My first drag show, Diablo’s Inferno: Hair Raisers, was in LFK (Lawrence F***ing Kansas) at Replay Lounge. I felt celebratory joy and excitement while watching the drag kings perform at this event. Not only was I in awe of the show’s clever and touching performances, but I also felt reconnected to the LGBTQ+ community, which I hadn’t felt close to since the COVID-19 pandemic. Being in a physical safe space for queer people to spectate or perform reminded me that community and creativity thrive off one another.
Drag can be traced back to the Elizabethan era, Ancient Rome, and ancient China. Modern drag culture in America originated in Harlem, New York, during the 1860s. The self-proclaimed “Queen of Drag,” William Dorsey Swann—who was formerly enslaved—threw secret drag balls in the 1880s where queer people could congregate, express themselves openly, and participate in competitive performances. Ballroom culture continued to flourish, especially in the 1920s and 1960s, thanks largely to Black and Brown trans women. Though ballroom culture spread to Chicago in the 1930s, Midwest states aren’t usually associated with drag culture. I felt moved to capture the existence of a growing drag scene in this liberal city in Kansas.
This project includes behind-the-scenes photographs of the kings and queens, venue shots, performance documentation, and interviews with drag performers. While most of the photographs were taken at events hosted by the Lawrence-based drag collective Dorothy and the Dolls, many of the performers come from surrounding areas. I hope viewers see the passion, labor, and commitment taken on by the performers and gain insight into why drag in Lawrence is thriving.
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