Drag’s Impact On Drag Lives

José L. Oropeza III, Portland State University Honors CollegeFollow

Subjects

Drag performance, Drag community building, Drag identity, Queer Identity formation

Abstract

Drag’s Impact On Drag Lives

In light of recent political developments where Drag and Trans identities are being punished, why do people still participate in Drag? If there are repercussion to face for being a Drag Queen, then surely it must affect their lives for the better for them to continue the practice.

Through an autoethnographic approach to researching the Portland, OR Drag community, I collected transcripts of conversations with local Queens, took notes of community interactions, and put myself in Drag for the first time as a Queer man to better understand the Drag community and why they Drag.

Through interviewing, examining, and participating in Drag, I ascertained that Drag significantly improves the growth in Queer identities, helps build Queer communities, and cultivates a strong sense of Queer empowerment.

The implication of these findings demonstrates that Drag should not only be protected but celebrated. Future research within this field should focus on how Drag intersects with other marginalized identities and how this practice reinforces community.