It’s time for our series of posts here at Jessica Who?, titled “Word of the Week”. In these short articles, from here on out published each Friday, I will explore the various labels and umbrella terms used to label us. By doing this, I hope to educate not only myself, but also anyone who may not be familiar with these terms. Feel free to add your own knowledge to each post by leaving a comment 
. The label that we will be examining is: Drag Queen
Standard Definition
a male homosexual who dresses as a woman especially for comic or theatrical effect circa 1941
Derogatory?
Not usually but it can be used as an insult, more on that below.
What’s It Really Mean?
Drag Queens are usually men who dress as women but in an over the top style for the sake of performance and drama. They usually perform in clubs and bars but some like RuPaul have gone on to fame in the music and television industry.
My Take
So, I’ve got a few things I’d like to say concerning Drag Queens. First off, I think they get kind of a bum rap in the world. They are often dismissed as clowns or whatever, but there is an art to what they do and they should be appreciated as such.
In addition, this could just be me, but I’ve seen a shift in the Drag world. When I was a kid, it was general knowledge that all Drag Queens were gay men. However, now I am seeing that some Drag Queens are actually transwomen. This is a definite departure from society’s preconceived notions.
I’m a big fan of Ru Paul’s Drag Race (I’ve got an upcoming post on it) and it’s been mind-blowing to see how these people view themselves gender-wise. They call each other ladies and use female pronouns yet most of them still consider themselves men! It’s really awesome, in my humble opinion.
As far as being derogatory, I’ve heard genetic women (and men) use ‘drag queen’ as an insult when another woman is disheveled in either the hair or makeup department.
Anyway, I have yet to see a drag show in my lifetime (I know, right?) but I’d like to rectify that soon.
Your Take
Have you anything to add? Please leave your take on this word in the comments section, I hope we can open up a dialogue and learn from each other while educating the masses.
JessicaWhoHD
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree Jessica, the term “Drag Queen” has been used both as an insult and someone that has taken cross-dressing “over the top”. Yes it can be camp, but then again isn’t that what the stage is all about? Think of it, play acting is taking something and condensing it into a show, an entertainment so to speak. Comedy is to make us laugh, but there is a certain amount of truth in it and sometimes that truth is very sad, but we turn it into something funny (hopefully). So, drag queens take our need to dress and play it up for entertainment purposes. I f we can not laugh at ourselves then we are doomed to a life of sadness and frustration. Just one question though……if drag queen is a term for men who dress in a campy way of stage, then how can a transgendered woman be considered a man?………I, myself, would consider a TG to be an actress, not an actor.
Girl, you have GOT to get yourself to a drag show NOW! You’ll never be the same. It’s incredible how those queens do it all up. They are some of the strongest-willed ladies I have ever seen. It is definitely an artform (and a science trying to dance in steel heeled stilettos).