The Art of Self-Presentation and Perseverance
A few weeks ago, I went to Pride in Toronto and was privileged enough to catch Willow Pill perform. For those not familiar with her, she is an American drag performer known for being the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 14. At Pride, before taking the stage in a beautiful red 50s number, throwing roses into the crowd, her grace and perseverance presented itself in conversation with the crowd. When she asked who else was from America, I raised my hand and together we shared a moment of saddened strength,– a moment to recognize the recent happenings surrounding Pride, drag, and the fight for self-presentation in our home country.
Willow Pill delivering wise words, Photo Courtesy: Green Space Toronto 2023
Earlier in June, a federal judge in Tennessee ruled the anti-drag bill as unconstitutional. While this law has since been deemed illegitimate, it has only further added to the painful division and issues that seem to define the country. Right wing activists have attacked Pride celebrations as threats to children, their protests claiming to protect children from “inappropriate content”. However, their overly broad statements violate the first amendment for those who wish to perform in drag and target the viewpoint of gender identity in itself.
According to Joe E. Jeffreys, a drag historian and instructor at New York University, “drag is the theatrical exaggeration of gender.” It probes and questions gender and social norms, provoking audiences to do the same. “Anyone can perform in drag,” CNN journalist Scottie Andrew writes, “It’s cisgender and trans, it’s men and women, it’s nonbinary people. It’s gay and straight, it’s both masculine and feminine. It’s neither or both. It’s complex. Drag transgresses and challenges gender norms, while affirming and uplifting LGBTQ people.”
Enjoying Pride, Photo Courtesy: Green Space Toronto 2023
The statement that right wing legislation will protect children from “inappropriate content” dismisses the opportunity for children to learn about self-expression and acceptance through drag. While it remains a privilege to feel safe and be seen as a queer individual, the topics concerning gender and sexuality have become one of Generation Z’s most prominent undertakings. The pandemic brought on many demographic changes, one in which an ever-growing world of instability has resulted in Gen Z feeling the need to achieve stability for themselves– stability in the form of defining one’s individual identity. With increased access to information online, the language and therefore ability to articulate oneself becomes more complex. According to Arielle Kuperberg, an associate professor of Sociology at University of North Carolina, 50% of Gen Z identify as heterosexual with many stating they are heteroflexible. It is evident that this new generation no longer adheres to a strict gender binary, and our society must strive to represent and protect such demographics.
Whether you identify as queer or not, it is important to acknowledge the authenticity and truth of each individual lives. Queer people have always found ways to creatively resist the violence and restrictions placed upon them by society. As long as this generation continues to explore their identity intimately– challenging gender and sexuality norms– drag will continue to live on forever.
As Willow Pill ended her performance saying, “We have to protect one another, and drag, because here we are ... fighting another machine. So, let’s do it.”
Article by Lucy Kaskie, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Designer, PhotoBook Magazine
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