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Drag queens banned from Pride event 'because they may offend transgender people'

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The issue here is that the event is supposed to be about PRIDE. As in "I'm PROUD to be who I am. I'm proud to be gay/lesbian/trans".

If a bunch of guys in drag makes you feel unconfortable about yourself and your preferences.... Then just how "proud" you really are? Not every proud, I would think.

What even is this response. Certainly not to anything I said.
 
There's unfortunately some really awkward turmoil going on in LGBT+ stuff regarding this. I believe it really got traction when trans people went after Ru Paul for using the word shemale. I can understand what lead to a decision like this. That said, I don't know nearly enough about drag queen culture to talk about it beyond that.

I can't put my finger on it but something about this statement feels off. Someone who is male but self identifies as female is uncomfortable about another male who dresses up as female.

Nope. It's too nuanced for me. I just don't get it.

The phrasing in this post is really not great. Unless you're mixing together "someone who is physically male" and "someone who identifies as the female gender" - which you shouldn't be doing - it can be taken to mean "men who think they're women."
 
That's real fucking smart damn
facepalm.gif
 

Izuna

Banned
Drag culture has a rich history of transmisogyny. At my local Pride, they always pay drag queens to perform, and they always trot out their anti-transgender bullshit. Not all drag performers are that way, but it's hardly shocking that many would feel it's an issue.



I'm not confused as to why people are upset. People are upset because entitled people have been spinning this story as "banning drag queens", promoting misinformation and trying to cause actual harm to the event.

And a lot of LGB feel that T shouldn't be involved since it sets public acceptance back, but Pride is about acceptance for all. This isn't.

It's not ENTITLEMENT, it's calling this event out for putting their own agenda before others which should have no place in an event like this.

If people turn up in drag at this event, you want them to be allowed to join, watch etc. right? Not excluded right? Except this banning of them going on stage or performance or whatever, is because they feel that trans are offended by drag. So instead of encouraging acceptance within the group (which I hope you want too right?), they are condoning the unacceptance of some trans folk who don't like drag.
 

Jokergrin

Member
Well, then those trans people should be a little more progressive and accepting. They have been demanding respect and acceptance for a long time now. The least they can do is to be accepting of others and let go of the dragphobia.

Its not dragphobia, the drag performers arent being discriminated against, they just aren't having their acts featured at a trans specific event, they are not banned from attending.

This is like electing not to feature a comedian who does jokes about trans people, on stage at a trans event. Drag is a performance meant to parody gender and joke about it, it subversive humor which is fine and has its time and place.

Drag people dont live their lives like that, they are performers (mainly cismen), its not an identity
 

pigeon

Banned
I think context and intent is what's important in addressing whether dragon queens are good or not. Would someone dressing up as a drag queen in support for transgender be harmful? Context and intent matters where as dressing up in a sense to mock transgender is a whole different issue. I don't think you can make a blanket statement regarding it.

I don't think anybody doing drag is trying to mock trangendered people.

One of the more important queer theory ideas is that gender is mostly performative, both in the sense that who you have sex with doesn't depend on your genitals, and in the sense that the patriarchy projects a lot of behavioral expectations on you based on your genitals that aren't actually fundamental in any biological sense.

A lot of queer groups, behaviors, etc. are interrogations of this idea -- taking some section of patriarchal male/female behavior patterns, whether you're slicing in a traditional or nontraditional sense, and expressing your personal gender using those behaviors. Arguably it's even central to being transgendered (though obviously transgendered people are born with a gender that doesn't match their body).

Drag queens are just a pretty aggressive exploration of this concept. If gender is mostly performative, then you should be able to put it on and take it off like a wig. That's why RuPaul is a she in the dress and a he in the suit.

I don't think it really relates directly to being transgendered at all -- one is something you're born with, one is a profession/lifestyle you adopt.

I agree that if this is a Trans Pride event then cis drag queens maybe aren't super appropriate?
 

