PHOTOS: D.C. Drag Awards

Since the Kennedy Center Trump was acquired, several shows have been cancelled as a result of the current administration’s anti-LGBTQ policy. Whether a theatre company that has withdrawn as a sign of solidarity or Trump himself bans drug performances or other events, the well-known venues have experienced major overhauls since the president ordered his own board chair.

With WorldPride coming out in June, and one of the highly respected phases of the country separates from queer entertainment, Washington Blade is talking with some of DC’s own drug performers about the current situation.

Tatiyanna Voche’, headliners of several shows across Miss Gay America 2023, DMV spoke with Blade about DC’s current drag status

Blade: Have you ever thought your job as a drag queen would be under threat since the start of the new Trump administration?

Voche’: Absolutely! During his first administration, we realised this if you didn’t fit a certain type, whether it was your skin color, your religious beliefs, how you identify, your sexual preferences, your tastes, your freedom, or whether your hobby is definitely under attack.

Blade: How does Trump make himself the Kennedy Center chair, and the banned show shows that it makes you feel indefinitely about the drug future for the next four years?

Voche’: Sadly, we’ve been on this path before. Being gay or being a drug in itself was not that mainstream or cool. So I say, as a community, we are very strong together. I think most of us are tired of fighting a good fight, but we have to continue the same generation before we fight as we can. I think drugs will be at risk over the next four years, but when there is will, there is a way.

Blade: What is your plan going forward for your performance under the current political climate?

Voche’: For me, I will continue to spread love across the country wherever I go, lifting up as many community members and allies as possible. I ask questions to be wary of your surroundings when I’m in a new venue to protect myself (i.e., there’s always an emergency exit plan). You are in a group of people in the community who don’t feel safe and don’t get involved. We know the true hatred that these kinds of people are on the other side of this and that they have in their minds. We cannot thrust the bear because we don’t have a better word. You’ll win in the end.

Evry’s joy also talked to Blade.

She is an award-winning performer known for her shows filled with energy, laughter and charm. Evry Pleasure was named DC’s best drag queen at the 2023 DC Drag Awards and Blade.

blade: In these times, how do you acquire joy for yourself and for your community?

Evry Pleasure: Focusing on my purpose. Because that’s how I present stories, show creativity, connect with the community, and provide it to everyone who has a good time. I find joy when the platform has to focus on that purpose and change information or spread it. There is always a way to get out. The times are difficult, but they were tough in the past, and we came out strong from it.

Blade: What do you think is the best way to confront the current pushback to the weirdness of the present?

Evry’s joy: What we need to do first shows that we are here and even when they are constantly attacking us, they are here. The other is to find and build communities. When we are organized, we can work better. I saw it in a drug march in DC at the beginning of March, and I’ve seen it all over the country. When we are together we become stronger. We can organize and fight back more strongly. The next organisations, like @Qommitte, will help you find more information on how to support some actions and protests around the DMV region and the country.

The last queen that Blade spoke about is Tarahoot, a highly acclaimed performer who has been extremely vocal in strange scenes in the area. 2022 Blade voted for one of DC’s top 5 drag queens

blade: How do you think global pride will be affected by this acquisition of DC?

Tara Hoote: So I think the world will probably be influenced by the Trump administration. You know, people all over the world want to come to the US. Canada’s travel to the US has already plummeted. Do LGBTQ people all over the world feel safe coming to Washington, DC? That’s a big open question. So, there is certainly a need for Washington, DC and LGBTQ people in the United States to showcase and show support for the 50th anniversary of World Pride and Capital Pride.

Blade: Do you think protests are the biggest way to push back by opposing queerness as the Trump administration’s main goal?

Tara Hoot: I think the protest is about the size of a march or something like that, but I think too… Call my friend who lives in a state that has an expression. I think it’s really important to plan smaller acts of civil disobedience that show us that we exist, that I exist. Looking at Act Up, it was like the organisation from the AIDS crisis and the home of Republican Sen. Jesse Helms, who they lived in Arlington, did a huge condom. So they have our ancestors before us, and those who think before us in the LGBTQ community have given us a way to use the kind of workplace roadmap, successful things, and civil disobedience. I think that’s what fascism and Republicans are trying to take from us, not just to bring attention to it, but to bring joy and humor.

Blade: How have you gained joy for yourself and for your community during this administration?

Tara Hoot: So, my character didn’t exist before the pandemic. It came out during the pandemic at the end of the Trump administration, so this is the first time it has existed of sorts. When I started in the world, everyone felt sick, people felt sick, and I didn’t want to be dragged into drug queens. I wanted to lift people up and bring joy, so that was my operational mode. I will describe my drag characters like Mr. Rogers at address, and you know I have a storytime event where I play bingo. I do trivia. But in my storytime, people think they’re just for little kids, but adults make the most of it. They are the people who were crying a bit as I told them how brave and strong they could be, and how gorgeous they were. You can say people need to hear it, and just by getting into the drug I can say that makes me happy and that makes other people happy. That’s how I bring joy.