1970s Drag Culture Eric Wilson What is Drag? Drag is a subculture that belongs to the larger LGBT community, which usually consists of men eschewing typical “masculine” garb and personas to embody a more “feminine” persona and appearance. Drag is seen as a means of self-expression and subversion of hegemonic gender roles within American culture. While drag has existed in underground subcultures since the early twentieth century, it began a rise in prominence during the 1970s as a way of gender expression, performance, community and belonging (especially in the Black and Latino/a communities). Drag Balls A ball is a party/gathering/performance venue in which members of drag houses “walk” for trophies, prizes and recognition. In the 1970s ball culture flourished in underground clubs and warehouses, especially in New York City. Balls began in basements and taverns in the 1930s, but in the 60s and 70s queens in Harlem began to host extravagant, elegant balls that were spectacles in and of themselves. Balls were now an elegant social affair in which queens performed in multiple categories. The performance was known as “walking” in reference to walking a runway like a fashion model. Houses Walking was done under the auspices of a Houses create a safe haven for marginalized “house” which an individual claimed Queer People of Color (QPOC) who membership in. Houses are like a family, oftentimes were drag queens and you have a house mother, and all of the performers. By joining a house, one could children of the house. Not to be confused find a community of like-minded with a nuclear family, houses are made up individuals who would offer support and of unrelated queens who may not have a love that their biological families couldn’t/ home to go to, hence they become the wouldn’t. proverbial “children” of the house mother, who nurtures and takes care of her children, in ways that a typical mother would. “Houses are gay street gangs. — Paris is Burning” Houses were formed by legendary drag performers who walked and won in different ball categories. Houses were named after these legendary performers who then passed their knowledge and expertise down to the children of the houses. Houses of the 1970s + House of Adonis + House of Aviance + House of Chanel + House of Corey + House of Dupree + House of Field + House of LaBeija + House of Lawong + House of Ninja + House of Omni + House of Overness + House of Pendavis + House of Saint Laurent + House of Xtravaganza Performance At balls, individuals walk under multiple Runway categories are performances that categories to achieve fame and win awards. focus on costuming, clothes and the walk The categories are divided under Butch reminiscent of fashion shows, while vogue Queen and Femme Queen. Butch Queen categories feature a dance performance and Banjee Girl realness refer to a known as voguing. It can be seen as a fight participant’s ability to blend in with their on the dance floor, where participants heterosexual counterparts, while Femme “throw shade” and “read” their opponents Queen/Female Figure realness is an through words, actions and dance steps attempt at creating the illusion of that attempt to call out flaws in their “femininity.” facade, costume, makeup etc. This is “reading” from which evolved “throwing shade.” Reading is the delicate art form of insulting and pointing out someone’s flaws. Throwing shade is when the insult becomes more of a backhanded compliment, in a way that is both clever and funny but still pointed. Vogue Duckwalk: The duck walk is similar to Russian folk dancing in that it involves squatting on your heels and kicking your feet out as you move forward on the beat. Catwalk: Catwalking is an exaggerated feminine walk where the legs are crossed over each other, the hips are thrust from side to side, and the hands are thrown forward in opposition to the legs. Hands: In performance, the hands of the performer often told a story. This is the component of performing used to throw shade. For example, miming an expression of horror at the way the opponents face looks. Floorwork: This component demonstrates the competitors' sensuality as they roll, twist, and otherwise move on the ground in such a way as to capture the attention of the judges. Spins and Dips: This is the showiest component of vogue. These are the turns on beat, and the drops to the floor. A spin or dip is only done correctly when it executed with the climax happening on the beat (House of Nuance). Contestants are additionally judged on realness, which is the ability to be real. To perform to what is required. To essentially become a female/male/gay/straight/whatever one wants to be. It is freeing and essential to being a true drag queen. Slang Drag slang has evolved and existed as part of the individuality of the culture of drag. It is important to understand the vocabulary, and use it effectively in order to be a part of drag culture. It would be interesting to include definitions of terms such as Ki Ki + Fish + Read + House + Ball + Vogue + Beat + Serve + Shade + Werk + Come Through + Yas + Queen + Cunt + Slay + Eat It + Butch Queen + Camp + Cake + Busted + Dusty + Fierce + Gag + Girl + Hunty + Tuck Safe Places Drag queens often experienced violence from LEO as well as by straight individuals on the streets. They often experienced discrimination from their biological families, which led many to lives of homelessness and drug abuse. Drag houses became safe houses for at-risk youth whom did not have any other place to turn in most cases. A list of safe places, bars, and gay-friendly establishments would be an interesting page to have on the site, as it could be used by drag queens to protect themselves and seek shelter as they needed it. The Stonewall Riots occurred in New York’s Greenwich Village at the Stonewall Bar in 1978. They were incited following a police raid on the bar in which many LGBT people frequented. This was a pivotal moment in LGBT history in which individuals began to stand up against police brutality and societal oppression in an organized fashion. Pointing out these safe spots and political resistance areas would be an interesting aspect of history as well as a way to help LGBT people to seek out like-minded communities. Gender Proofing Miranda Rights Police Violence Queer Resistance Gender Proofing In the 1950s onward, certain sumptuary laws existed that allowed police officers to contest an individual’s gender by requesting that the individual in question provide three elements of clothing respective to their sexual identity. If they could not provide these elements, they were arrested. This is a clear example of harassment, and would be a very informative article to help drag queens avoid arrest. Your Rights You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud. You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave. You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately. Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights. Your Responsibilities Do stay calm and be polite. Do not interfere with or obstruct the police. Do not lie or give false documents. Do prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Do remember the details of the encounter. Do file a written complaint or call your local ACLU if you feel your rights have been violated. Helpful Links This link is to the Miranda Rights that each individual should be aware of, especially as a drag queen being stopped on the street. Statistically, it has been known that QPOC, and members of the LGBT community are harassed by police officers disproportionately and having the ability to know their rights when this happens would help in Queer Resistance. https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/what-do-if-youre-stopped-police-immigration- agents-or-fbi This is a helpful link to Transgender Rights when stopped by police officers. Access to this information is extremely important and would be pertinent to have during moments of interaction with police. https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/transgender-people-and-law .