Ishida

Banned
Its not dragphobia, the drag performers arent being discriminated against, they just aren't having their acts featured at a trans specific event, they are not banned from attending.

This is like electing not to feature a comedian who does jokes about trans people, on stage at a trans event. Drag is a performance meant to parody gender and joke about it, it subversive humor which is fine and has its time and place.

Drag people dont live their lives like that, they are performers (mainly cismen), its not an identity

That's discrimination.

"We don't want you to perform because you make us feel unconfortable with your looks and what you represent.". How is that not discrimination?
 
That's discrimination.

"We don't want you to perform because you make us feel unconfortable with your looks and what you represent.". How is that not discrimination?

I mean, would I be discriminating if I did not allow someone I felt didn't properly represent trans people at a transgender event?
 
And a lot of LGB feel that T shouldn't be involved since it sets public acceptance back, but Pride is about acceptance for all. This isn't.

It's not ENTITLEMENT, it's calling this event out for putting their own agenda before others which should have no place in an event like this.

If people turn up in drag at this event, you want them to be allowed to join, watch etc. right? Not excluded right? Except this banning of them going on stage or performance or whatever, is because they feel that trans are offended by drag. So instead of encouraging acceptance within the group (which I hope you want too right?), they are condoning the unacceptance of some trans folk who don't like drag.

A lot of the LGB forget their history--there would be no Pride without trans women of color fighting back against the police in the 50s and 60s.

It's entitlement for people to raise such a huge fuss about this event not hiring cisgender drag queens for this trans-focused Pride. Have you ever been to Pride? The stage isn't just open to anyone, they pay performers--it's part of the corporatization of Pride, which is another thing this event in particular stands again. They're not encouraging the rejection of drag, they're rejecting transmisogyny, and rightfully so.

Yeah, right.

You are speaking about trans people being unconfortable with drag queens.

I'm speaking about trans people being uncomfortable with transmisogyny.
 

Izuna

Banned
Its not dragphobia, the drag performers arent being discriminated against, they just aren't having their acts featured at a trans specific event, they are not banned from attending.

This is like electing not to feature a comedian who does jokes about trans people, on stage at a trans event. Drag is a performance meant to parody gender and joke about it, it subversive humor which is fine and has its time and place.

Drag people dont live their lives like that, they are performers (mainly cismen), its not an identity

I'm sorry but this is some ignorance.
 
Banning cis drag performers strikes me as throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

That said, drag absolutely does have a transphobia and misogyny problem, and I'm troubled by how many gay men I know would reflexively and vehemently deny this.
 

braves01

Banned
This seems like a sad reminder that we have a long way to go towards to full recognition and equality of all identities, even on the progressive side of the spectrum.
 
If people turn up in drag at this event, you want them to be allowed to join, watch etc. right? Not excluded right? Except this banning of them going on stage or performance or whatever, is because they feel that trans are offended by drag. So instead of encouraging acceptance within the group (which I hope you want too right?), they are condoning the unacceptance of some trans folk who don't like drag.

Unless it's open mic night, I wouldn't expect to be able to perform on stage at any event I attended, in drag or without.
 

Izuna

Banned
They're not encouraging the rejection of drag, they're rejecting transmisogyny, and rightfully so.

Yes they are...

Honestly I feel that this trans event shouldn't be allowed be call itself Pride anything if it is blatantly implying that it is okay for trans to be made uncomfortable by drag.
 
Well yes, of course. They are not doing any harm. If anything, drag queens are more often than not very supportive of the LGBT community.

Cisgender drag queens are, more often than not, transmisogynistic and profiting from it. In my local Pride, you can see lots of cis drag queens telling shitty, hurtful jokes about trans people and getting paid for it, while transgender orgs aren't even allowed a booth at the event.

It sure reads as if they're choosing to reject any perceived transmisogyny in their paid performances by rejecting drag performances as a whole.

It sure sounds like you don't know much about the issue, considering they're hiring trans drag queens.

Yes they are...

