@xanawilliams]

I’ll never criticize RuPaul in front of a straight person. But I also won’t criticize Ellen DeGeneres in front of a straight person. I hope y’all take my meaning.

[@rakbung]

I will never coddle the ignorant nor insult the uninformed by denying them information, context, tools, and insightful analysis (the above vid being a gloriously joyoful and honest example) to navigate the world as we find it. Perhaps you might take my meaning? 🖖🏽

[@nana-wb2xh]

22:23 just a side note about that phrase, I’ve been rewatching the vampire diaries and it’s wild that in the very first episode they had a main character use this and I was absolutely shocked

[@jeannebrdt]

Wonderful video and OBSSESSED with that multilayered pearls necklace

[@JurrBTful]

Loved the video. Also, can we just agree that you will be our future spokesperson for everything LGBT-related?

[@prettynsleepy1073]

This was amazing. Thank you for this deep dive. Your the best

[@sua8638]

Ooo I've been waiting for this girlllll

[@vision_walker]

I forget which queen it was or what season, but the queens were to dress up as a known woman in media (not snatch game) and one queen went as Janelle Monet (who identified as woman publicly at the time, they have now come out as non-binary). Janelle notoriously wears men's suits, and so the queen wore a men's suit. AND SHE WAS ELIMINATED FOR IT. Because it wasn't "drag". Also that in earlier season, all trans queen were eliminated either the episode they came out or soon after. (at one point Alaska also played a masculine character in a play they put on for a challenge in her first season appearance, and she was also hounded about it) As well as purely going against masculinity in drag queen's performances. (there is also a lot of cultural appropriation in the earlier seasons, that has gone untalked about, as well as open racism. again, i forget which queen or season, but somebody called a black queen "the help" during a maxi challenge and when the queen voiced her discomfort, she was shut down.) Also with the lack of Drag King performers. I went to Toronto Pride in 2022, and this event was 80% drag kings, it was amazing. Drag kings are here, they are amazing, and undermined by the popularized drag community. at this point, i understand the show has gotten more progressive, but it's the complete SILENCE over their past wrong-doings that make me not want to watch the show. Nobody talks about these things, and it irks me. it's called rupaul's drag race, not rupaul's drag QUEEN race, and the lack of drag kings being in popular media is just maddening

[@SaraitheHermit]

I think this is why i like the show "dragula" way more. EVERYONE is welcome there. They state every episode: "we aren't here to judge your drag because drag is art. And art is subjective. We only judge your drag based on how well it adheres to the challenge." I've seen drag kings (rupaul doesn't let kings on for some reason...), nonbinary drag artists, etc on the show. Way more inclusive. And I love the spooky aesthetic. Nice to see lesbian performers not getting excluded for once. 🤷‍♀️ that's just my thoughts. Though I still enjoy rupaul.

[@licensed_loser]

So excited for this vid!!!❤

[@jasonbteaches1542]

This video is WONDERFUL, thank you for putting this info all in one place (and I always love your spin and sense of humour.

[@DJLUK094]

Great content. Great to hear you speaking on the issues around Drag Race and also pointing out that double edged sword of Drag Race becoming so mainstream. I used to love it but I noticed a lot of the same negatives in the show. You are one of the few I have seen speaking on the gaslighting of The Vixen. They were completely vilified and made to look like they were bullying Eureka. But it was Eureka who was using micro aggressions towards The Vixen was harshly criticised and suffered from it and still gets flack from certain demographics within the community and that’s disheartening . A lot of older members of the community sometimes have a hard time moving past that… well I struggled, so should you, mentality. I love your dry witty comments and take on delivering issues and various history regarding LGBTQIA+ and Disabled individuals. Keep it up 👍 🎉❤ Rather than banding together. I live in hope that we will grow and learn from the past mistakes and evolve together.

[@ElizabethMidfordHatesCops]

Seriously have wondered why no one talks about this.

[@randomhuman_05]

unrelated but I love your @

[@ElizabethMidfordHatesCops]

@@randomhuman_05 Thank you

[@AleeshaWeesha]

Oh, plenty of people have talked about it for years.

[@ElizabethMidfordHatesCops]

@@AleeshaWeesha Not enough people.

[@BearlyAiden]

It's not that it's not talked about. A lot of the comunity just chooses to ignore it.

