Drag icon RuPaul has opened up about the dangerous rise of anti-drag protests in a new interview.
Over the last year, conservative politicians and anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups have targeted the drag community with hateful rhetoric regarding family-friendly events, like Drag Queen Story Hour.
Due to the increase of anti-drag hate across the United States, queer clubs and gatherings have been subjected to protests, threats and violence from bigoted individuals and organisations.
According to a report from GLAAD, there have been at least 124 incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ protests and threats in 2022 across 47 states, with the highest taking place in Texas and North Carolina.
At the time of the report’s release, the tragic mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs was not included due to the motive not being formally declared.
On 16 December, drag icon RuPaul opened up about the alarming increase of anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ hate in a heartfelt interview with Today’s Hoda Kotb & Jenna Bush Hager.
“It’s such a tragedy how our country has become so divided, and it really breaks my heart,” he explained.
“I pray for our country and the world, really, and I still believe in the power of love. So what I say to everyone is don’t lose faith in the power of love.”
Elsewhere in his interview, Ru showed some love to former Drag Race stars who have gone on to create successful careers outside of the show.
World Of Wonder
“We started the show as a celebration of drag, to celebrate the art of drag, and also the courageous hearts of these kids who come up from homes – a lot of times they’re thrown out of their homes – but they find a place on our show, and they find an audience,” he said.
“And they are travelling the world. They’re doing their own shows and movies. They’re doing it all. It’s great.”
Ru’s recent interview comes a few days after the 15th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race was officially announced.
The forthcoming batch of episodes will be the franchise’s biggest entry yet – with 16 competing queens and an extravagant grand prize of $200,000.
The season 15 cast includes TikTok-famous twins – marking the first time siblings have ever appeared on the same season – queens from Connecticut (another first!) and a former Miss Continental winner (who just-so happens to the drag mother of Kerri Colby).
Lastly, pop icon and Drag Race enthusiast Ariana Grande has been confirmed as the season’s first guest judge.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 premieres on 6 January on MTV with a double episode, with new episodes of Drag Race Untucked to air immediately after.
Click here to meet the new queens competing to become America’s Next Drag Superstar.
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