Drag queen

Drag queens are performers - usually gay men, sometimes transgendered women - who dress in "drag," clothing associated with the female gender, usually highly exaggerated versions thereof. Drag queens often do drag to perform, singing or lip-syncing and dancing, participating in events such as gay pride parades, cabarets, discotheques, and other celebrations and venues.

Terminology

The term drag queen originates in Polari, the language of gay men in England in the early part of the last century. Drag meant "clothes", and was also theatre slang for a woman's costume worn by a male actor. A queen is an effeminate gay man.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another term for drag queen, female impersonator, is common in some areas, but considered dated in others. Drag queens are generally not literally "female impersonators" in that they do not attempt to pass as women. Female impersonation, under that name, used to be illegal in many places, which inspired the famous drag queen José Sarria to hand out labels to his friends reading "I am a boy," so they could not be accused of female impersonation. http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/sarria_j.html American drag queen RuPaul famously said "I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven-inch heels, four-foot wigs, and skintight dresses?"

Related Topics:
Pass - José Sarria - RuPaul

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most drag queens prefer to be referred to as "she" while in drag. Many performers protect their character quite vigorously and will be offended if they are referred to as "he" or by their legal name while they are in drag.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some people interpret "Drag" as being an acronym for DRessed As a Girl, and use Drab, DRessed As a Boy, for "female body, male garb" variety.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the UK, alongside traditional drag work such as shows and performances, many drag queens engage in 'mix-and-mingle' work at night clubs or at parties/events. This involves simply being at an event, mingling with guests, possibly behaving in a moderately outrageous manner, hosting on the door/looking after a guest list or dancing. These clubs/events/parties are quite often nothing to do with the gay scene, although some London gay clubs do employ queens to host or mix-and-mingle. The queens involved are usually expected to be of a very high visual standard, to be seen close up, within whatever genre thier characters are.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~