“Don’t be a drag, just be a queen,” Lady Gaga says in her hit song, “Born This Way”—and in the past decade, more and more people have done exactly that: grown into their queendom.
Throughout the turn of the 21st century, the world of drag has experienced a meteoric rise across the globe, from the Philippines to Paraguay. Here in Columbus, Ohio, the drag scene has found another place to call home.
Queens big and small flock to this global hotspot, and it has become a staple stop for traveling drag shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World Tour. Taking a closer look at this local scene is an important part of understanding one surprisingly prevalent part of what makes up the so-called “Buckeye life.”
To preface this deep dive, it is important to briefly look at the history of drag and how it has evolved over the years. Drag is one of the most overt forms of gender expression and nonconformity, and for many members of the LGBTQIA+ community it serves as a fundamental pillar and representation of their identities.
According to BBC’s “The Fabulous History of Drag,” the fundamental act of gender impersonation can trace its origins as far back as ancient Greek performers, back when women were not allowed to be actors, resulting in men taking on all of the woman roles in performances. Drag as we know it, however, emerged in its more contemporary form in mid-1900’s New York.
The drag scene at the time was seeing sudden growth in the wake of the Stonewall riots, and participants were often scrutinized, discriminated against and even criminalized. The term “drag queen” was used to describe those who participated in underground drag balls or pageants, with “drag” meaning wearing clothes of the other sex and “queen” meaning gay man.
Nowadays, the world of drag has evolved into much more. It transcends gender, as any member of any gender or sexuality can participate and portray themselves as they desire. And while drag queens often present themselves in incredibly overt, feminine ways, there are also drag kings who conversely present themselves in overtly masculine ways.
It is also important to keep in mind that although plenty of drag queens prefer to use female pronouns, there are still many who would like to be referred to in other ways and others still who don’t care at all. As renowned drag queen RuPaul Charles once said in his autobiography, “Lettin’ It All Hang Out,” “You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don't care! Just so long as you call me.” Part of the beauty of drag is that it allows you to be seen in the way you want to be seen.
Drag is obviously so much more than the big names on the big screen. Here in Columbus, Ohio, drag has found many places to comfortably settle in. In any corner of the city you can find drag shows and pageants, local queens and all sorts of different events to partake in.
One would be remiss not to start with Axis, heralded as the largest dance club in all of Columbus and home of some of the biggest drag bashes in the city. Located right across the street from Union Cafe, one of the first gay bars in Columbus well known for their Sunday drag brunches, this premier entertainment hotspot is well known for its dance parties, cabarets, and themed events.
Axis has birthed well known drag queens such as Nina West, host of Axis’s annual “Heels of Horror” show, 2008 winner of the Entertainer of the Year award and recurring member on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Working in tandem with Union Cafe, they run the Union Station Cafe, a charitable organization that opened up in 2001 to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Union Station Cafe donates to people in need as well as advocacy initiatives, simultaneously coordinating with providers of critical services as a way to give back to the community that has supported them.
Another essential spot is District West, located downtown on North 5th Street. For the past decade they have held an annual Miss Gay Ohio, a drag pageant that invites queens from all around central Ohio to compete and show off their skills. A high-energy showcase of beauty and talent, they also donate their proceeds to local nonprofits as a way of giving back to their community.
At shows such as this, you may find yourself watching local Queen Edna Envy Mwah. She was able to offer her personal experience in the wonderful world of Columbus drag. Having entered the scene at the age of 17, she said that it was a very supportive and empowering community.
“It was easy for me to find and make friends. I went out almost every night, making connections and performing as much as possible,” she said in an interview. “I like to think of getting in drag as putting on my superhero suit. Through drag, I get to become all the female characters I always wanted to be as a little gay boy.”
She gained priceless connections in her Columbus drag family, consisting of other local queens such as Virginia West, Maya Bizness, Clinica Deprecious, Maja Jera, Seranade Tits and Glitter Tits. In her time here and with this newfound family, she was better able to truly come into her own.
The persistent presence of drag has had profound effects on style, fashion and what it means to express your true self. Mwah said that “Edna” is an important part of being able to love and express her true self, with stylistic inspiration from people from Zelda to Violet Chachki.
In short, drag empowers. Nina West’s works served as an inspiration for Sia’s 2016 Coachella outfit, and the Ohio State University even recently hosted Rupaul’s “Werq the World” tour at the Wexner Mershon Auditorium right here in the heart of Ohio’s capital. Drag’s presence in Columbus has built an incredible sense of community on many levels and has served as a bastion of LGBTQIA+ visibility and advocacy since its inception. Its continued and growing local relevance has been nothing short of a boon for the people of this city.
The next time you are pondering how you want to spend your weekend, check out what sort of drag events are in your area and perhaps even take some time to get to know the queens themselves. It is something certain to leave you better than when you started.
SPECIAL THANKS to Edna Envy Mwah (@ienvymwah) and Sumner Howells (@scumner.world)
