“Drag Race” alumni form the first PAC led by famous queens

Drag queens Kameron Michaels, Eureka O’Hara, Jaida Essence Hall, Derrick Berry and Trinity K Bonet perform at RuPaul’s Drag Race Live! at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Photo: Denise Truscello/Getty Images for RuPaul’s Drag Race Live

Former participants of RuPaul’s Drag Race have formed Drag PAC, a political action committee that aims to “protect LGBTQ+ rights through democratic action in 2024.”

The PAC was announced in a YouTube video on Wednesday. The founding members are Alaska, Jinkx Monsoon, BenDeLaCreme, Peppermint and Monét X Change. The artists said they felt compelled to form the PAC because of the many anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have been introduced in recent years, including laws restricting drag shows.

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“I think everyone is a little disheartened with a lot of our elected leaders, and frankly our community is under attack and it’s escalating into violence,” Jinkx Monsoon said in the video.

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Willam Belli, who starred in the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Racesaid that lawmakers had introduced laws against drag queens and transgender people without knowing anything about drag queens. Alaska commented, “Our diversity is the engine of democracy.”

“We as queer people need to realize that we are part of a community, and the reason we can live such comfortable lives today is because so many people have worked for decades to make this possible,” said BenDeLaCreme, a two-time Drag racing Contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race. “It’s our job to make sure things are going in the right direction.”

Peppermint added, “A lot of this political rhetoric actually has real-life impacts and consequences for people with multiple marginalized identities. How you vote matters and literally determines the future of not only the country, but your cities, your communities, and your people.”

The PAC’s introductory video says the group’s goal is to register more voters and encourage some of the 80 registered voters who did not vote in 2020 to participate in the 2024 election.

So far, six Republican-led states have passed laws restricting drag performances, but most of them have been blocked by judges on the grounds that they violate free speech. In addition, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures this year, according to the ACLU. Many of these bills target transgender youth and specifically restrict gender-affirming care.

Stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race recently went to the House of Representatives to lobby lawmakers for stronger protections for LGBTQ+ rights and protections. Jiggly Caliente, Brigitte Bandit and Joey Jay, who spoke to lawmakers, said it was largely productive, The hill reported.

“I feel like I was able to shed light on areas that (House Republicans) may not have really thought about, and it was fun to see them get a little bit of momentum going,” Joey Jay said. “I even got some questions from them. They took notes and were really honest.”

“We are in the midst of something historic,” Monet X Change said. “This is the most important election cycle for queer rights and freedoms in our lifetime.”

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