Honestly I feel that this trans event shouldn't be allowed be call itself Pride anything if it is blatantly implying that it is okay for trans to be made uncomfortable by transmisogyny.

Fixed that for you.
 
Well yes, of course. They are not doing any harm. If anything, drag queens are more often than not very supportive of the LGBT community.

Even ones who may do performances that are considered transmisogynistic? Or, as I cited earlier, a cis man like Ru Paul using bigoted terms like shemale?

Yes they are...

Honestly I feel that this trans event shouldn't be allowed be call itself Pride anything if it is blatantly implying that it is okay for trans to be made uncomfortable by drag.

You're really twisting this away from what people are actually saying into "look, the true bigots!" shenanigans.
 

Ishida

Banned
Yes they are...

Honestly I feel that this trans event shouldn't be allowed be call itself Pride anything if it is blatantly implying that it is okay for trans to be made uncomfortable by drag.

Yes, exactly my point.

Even ones who may do performances that are considered transmisogynistic? Or, as I cited earlier, a cis man like Ru Paul using bigoted terms like shemale?

They could ban those particular performances if they want. But right now, they are banning ALL drag queen performances.
 
You can stop being a drag queen. You can't stop being gay or trans

A drag performer can choose where they will be drags (yes including this pride parade). A trans person or a gay person don't have the same choice

Hmm, what does this sound like? Oh that's right.

"You can just not fuck people of the same gender, you don't have to be gay"
"You can just not be the opposite gender, just live with the body god gave you"
 

collige

Banned
Y'all are ignorant. Not paying one group to perform at a free event isn't "exclusion", it's just not giving cisgender drag queens special privileges. It's literally an entitlement issue. Furthermore, they've taken the step of agreeing to hire drag queens who are trans at this event. If you have a problem with this, it's likely that you're either unaware of the oppression dynamics that trans people face from society or you just don't care.

My post was specifically in regards to your assertion that any performers present at the event would be specifically paid. I've seen no evidence that anyone is being paid to be there and given the fact that the selling point of this event is its anti-coporateness (the event page specifically mentions the organizer "having no money"), I doubt this is the case.
 
So here's the thing, I think all they've done is say they aren't hiring Drag acts or having any drag officially involved. They aren't saying Drag queens can't be there. The decision was as I understand it a vote among Trans and non binary people who feel drag is negatively affecting them. If we're forced to choose between the Trans community feeling welcome at the expense of the Drag communities right to be the centre of attention then that seems like a fair choice.

Drag isn't inherently transphobic or anything but there is a lot of transphobia in the modern drag community. I think if your main joke is 'hey look, isn't the juxtaposition between my bodies masculine characteristics and my feminine performance hilarious?'; then any audience that agrees is going to be an unpleasant place for a transwoman to be you know? I feel like we need to examine Drag and its role in the community and not yell 'hey remember stonewall though' at people who feel offended and marginalised. Drag runs the risk, as I see it, of becoming our Zwarte Piet; where we refuse to listen to people's genuine grievances because it's 'traditional' and 'just fun and not meant to offend anyone.'

Well said, I think there's definitely a discussion to be had without completely dismissing the feelings of transgender individuals, I'm sure they aren't feeling like this for the lulz.
 
My post was specifically in regards to your assertion that any performers present at the event would be specifically paid. I've seen no evidence that anyone is being paid to be there and given the fact that the selling point of this event is its anti-coporateness (the event page specifically mentions the organizer "having no money"), I doubt this is the case.

Whether or not they're being paid (I'm not entirely sure), even receiving a platform is a special privilege. It's not open mic up there.
 

Izuna

Banned
Ignorance? I don't know much about drag queen culture, but I'm pretty darn sure that the idea that drag queens are most often cis men is true.

Not the part I am calling ignorant. But that fact that drag is just a comedic thing that doesn't seem to warrant the same sort of fight for acceptance as trans. It's implying that T is more serious than Q. Which I have posted so often in the thread already so I want to drop it a final time.

