Several ‘Drag Race’ Queens Have Responded to RuPaul’s Remarks About Trans Contestants
It all started with an interview for The Guardian. The UK publication sat down with RuPaul — the namesake behind hit reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race — to discuss the radical message behind a show going on its 10th season. (Drag Race Season 10 premieres March 22.) But instead of a flurry of “Yaasss queen”s and “Werrrrq, Mama Ru”s the interview was largely met by double-takes and discontent, primarily regarding RuPaul’s remarks concerning trans Drag Race contestants. Would a trans woman who has transitioned be allowed to compete? “Probably not,” he said.
The Guardian interview saw many people taken aback, presumably because they assumed trans women would be welcomed onto the TV series with open arms. It should be noted, however, that a trans woman who has fully “transitioned” — or has had “top surgery” even — has yet to appear on the series. Of the series’ seven past openly trans contestants, five came out as trans following their stint on the show, one came out on the runway (Monica Beverly Hillz) and another was cast on Drag Race as a trans woman (Peppermint).
Today saw more movement online concerning this trans Drag Race contestants hullabaloo, following a Twitter post from RuPaul. “You can take performance enhancing drugs and still be an athlete, just not in the Olympics,” the tweet reads. Some have taken offense that the tweet compares trans drag queens (and presumably “bio queens” as well, cis women who consider themselves drag queens) to doping athletes.
Since the original Guardian interview was published, many former Drag Race contestants have voiced their own opinions concerning RuPaul’s remarks on trans Drag Race contestants. Some are in strong disagreement, while others agree with RuPaul’s stance. Many sit somewhere in the middle, and many more have opted to not speak up at all.
BenDeLaCreme, whose name was on the tip of everyone’s tongue following a rather controversial elimination last episode, took to Instagram to weigh in:
