RuPaul explains difference between drag and trans communities

Photo Credit: RuPaul's Facebook (facebook.com/rupaul)
Photo Credit: RuPaul’s Facebook (facebook.com/rupaul)

Eight years ago, it might not have seemed like a reality TV competition about drag queens would take off on cable TV and become a pop culture phenomenon. But “RuPaul’s Drag Race” did just that and has gone from being a novelty show to being one of reality TV’s biggest hits. And even though the mainstream world now knows more about the world of drag than they ever have before, some people still seem to be confused about what the difference is between drag kings and queens and transgender people. But recently RuPaul dropped some knowledge on what the difference is between these communities.


In a new interview on “The Real,” RuPaul talked about the upcoming 8th season of “Drag Race,” which debuts next week, and was asked, “What is the difference between performing in drag and identifying as transgender?”


“Well, drag is really making fun of identity. We are shape shifters. We’re like, ‘Today, I’m this. Now, I’m a cowboy. Now, I’m this.’ That’s what drag is about. Transgender [people] take identity very, very seriously. You know, in that their identity is who they are. But you know, I … I come from the school of you know … I’ll do whatever I want to do at anytime and change and whatever,” RuPaul explained.

As RuPaul mentioned, while drag is a form of art that involves jumping between different genders and characters, being trans is an identity that involves someone identifying as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.


It’s worth noting that RuPaul came under fire from the transgender community in 2014 for using words that are considered anti-trans slurs, like “tranny” and “she-male” on “Drag Race.” Although RuPaul was unapologetic about the use of the terms, producers for the show apologized to the trans community and edited out a mini-challenge called “Female or She-male” from the show. They also pledged to stop using trans slurs, as well.

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