[@theythemgae9025]

Its a bold af title. 😮 Very well researched video 😊

[@jennifers5560]

But was it a Mothertucking good title? 😂

[@AndromedaCripps]

I laughed out loud at “Just look at Nicolas Cage!” 😂😂😂 I appreciate this video. As a trans woman, I have ALWAYS been a little put off by drag and never let myself enjoy it because, as discussed, the vast majority of non-allies still think transgender means transvestite, and that perception really contributes heavily to the dangers we face in society. It scares me so much that even when I began to hear about trans women who do drag, I was put off. It’s scary because, if one woman does it, it feels like conservatives will believe that all trans women are putting on a show of hyper femininity and not just, you know, being regular women. I overcame that fear, which was close-minded, as I saw more and more trans people and people of all genders doing drag. But I still don’t really feel comfortable around drag, somewhere deep inside, like an unresolved trauma. All my friends watch Drag Race and of course I hear about it all the time, as well as how many contestants have been trans recently, and it actually has made me feel a bit a pride, even though I’m still scared of drag. Because there’s probably still more trans people on Drag Race alone in a given year than on the rest of national television combined. That’s representation, even if it’s not in the form I want it in. I really appreciated this video and the discussion of trans people in relation to RuPaul and it was very informative. As you can tell, I am actually super sympathetic to his original viewpoint that the trans and drag communities should be separate. But just like Ru, I’ve come around to the idea that they can be separate things and still overlap and comingle. Anyone can express themselves however they want as long as it doesn’t hurt others, after all!!

[@tystkanin9996]

Jinx Monsoon helped me get diagnosed correctly by showing her symptoms os narcolepsy on screen. Because I wasn't doing things like falling asleep in a bowl of soup making me a drowning risk or just dropping over in the middle of a party I hadn't even considered narcolepsy to be the cause of my excessive drowsiness. After I watched her season I went to a neurologist, did the sleep tests, and got diagnosed at 40. Being on narcolepsy medication has made an invaluable difference in my life.

[@dianalufuko]

Your accent is soo smooth to hear that I think I will use some of yours videos for going to sleep 😍

[@LouieMdeP]

Well done, Jessica!! Also "To Woo Fong"? Work! LOL

[@ellariel7457]

Another thoughtful, insightful and well-researched history video!! Thank you! One note: I wouldn’t mention, but since you said you learned many drag queen names from written versions, wanted to offer one note. This concerns the pronunciation of the name of Crystal LaBeija. I believe it’s actually spoken as Crystal “La-Beige-ah,” honoring her background as a person of color. There is a more complete explanation of how her name evolved on her Wikipedia page.

[@crimson4066]

25:45 "I learn drag queens' names through reading subtitles on drag race, so I miss a lot of the jokes in the pronunciation." Queue me reading the subtitles for this video and missing the joke, only to rewind and get the Daya Betty pun 10 seconds later

[@sallyjordan4869]

What a brilliant video, Jessica, especially the gentle reminder around minute 34. Lovely as always. 🎀💖🎀

[@LiamLewisofficial]

I love how eloquently you speak on such topics. I'm not a drag race fan myself but I've heard some not so good things about ru, particulaly the awful contracts people sign. Interesting to learn more, thank you.

[@mediazification]

I never saw To Woo Fong thanks for everything Julie Newmark, but I'm gonna check it out

[@disgust4941]

You’re so well spoken, incredible video

[@beckstheimpatient4135]

Not to bring up a straight person too much, but Maddie is an AMAZING interviewer. I'm so glad Ru gave her a chance because she's absolutely fantastic. I learn more about queens from her interviews than I ever do on Drag Race. Her interview with Farah is a whole experience, and shows so much depth of character to someone who was always portrayed as the ditzy dumb blonde on the show.

[@fujoyoshi4368]

Literally zero of my queer friends have ever watched drag race but a LOT of straight cis people i know have watched it... Makes me strongly suspicious of it as a concept

[@JenniferGerber]

I'm a nonbinary transmasculine person, and I do feel like drag further confuses the public about issues surrounding gender. It's not like I think drag should be banned. That's insane. But it is very different from being trans, and I think people take the issue less seriously because of drag. It's campy. And our existence is not.

[@rinkuraku5251]

When I first heard of RuPaul's Drag Race, I was disappointed to learn it wasn't a show about people drag racing while in drag.

[@johnkirby8939]

Ah yes, like the Weird Al song, "Driving a Truck With My High Heels On."

