Community Interaction 2

     I attended a drag queen workshop organized by the LGBT Center with Windy Breeze and Harmony Breeze. Windy Breeze has been performing for 10 years, with the UWM Drag Show as the first venue at 18 years old. Harmony Breeze is Windy’s “drag daughter,” performing for only three years so far but earning a place as Miss Wisconsin Unlimited at Large 2010-2012. Windy Breeze and Harmony Breeze demonstrated how they transform from everyday “boy face” to performance “girl face,” focusing on make-up application techniques. The make-up on just half of the face took two hours (with some time for explanation and interruptions to show the variety of color and product options). Both Windy Breeze and Harmony Breeze described drag as a second job because of the amount of time it takes to choose a number, coordinate an act, plan an outfit, match and design make-up, and then execute it all--regardless of whether or not they are paid for their performances. 

     I noticed that Harmony and Windy used pronouns differently. Windy Breeze switched between “he” and “she” when referring to Harmony, using both for in-drag and out-of-drag and calling her “girl” but never “man.” Harmony always used “she” to refer to Windy, and despite Windy’s insistence on being called Chris during the workshop (perhaps to make it more informal and comfortable?), Harmony still used the drag name. It seems that this is because of their close relationship, or maybe there is a difference in the way they see themselves when it comes to drag, but I don’t feel that I’ve been around them enough to say.

      They commented that performing for audiences at free shows are actually more rewarding because the audience is more appreciative: they know that the performers are working harder than if they were paid to go on stage. This may be partly because the only compensation they receive is from tips and perhaps future bookings, but I think it’s also because a free performance is done for the illusion, for the enjoyment of the art, rather than for monetary rewards only.

      Obviously, drag queens, like other performers, take part in the work for different reasons. Windy Breeze said that drag has always been interesting and even natural to her; she started in middle school when her mother’s friends put on drag and visited. Sh decided to try it, loved entertaining, found drag performance particularly fun and free. For her, the fans’ appreciation and reactions validate the hours of work she puts into drag. Harmony Breeze said that a huge factor in her enjoyment of drag is that she likes the illusion--she likes “to be someone else.” Drag allows her a creative outlet as well as a way to explore other identities. 

While drag is treated much differently, in the way it allows people to adopt and perform other personas, it is similar to many activities people take part in, such as gaming, role-playing, or even being active on the Internet. So why is drag considered so  extremely different from anything in mainstream pop culture? How unusual is it really for people to pretend to be someone else, to exaggerate aspects of themselves to play a role, often a cross-gender role? And yet many of the people who take part in cross-gender acting are also homophobic and criticize drag queens (and less often, kings), using words like “fag” to police them when they themselves are violating the same rules.