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23.01.2020
Drag Queen
Opulent make-up, fancy costumes and a story of rebellion
But before we enter the colourful world of false eyelashes, blow-dry hairstyles and tucking slips, a little educational instruction. What is the difference between trans and drag? And what does it all mean anyway?


#Transgender
Denotes all those who cannot identify with the gender that has been classified to them according to their sexual characteristics. But not all people who classify themselves as transgender want to have their biological sex changed. Until 2011, people in Germany had to be operated on in a gender-aligned manner in order to be allowed to enter the gender they wanted on paper. This is now unconstitutional.

#Transsexual
It's a subgroup of the transgenders. Transsexuals usually have a desire for sex adjustment and feel trapped in the wrong body. They often have irreversible changes made with the help of hormone treatments and surgery to get the right body for them.

#Cross-Dressing
Refers to the wearing of clothing of the opposite gender, privately and in public. Well-known from this scene are for example men who like to wear women's briefs or high heels with their daywear.

#Drag/ Travesty
are anatomical men or women who represent the opposite gender in an extremely overdone and purely artistic way. Many of these travesty artists switch between the two genders without any problems and also like to wear clothes according to their gender or enter into heterosexual relationships. Drag usually has not much to do with sexual identity. Often they are bookable stage artists who dance, sing or perform as comedy acts. There are many different ways to express your own drag. The range of repertoire includes star imitations or parodies, self-made fictional characters, female stereotypes, symbioses of man and woman, androgynous models and living art.


As an icon of LGBT society, they are at the vanguard of political protests, demonstrations and Christoper Street Days. Drag is often political and above all society-critical, because it breaks the norms and questions expectations of gender roles. As ambassadors for diversity, they try to widen the horizons of the people, which is still a necessity today. Although we in Germany managed to integrate same-sex marriage in 2017, there are still many countries in the world that are far away from the 21st century in terms of acceptance of individuals. Countries where " unclear heterosexuality" is at best under imprisonment. But the final lash has not yet been glued on. If you don't conform to the norms, the protest about your existence is ultimately a permanent state of affairs.

But where does travesty originally come from? The term comes from the Latin "trans = over" and "vestire = to dress". So " to dress over" and originally means the representation of a theatre role of the opposite gender. In the Greek antiquity, all roles in theatre were played by men and even in England in the 16th century, women were still unwanted on stage. The ballet of the Italian and French royal courts was also reserved for men. Therefore, as a master of stagecraft, it was customary to dress and behave according to the female role. According to a rumour, Shakespeare is said to have given his plays the marginal note "Drag", the short form for "dressed as Girl" and this expression had a lasting influence. As is well known, in his time all female roles were played by young men, the "boy actors". 

If the expression "Drag" really comes from here can of course not be reconstructed today. Ru Paul, probably the most famous drag queen in the world, is deeply convinced that these are the roots and prefers to tell this story in interviews. She has been an icon of the scene, actress, singer, model and award-winning showmaster for decades, as a drag as well as a gentleman, with an international fan base and a star on the Walk of Fame. Thanks to Netflix, his show "Ru Paul's Drag Race", which has now also found its way to Germany, allows viewers to watch Queens competing for the crown in 11 seasons. Apart from drama, make-up and wonderfully entertaining comedy performances, you'll also learn about the terrible cruelty these queens had to endure in childhood and even as adults; whether by strangers, classmates or their own family. But also in Germany you can find famous and established Queens, such as Lilo Wanders, Olivia Jones or the duo Mary & Gordy, who have shaped our image of the art of transformation and have entertained us for decades. Drag should be fun. Anyone who has ever visited a show in one of the many travesty theaters can confirm that this is definitely true. Anyone born before the mid 80s has probably watched or at least heard about "Wa(h)re Liebe" or had a great time watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show. When Freddie Mercury in "i want to break free" vacuumed the house as a housewife with a moustache or Conchita Wurst won the Eurovision Song Contest as a bearded lady, drag history was written. Every day a little bit more in the direction of acceptance for all.

To end it with Ru Paul's words to the point:
"If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?!


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