Saying that Q is just "dress-up" is complete bullshit.
 
Yes, exactly my point.



They could ban those particular performances if they want. But right now, they are banning ALL drag queen performances.

Yes, because drag queen performances are often transmisogynistic. Would it be discrimination if they didn't want cishet guys performing at the event? Perhaps, but who cares?

Not the part I am calling ignorant. But that fact that drag is just a comedic thing that doesn't seem to warrant the same sort of fight for acceptance as trans. It's implying that T is more serious than Q. Which I have posted so often in the thread already so I want to drop it a final time.

Saying that Q is just "dress-up" is complete bullshit.

Q is far from being merely drag queen culture. Can't it simply be a response to a history of problematic performances by drag queens rather than "showing their hypocrisy" or something? Can't trans people host a trans event and be able to decide that they only want trans performers for it?
 

VegiHam

Member
Yes, exactly my point.

This isn't about Trans people saying 'ewwwwww Drag.'

This is about drag performers consistently and repeatedly going out of there way to make Transphobic jokes, and Trans people declining to give them a platform this time.

Why are people refusing to get this?
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
Even ones who may do performances that are considered transmisogynistic? Or, as I cited earlier, a cis man like Ru Paul using bigoted terms like shemale?

Why are obsessed with throwing the baby out with the bath. Your statements are very offensive , you don't go blaming and wanting the removal of all Drag Queens because of the actions of some, same with any group either.

The only way such a stance would be remotely justifiable (and that's iffy) is if you could prove most Drag Queen performances and transmisogynistic.
 
Not the part I am calling ignorant. But that fact that drag is just a comedic thing that doesn't seem to warrant the same sort of fight for acceptance as trans. It's implying that T is more serious than Q. Which I have posted so often in the thread already so I want to drop it a final time.

Saying that Q is just "dress-up" is complete bullshit.

What do you think the Q stands for, exactly?
 

HUELEN10

Member
This seems like a sad reminder that we have a long way to go towards to full recognition and equality of all identities, even on the progressive side of the spectrum.
Indeed, we are still a long ways away from that sadly. communication and respect is key, and it will come in time.
 

Ishida

Banned
This isn't about Trans people saying 'ewwwwww Drag.'

This is about drag performers consistently and repeatedly going out of there way to make Transphobic jokes, and Trans people declining to give them a platform this time.

Why are people refusing to get this?

ALL of them? Besides, if they are truly, TRULY proud of being who they are, why do they feel so uncomfortable or offended by jokes?
 
This isn't about Trans people saying 'ewwwwww Drag.'

This is about drag performers consistently and repeatedly going out of there way to make Transphobic jokes, and Trans people declining to give them a platform this time.

Why are people refusing to get this?

Cisgender drag queens are, more often than not, transmisogynistic and profiting from it.

You're making a generalization about an entire group of people. Stop. Discrimination shouldn't be tolerated. Period. Drag is a lifestyle choice, not a set of beliefs.
 

dream

Member
The irony being that transgender people destablize the notion of gender as a static, normative identity in the exact same way that Judith Butler points out that drag queens foreground gender being a performance.
 
And how, pray tell, will you tell the difference between someone in drag vs. a transgendered person wearing gender-opposite clothing?

And how many transgendered people will wear flashy outfits just for the heck of it?

This literally makes zero sense.

Good luck enforcing it, btw.
 
Why are obsessed with throwing the baby out with the bath. Your statements are very offensive , you don't go blaming and wanting the removal of all Drag Queens because of the actions of some, same with any group either.

The only way such a stance would be remotely justifiable 9and that's iffy) is if you could prove most Drag Queen performances and transmisogynistic.

So trans people have to be all-inclusive despite not only not being included in society, but often not even being included in the LGBT movement? It is not a radical idea that trans people should be able to have an event operated by trans people.

