Pride, protest and purpose

Drag has always been an integral thread in the fabric of queer culture. Queens, kings and gender non-conforming artists have stood firmly at the forefront of protest, reshaping the entertainment landscape and, ever since the first brick was thrown at Stonewall, fighting for visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community around the world. But recently, drag artists have been threatened in an unprecedented way; and it’s not just their craft that’s under attack – their voices are being silenced and their mere existence put into question, too.

So, to mark Pride month this year, we’ve invited a global group of drag artists to share the Pride memories that matter most to them. 

Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Instagram: @draggybooboo

My drag is inspired by the artists of the ’70s feminist movement, like Barbara Kruger and Karen Finley, and also by my own culture – I’m a member of Taiwan’s indigenous Paiwan tribe. The scene in Taipei is very close-knit and competitive, so whether it’s comedy, lip-syncing or hosting, I try to make sure that I’m spreading an important message in my art.

Taipei Pride 2017 was one of the most important days of my life. It’s the biggest Pride celebration in Asia, and that year, I was able to perform a remix to an indigenous song with one of my sisters. I wore a traditional men’s costume, dragged it up and the crowd loved it – so many people got involved and sang along with us, it was amazing. I’ll always cherish that moment. It was a chance to represent my culture and let people know that indigenous communities deserve to be seen. I did it for my community, for the people back in my hometown in the south of Taiwan.

We still have a long way to go, but I want Pride to be even bigger here, and the LGBTQIA+ community to be more visible – especially in places outside of Taipei – whether it’s through drag representation or being afforded more civil rights. The government has just announced that same-sex couples can now adopt children, which is something I’m really looking forward to celebrating. 

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Instagram: @onyxgodwin

Drag came into my life when I was asked to appear on a TV show back in 2017. I was so sceptical at the time, but it opened big doors for me, and since then I’ve appeared in TV shows, exhibitions and even in Vogue Italia as a model and drag activist.

Although we have parties and pageants, the queer scene in Nigeria is completely underground because people are very hostile towards the LGBTQIA+ community. We still live under discriminatory laws and face dangers and threats on a daily basis. Last year’s Lagos Pride got a lot of publicity, but contrary to belief, it wasn’t the first Pride – we’d had a lot of small parties before. 

My favourite thing about Pride here is the feeling of togetherness. We have to be very careful with how we move and interact with other people day to day, but when we’re in a queer party space, we feel so safe – we can dance, dress and live exactly how we want to, even if it’s only for five hours. The major thing is that everyone feels comfortable and that we can be with people who understand us, our journeys and our sexual experiences.

Looking ahead, I don’t want Lagos Pride to be low-key anymore. We deserve to celebrate ourselves in full glare, with all the flamboyance and queerness we have. I’m hoping in 10 years, the next generation won’t have to hide themselves as much.

Location: Chester, UK
Instagram: @lillysnatch

I’m a neo-burlesque drag queen, comedian and producer whose work over the last 10 years has been based on Western stereotypes of Southeast Asian women. I’m also the founder of The Bitten Peach, the UK’s first queer Pan-Asian cabaret production company. It’s been my proudest moment, and a journey of self-discovery through accepting my Asian heritage and my queerness, and being able to surround myself with others just like me.

The moment where everything fell into place for me was London Pride 2018. I was on a float with Her Upstairs – a queer cabaret venue in Camden that has since sadly closed down – alongside Mark Anthony, who is now my fiancé. Going from being in denial about my identity to being at Pride with Mark, the trans masc non-binary human I was very quickly falling for, made it click for me: this matters. This epiphany happened suddenly as I stood on that float surrounded by cheering crowds (and some protestors) – I realised exactly why Pride is so important for our community.

With everything happening now, we need to be louder and prouder, especially with my partner being trans. I want to be the best ally I can for my trans siblings, so the biggest thing for me this Pride is to stand with them, hand in hand, and champion them.

Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Instagram: @akiskaaa

I started drag when I was a member of the Istanbul Pride Committee. I began as an activist and entertainer, then gradually my work has become more of a long-term, politically minded queer art piece. 

Over the last few years, drag has been banned from big stages in Turkey because the government doesn’t want our art – or even our existence – to be visible to society. Since 2015, police have tried to stop Istanbul Pride and queer protests by closing the streets and arresting activists. Just last year, we were met with despicable police violence and nearly 400 of us were arrested. One year, I had to collect some friends from the police station, and afterwards we headed to a Pride party at Roxy, one of the city’s big nightclubs. Everyone was waiting on the street outside, and when we got there everyone was hugging and cheering for them. It was beautiful how much love and strength existed in that moment. 

It’s terrible what’s happening in Turkey, but when you try to suppress us, it gives our queer art and drag even more power and meaning. In the future, I just want to make sure that people can celebrate Pride safely. I think the new generation will make an even bigger push for that. They may have learnt things from me, but every day I learn so much from them.

Location: Manila, Philippines
Instagram: @_by_gabby

I started toying with drag in my bedroom before becoming one of only three drag kings in the Philippines at the time. I’d describe myself as a goofy, glamorous goblin who’s at their best when they’re performing a rap number.

Way before I started drag – but while I was experimenting with makeup – I attended a university Pride festival in 2019. It was photographed, and people began leaving hateful comments about my appearance in the comments of an online article, with some even threatening to attack me if they ever saw me in a women’s bathroom. My friends – especially my trans femme friends – came to my defence, and while it was a hurtful experience, it ultimately became a push for me to start pursuing drag full time. The experience changed my life, and reminded me that we need as much queer visibility and joy as we can get in Filipino society. Our community deserves the same love and protection as everyone else.

Location: London, UK
Instagram: @legateauchocolat

My work spans opera, musical theatre, cabaret, live art and children’s theatre. One of my shows, Duckie, teaches the concept of otherness, tolerance and self-acceptance to children through drag. Pride is a constant reminder that for marginalised identities, the work is never complete. There’s a lot to celebrate, but there’s also some rolling up of the sleeves to do, because we’re not safe until everyone in the community is safe. 

My first Pride was in Brighton in 2002. There were so many amazing firsts that keep that day so fresh in my mind: my first time at a parade, on a float, and my first time meeting a dear friend of mine – set and costume designer Ryan Dawson Laight, who I’ve been best friends with ever since. 

Remembering the events of Stonewall and the contributions of trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson and Alan Turing reminds us of the struggles we’ve come from. What’s happening in the world right now – especially the US legislators trying to ban minors from drag shows – is so cynical and exhausting. I’ve been performing Duckie for eight years, around the world, and there was never any of this discourse and concern about drag and children. I think what’s happening now speaks very directly as to why Pride is so vital in 2023.

Location: New York, US
Instagram: @ginatonicnyc

I always bring a lot of theatricality to my drag – my shows include live vocals, puppetry and drama. As anti-LGBTQIA+ and anti-drag legislation started to gain traction in the US, I saw an opportunity to educate the public about queer activism and drag history via TikTok. It comes from having such a love and admiration for those who came before us and fought for our way in the world.

My most memorable Pride moment has to be NYC in 2020. It was supposed to be the 50th anniversary of the Pride march, but everything was cancelled due to the pandemic. At the same time, Black Lives Matter protests were happening after the murder of George Floyd, so we all came together. We held a huge protest march from the bottom tip of Manhattan up into the West Village – so many communities were coming together to fight for their rights. The experience harkened back to the very first Pride liberation march in 1970, and really showed what the true meaning of Pride is. I think years from now, we’ll look back on it as a really historical moment.

Planning your next night out? Explore LGBTQIA+ events on DICE.