“Whenever you put on a lash, it’s not just for fun, it’s resistance.” These were the opening words from host Rosa Golde at Queer McGill’s annual amateur drag night on Nov. 28. On the pulsing dancefloor of Cabaret Berlin, eight up-and-coming performers gave their all to deliver a show for the ages. From political satire to burlesque, the drag artists pushed the boundaries of traditional “drag king” and “drag queen” categories, showcasing a new wave of avant-garde stars looking to break down and transcend binaries.
Self-proclaimed “drag thing,” Pandora’s Box Muncher, U3 Arts and Science, debuted at a Queer McGill drag show in 2022. Their act combined theatre and cinema in an eclectic live rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “I’m the Greatest Star” from Funny Girl and Pearl’s monologue from //Pearl// (2022).
“In this colonial, imperialist, white supremacist culture, [drag] is something that’s suppressed. Drag at the fringes—like less mainstream [than] RuPaul’s Drag Race drag—is important in pushing back,” they told The Tribune, speaking on the political importance of drag.
In another act, Tall Graycie embodied this sentiment in their identity as a “drag creature.”
Pandora’s Box Muncher commented on the importance of a student group such as Queer McGill hosting a drag night.
“I have met five people tonight who are telling me it’s their first drag show and that in itself is important,” they said. “Promoting drag in places where it’s not usually promoted allows more awareness.”
Indeed, as Rosa Golde and co-host Augusta Wind asked how many people in the crowd were “popping their drag show cherry” that night, many people cheered and raised their hands. The energy in the room was electric, with the audience unprepared for what was to come. Notably, the acts varied widely from each other; the night was a mix of traditional lip-sync dances, instrumental numbers, and live singing performances.
“We not only want and need designated spaces in order to thrive and succeed but we want to have fun and memorable experiences,” Valeria Munoz, a Master’s student in Educational Leadership and one of Queer McGill’s Events Coordinators, shared in a written statement to The Tribune. “We must push boundaries and go beyond comfort zones […] We think it’s a valuable opportunity to use our platform to foster connections within the McGill and Montreal community.”
In keeping with this mission, Queer McGill hosts various events such as movie screenings, queer orientations for incoming students, and ballroom workshops—an underground queer subculture of competitive performance invented by the first person known to describe himself as a drag queen, William Dorsey Swann.
Overall, the reception of the drag night was spectacular. The performers shared how encouraging and supportive everyone was; they expressed thanks to the staff of the venue, the Queer McGill executives, and the crowd themselves.
“This event was truly an astounding success. [Event Coordinators] Anushka Manoj and Valeria Munoz’s teamwork and coordination skills were reflected in the way they singlehandedly contacted the venue [and] performers, and did the marketing/promotion of the event,” the Queer McGill events team shared in a written statement to The Tribune. “Between all of these moving parts and the anxiety built up right before doors opened, I’m impressed with ourselves and couldn’t be happier.”
Evidently, there was no need to worry. The team delivered an amazing show that highlighted the evolving landscape of drag arts. Furthermore, they reaffirmed the need to provide outlets for new creatives and to expose more students on campus to queer culture and history. Overall, Queer McGill’s amateur drag night exemplified the importance of being your authentic self and how the gender revolution will be led by drag artists.
