The perception that drag equals sex sparked controversy this past summer when a drag bingo fundraiser planned to benefit The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester was canceled due to widespread online backlash. Many commenters objected to a drag-themed fundraiser being tied to a child-welfare charity, arguing it made the event inappropriate or was misaligned with the organization’s mission.
David Chappius, who is a co-owner of Rochester nightclub ROAR and also known as prominent local drag queen DeeDee Dubois, said this hatred directed toward drag creators is familiar in the local online community.
“It’s really hard for us even to advertise [online] for ROAR … All I’m really doing is paying for hate,” Chappius said. “It’s putting our stuff in front of people [who] just want to say we’re terrible and we’re pedophiles.”
Sexual content in drag performances is not the problem. Rather, Chappius pointed toward the way drag’s sexuality is perceived by audiences who — a majority of the time — have not seen a drag performance and do not understand the medium.
“If someone’s sexualizing it, it’s them, not us,” he said. “I do drag for entertainment purposes, as do a lot of performers. I’m not out there to trick anybody. I’m just out there to have a good time and entertain you.”…