[@mehlover]

I love getting into the nuances, the good, and the criticism of RP

[@Inkspells]

Everything about RuPaul can be explained by the fact that he is 70 plus years old and has a different perspective it's just what it is perspectives are subjective and everybody has their own perspective and everybody is subjectively both right and wrong even Jessica

[@stormRed]

12:57 "I've already talked about balls" Apparently I'm 4 years old 😂

[@twitchycoopark]

I mean, to be fair in the context of drag and tucking and such being susceptible to another interpretation of the word balls is not that weird... Or at least that's what I'd like to believe (otherwise I'm a fellow 4-year-old, hi 😅)

[@twitchycoopark]

In any case I'm happy because this reminded me of my favourite scene in Good Omens (if you've watched it) where Crowley and Aziraphale talk about Jane Austen and her balls... Cotillion balls 🙃 (Yeah ok... I might just be 4 😃)

[@jennyfer8316]

All of your comments and videos are so thoughtful and well researched. I want to share some broad stroke commentary adding some historic context I often see omitted. I’m never sure if it’s assumed to be known or lost to time so I like to share. Some additional insight: Ru was in a lot of main stream shows in the 90’s; guest hosting and staring in a variety of pop cultural spaces. He was the main, if not only, Drag performer the general population in the US was aware of at the time. People had a lot of questions/concerns and his whole truth was opaque in the main stream media. Depending on the audience/publication In several instances He could either be a drag perform or be gay. E.g. His guest role on …Martin (I think that was the show) His drag character was explicitly a straight man who liked to dress up. It was an endearing episode but limited in scope of full acceptance. In the early aughts, under President Bush, the climate wasn’t safe or as celebratory for drag performers or LGBTQ+. Partially because of the political climate Ru rarely performed during this decade. Starting Drag Race at the same time as that shift to President Obama was a major step for the culture. All of the initial contestants are truly brave; facing unknown consequences going on tv. Ru coming back to performing and leveraging his reputation was a bit of a risk which luckily has aided the current celebration of drag and queer culture. I think planning the show to Get the main stream reacquainted with drag in a way that people would continue to welcome it caused an initial (& elongated) suppression of representation. These same issues you touch on have been brought up in relation to NYC Pride parade and LGBT magazines like the Advocate in recent years, yet they are not discussed in the main stream. these fights on those platforms. so, while frustrating that these issues exist on Drag Race, the show has become the rally point for these deeper topics that may not have been noticed by the audience at large. As a community expands and becomes safer for people to be a part of new generations may not fully understand the navigation that others fought through to open the doors for them. There are still modern hardships and battles to fight, but they are different and generally better organized. In advocacy, People work hard to break through stigmas but can get stuck in the hang ups of “the way things were” and react as if those parameters are still in play even though they no longer stand - a behavioral fog that lingers. Holding people to evolved standards as the culture catches up is great. Giving time for “elders” to adjust to modern realities is also important. I love that all of these conversations are happening openly rather than through the historic regional /whisper networks. We should all be able to celebrate our true selves without fear. Supporting each other to find our best selves is essential. I feel We all have prejudices, whether we recognize them or not, and having them constructively called out so they can be worked through ideally, allows us to interact with compassion. P.s. talking about environment concerns: airline pollution from all the appearances should be discussed. Fracking is horrible but regional. Jets are an international constant. Seriously though, as bad as fracking is to the water, land and air - firefighters don’t know the chemicals used because they are “proprietary.” So if/when things go wrong there is limited emergency preparation. Bonkers. - I know my sleep deprived comments are a bit all over the place. I hope they make sense. I really adore all that you share with the world.

[@aspidoscelis]

Re. fracking- In the US, split estate lands, in which the surface and subsurface minerals are owned separately, are the exception. For privately owned land, they mostly result from the Stock-Raising Homestead Act. If land transferred from federal to private ownership by the particular process established by that act, it's split estate. Otherwise, it *probably* isn't. For RuPaul's husband's land in Wyoming... without further information, who knows? It might be split estate, it might not. If it is split estate, he might own both surface and subsurface, he might not. The fact that it's a ranch increases the odds of it being split estate, since the Stock-Raising Homestead Act was about, well, raising livestock. That act also applied to lands in the western US, so Wyoming increases the odds.

[@aspidoscelis]

(I work in federal land management, so professionally I'm kind of adjacent to these issues.)

[@nilsbauer6994]

Thank you for this video. Research, writing and attention to nuance and detail, bravo. Also, unrelated to the quality of the content/ narration - your outfits are immaculate as always. I'm always delighted by your style whenever I watch one of your videos.

[@LauraMalfoy2011]

As someone that got to know more about drag through Drag Race, I can accept and understand the criticism, while also having to agree that RuPaul plays a major role in the LGBTQIA+ community. I guess that, in the end, no person is perfect. I was very pleased when he apologised for his comments/views on trans people and how he acted on it by doing changes in the show. With all its limitations, Drag Race can actually help people learn more about Drag performers. So, all in all, I think he's a generally okay person with flaws, who is willing to learn and grow - and that's more than most people seem to do *cough* JKR *cough* tysm for this deep dive!