RuPaul interview: “Drag reveals who you are”
We catch up with Mamma RuPaul in the latest issue of Attitude, and chat to the drag icon about the power of drag – and its critics.
Of course, Attitude’s spoken to Ru in the past – and he’s always frank, funny and forthright. In one of the stand-out quotes from Attitude’s last interview with Ru, he stated how “drag’s whole purpose is to mock society; to call out hypocrisy”. It’s a wonderfully concise way to summarise why drag has become such a staple of the queer community for so long, how it plays with gender expectations, and why gay men love it. After all, we are expected from birth to conform to society’s defined roles of masculine/feminine, while being aware that these roles are inherently flawed by the very nature that we are sexually attracted to our own gender.
“Drag has never been safe – drag is completely punk rock because it mocks identity, it mocks our culture,” he tells us this time around. “Drag doesn’t cover who you are, it reveals who you are.”
“If you look in a mirror it reveals only one side of who you are. The truth is, people are afraid of their ‘God’ self, they’re comfortable playing small, but when you understand that you are an extension of the power that created the whole universe, that’s a huge pill to swallow, it’s a huge responsibility. And people would rather not have that. Well, actually, it does start with you – if you want to change the world, change yourself,” he says.
Drag also has its critics who argue that adult men putting the wig and heels on for comedic purpose, rather than breaking down gender boundaries, can actually come across somewhat misogynistic.
Ru is quick to address this point. “You have to look at intention. You gauge a person’s intention from your own heart, and that’s something that you can’t put into a law book, you know what I’m saying? So, you’re judging on a piece by piece, case by case individual study.
“I’m sure there are some drag queens that are misogynistic, but most are not. I know that my girls are coming from a place that we’re actually making fun of society, it’s nothing to do with women. And actually, women don’t dress like that.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10pm on truTV, Freeview channel 68, Sky channel 198 and FreeSat channel 154.
You can read our full interview with RuPaul in the current Attitude Pride Awards issue of the magazine, out now in shops. You can download the mag from Pocketmags.com/Attitude or order a print issue from newsstand.co.uk/Attitude.