Pehaps!? are you joking?

wow

In the same way that it's discrimination if you exclude white people from speaking at a black power rally, or if you exclude men from a group meant for female abuse victims. It's a kind of discrimination that exists not out of hate for another group, but with the safety and well-being of your own group in mind.
 

BamfMeat

Member
46 years ago, transgender people and drag queens were rioting together in NYC to be able to just "live".

Now we're reduced to this. Sometimes I really think perspectives have become skewed as fuck. And I mean that from all sides. The more I think about this, the more I'm becoming depressed by the LGBT+ community. We don't need "them" to tear us apart anymore - we're doing a relatively good job ourselves.

Bravo, kids.
 

Coins

Banned
As an outsider, I'm guessing trans people are offended by drag queens because being one sex during your 9-5 job and then dressing up as the other is a lot different than being forced to live inside of a body you don't identify with?

Is this correct?

If I'm wrong, please educate me.
 
You're making a generalization about an entire group of people. Stop. Discrimination shouldn't be tolerated. Period. Drag is a lifestyle choice, not a set of beliefs.

If discrimination shouldn't be tolerated, most Pride events should probably stop giving money and a platform to cis drag queens who stand on stage and make anti-trans jokes. I've witnessed it at every Pride I've been to.

And how, pray tell, will you tell the difference between someone in drag vs. a transgendered person wearing gender-opposite clothing?

And how many transgendered people will wear flashy outfits just for the heck of it?

This literally makes zero sense.

Good luck enforcing it, btw.

They're not banning cis drag queens from the event, they're simply choosing not to prioritize them with a performance platform.

As an outsider, I'm guessing trans people are offended by drag queens because being one sex during your 9-5 job and then dressing up as the other is a lot different than being forced to live inside of a body you don't identify with?

Is this correct?

If I'm wrong, please educate me.

Trans people are often offended by cis drag queens because anti-trans sentiment has become a large part of the performance and culture.
 

Monocle

Member
That's incredibly dumb. Drag is a form of performance art. There's usually a heightened element to it, a bit of a wink that gives the audience permission to be amused. And when the camp factor is downplayed, the result can be truly elegant female illusion. How in the world could that demean your status as a woman? Drag is celebratory, if anything. At least from what I've seen.

I would be very surprised to hear of a drag performer showing up at a pride event with disrespectful intentions.
 

Izuna

Banned
Fixed that for you.

Look I already understand that your stand-point. I'm saying it's not at all fair.

YES, some trans are offended by drag. No one is disputing that. What you are doing however, and I suppose is done by the people who complained to make this decision happen, is basically shitting on drag and saying that it is offensive.

I really equate this to being just like a pastor (who is not homophobic) saying that since he is also scheduled to marry heterosexual Christians that day, he can't marry the homosexual couple on the same day.

Notice how the people complaining about this, aren't the proposed people who would have been performing otherwise, but people who hear that there is a pride event out there that basically says it "understand that within LBGTQ... some dislike each other so we're going to separate their expressions because they don't yet fully accept each other."

And no, allowing trans drag to perform doesn't solve the issue. This event isn't inclusive at all in this sense.
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
So trans people have to be all-inclusive despite not only not being included in society, but often not even being included in the LGBT movement? It is not a radical idea that trans people should be able to have an event operated by trans people.

If by all inclusive you mean not discriminating against people then yes. Just because you've been oppressed doesn't mean you should go around using the same thought process's that led to your oppression (some drag queens are bad therefore all drag queens are bad). The same goes for everything, otherwise your simply perpetuating a never ending circle. It may not be easy but eventually something has to give.
 
So trans people have to be all-inclusive despite not only not being included in society, but often not even being included in the LGBT movement? It is not a radical idea that trans people should be able to have an event operated by trans people.



In the same way that it's discrimination if you exclude white people from speaking at a black power rally, or if you exclude men from a group meant for female abuse victims. It's a kind of discrimination that exists not out of hate for another group, but with the safety and well-being of your own group in mind.

Why is it okay for Trans people to discriminate? Why is their offense greater than than offending the drag life style?
 
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