Since its debut in 2009,RuPaul’s Drag Racehas grown to great heights. This competition show, where drag queens compete in weekly challenges to earn the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar, has risen from its humble originsto global renown in recent years, with various spin-offs all over the world. It has always been known for its important LGBTQ+ representation, and this expansion has allowed it to show representation and acceptance in unprecedented ways. Here is why the show, and its expansion, are so important.
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More to Love, With More Variety
As the franchise grew more popular,Drag Raceexpanded into international editions, since the main series is based in the U.S. RuPaul may not host each one, but they all follow the format set forth by the original show. The first wasRuPaul’s Drag Race UKin 2019, withCanada’s Drag Racethe following year. The spin-offs have only grown since then; Xtra Magazine marked 2022 as the yearDrag Racefully became a global giant. In 2022, there were 12 separateDrag Race-branded shows across the globe, airing back-to-back or simultaneously. While it can be an overwhelming amount of TV, there doesn’t need to be an expectation of watching each series.
With each series in a different location, they feel distinct, and have attributes based on their location.RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, for example, features distinctly British humor and challenges. The same can be said ofCanada’s Drag Race, orDrag Race Philippines. The fashion,which has long been a major part of the show, also varies from country to country. It allows fans of drag as an art form to see how it looks in other cultures, and truly celebrate its art. It also allows for a glimpse of LGBTQ+ individuals and cultures in other countries.
AsDrag Racehas helped bring drag deeper into the public consciousness, other drag-centric shows have also succeeded. Shows likeDragula,Drag Den, andLegendaryare different fromDrag Race, and further add to the variety. Like theDrag Racefranchise, each of these has something to offer and will appeal to different audiences. It’s a true perk to have such variety that this group of shows offers, and it’s something that seemed impossible even ten years ago.
Bringing LGBTQ+ Stories and Entertainers Into the Spotlight
Queer people have long had their stories silenced, or pushed to the background.RuPaul’s Drag Racepushes these people, and their stories, fully into the spotlight. It’s perhaps the show’s greatest strength that we are able to see afull cast of LGBTQ+ peopleevery season, and have them shine in a way that rarely gets shown. It is truly groundbreaking, and has been since the beginning.
In recent years, the show has even included more people across the queer spectrum, with more transgender performers who talk about their experiences. The show also spotlights people of color, with many of the international shows furthering this. Its representation has not always been perfect, but it has been massively important in aiding acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities. Having such different queer perspectives receive the spotlight they’ve long been denied is a clear positive of the show and its impact.
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Encouraging Acceptance
Finally, much of the heart ofDrag Racerevolves aroundpromoting love and acceptanceof the LGBTQ+ community. There have been concerns that in becoming so popular,Drag Racemight lose some of what made it special in being altered to appeal to mainstream and younger audiences. When it premiered, the show had a gritty, unpolished feeling – and not just because of season one’s infamous filter – and embraced the unfriendly parts of queerness. Recently, however, it’s shifted to be a little more polished and family-friendly in its depictions of queer life.
To be clear, presenting a positive view of queer life and drag queens is a good thing – especially whendrag performers and LGBTQ+ rights are currently in danger from hate groups, as the Guardian shared.Drag Raceis unapologetically able to humanize and celebrate a group of people who have so often been targets of hatred, and still are today. If the show is able to reach more audiences and encourage acceptance, this is a good thing, and it’s needed more than ever.
Finally, while fears of the show losing its queer edge are valid, it’s not cause for alarm yet. The show still has its sexual innuendos, and frequently features the cast having conversations about adult queer spaces, transphobia, racism, HIV/AIDS, lack of family support, and bullying. These are all important topics, and their coverage addresses real-world issues and helps promote understanding of the community. It could do a bit more to embrace its queer history and gritty past – as it did in mentioning the Disco Sucks movement – but it largely succeeds in painting full pictures of queer life, and promoting acceptance of LGBTQ+ people.
WhileDrag Racehas undeniably changed since its premiere, those changes have been largely positive. From its emphasis on queer stories and wide variety of offerings, the show has become global and even more powerful. Whatever the future looks like forDrag Race, it must be acknowledged for its incredibly important contributions to the world.
