San Francisco has made history by appointing the first drag laureate in the United States, D’Arcy Drollinger, in a support for the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Drollinger, a renowned drag performer and nightclub owner, will receive approximately $55,000 over the course of 18 months in her role as the city’s inaugural drag laureate. As part of her office, Drollinger will curate and participate in drag-related activities, act as an envoy for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ population, and help guarantee the preservation of the city’s drag history. The position was advertised as seeking someone who would “embody San Francisco’s historic, diverse, and inclusive drag culture, elevating the entire community on the national and international stage”.
West Hollywood is also expected to appoint its own drag laureate soon, although at a lower rate of $15,000 annually and a shorter-term appointment. Meanwhile, the efforts to create such a position in New York in 2021 have been hampered, highlighting the difficulties in establishing such roles even in liberal cities.
Drag is a performance art form that has existed for over 100 years, and has become an endorsement, upliftment, and celebration of queer and trans people. However, certain US states have begun attempting to legislate against it, with measures that could impact where and when drag shows can be performed. Supporters of these bills have alleged that drag act content is harmful to children, groom and sexualise them, although no evidence supports these claims. Drag acts that feature sexual innuendos or adult themes usually take place in age-restricted bars, or at events where children are banned, or that need parental consent.
Besides, there is an increasing fear among drag performers in several US states that they will face ostracism due to these legislative measures, and the fact that trans people could be wrongfully accused of expressing their gender publicly. Currently, the most restrictive measures against drag acts have been passed in Tennessee in March. Despite such acts of aggression against the LGBTQ+ community, the drag art form will endure, as it has always been a venue for expression for queer and trans people who had to create their paths.
Drag has gained greater visibility and mainstream acceptance in recent years, thanks mainly to the popularity of shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, drag brunches, bingo, and story hours where drag artists read children’s books to young audiences, often in libraries. The recent challenges to drag in the US have resulted from anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment that has impacted the entire community negatively, with wide-ranging campaigns attempting to roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
The United States Navy has also made a significant step towards acceptance by appointing Joshua Kelley, also known as Harpy Daniels, a drag queen, as a “Digital Ambassador” under a pilot program aimed at reaching out to prospective recruits from various backgrounds. The Navy has faced recruiting challenges recently, as Kelley’s appointment comes during its most challenging recruiting environment, with the program ended in March. The program involved five active-duty personnel, but a Navy spokesperson has announced that they are “evaluating” its potential future form. According to Kelley, drag is a way to express himself, and the art has been essential in creating a safe space for queer individuals.
San Francisco’s appointment of a drag laureate represents a significant achievement for the LGBTQ+ community and the continued visibility of the drag scene. It is hoped that San Francisco and West Hollywood’s trendsetting appointments will promote acceptance and ultimately lead to drag art’s enduring influence on queer and trans culture, whatever the challenges ahead.
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