A faux queen or bio queen is a type of performer humorously referred to as a "drag queen trapped in a woman's body"[1], though the terms usually refer to women rather than female to male transsexual drag queens. They are sometimes called a "biologically-challenged" drag queen or a "female female impersonator"[2] or even a "female impersonator impersonator"[3]. Like traditional drag queens and drag kings these performance artists play with traditional gender roles and gender norms to educate and entertain. Faux queens can appear alongside drag kings at lesbian drag shows and are interchangeable with "regular" (biologically male) drag queens as emcees, performers, hostesses, and spokesmodels.[4]
For some it can be a way to redefine post-modern feminism, faux queen Ms. Lucia Love stated, "Drag queens would be nowhere without women."[5] For others it simply is about dressing up and having fun.[6] In the words of faux queen Hoku Mama Swamp "I was born to love faggots, queens, and trannies, and have slowly been morphing into them since childhood."[7]
In San Francisco, the first ever Faux Queen pageant was produced as a benefit by Diet Popstitute[1] and the first title holder was Coca Dietetica aka Laurie Bushman. The Klubstitute Kollective[7] formed after Diet's passing, to continue to raise funds and provide a space for the performers who, at the time, weren't always welcome in regular drag venues. Pageant organizer Ruby Toosday had "friends who got fired (from drag clubs) for being women...it seemed like we had definitely hit a nerve.[2] Contestants were judged on drag, talent, and personality by an all-star panel of judges[8] and the winner helped "femcee" the following year.
The pageants were held from 1996 to 2005. Although there is interest in holding another pageant[10] some question if the need is there since faux queens have integrated into modern drag circles.[11]
The comedy films Connie and Carla[12] and Victor Victoria both centre on faux queens, but the main characters of both films are women who are forced by circumstance to work as faux queens. They keep their gender a secret and impersonate men when off-stage, quite unlike their real-life counterparts.
References
- ^ "KLUBSTiTUTE KOLLECTiVE". http://www.heklina.com/links.htm/. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ^ a b "'Faux Queens' bend gender-bending". http://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/11/22/drag.queens.reut/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | CNN.com, U.S. News
- ^ "This Week's Day-by-Day Picks by Hiya Swanhuyser and Joyce Slaton". http://bestof.sfweekly.com/2004-06-02/calendar/this-week-s-day-by-day-picks/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | San Francisco Weekly
- ^ "A faux queen lets down her 'blond' hair by Laurel Wellman". http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/06/02/DDG1A6TU391.DTL&hw=faux+queen+lets+down+her+%27blond%27+hair&sn=002&sc=830. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | SF Chronicle
- ^ "Like a natural woman". http://www.orlandoweekly.com/columns/story.asp?id=2082/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | Orlando Weekly
- ^ "The interview: Ana Matronic - Life's a drag". http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/story/0,,1957098,00.html/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | Guardian
- ^ a b "Faux Queen Pageant". http://www.sfbaytimes.com/article_p.php?article_id=4010/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | San Francisco Bay Times
- ^ "Eight Days A Week - Glam it up". http://www.sfbg.com/36/28/x_8days.html. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | SF Bay Guardian
- ^ Ehmann, Abby (August 10, 2004). "San Francisco Drag King Contest". Eros Zine. http://www.eros-guide.com/articles/2004-08-10/sf-dragking0810/. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
- ^ "Faux Queen Pageant". http://www.klubstitute.com/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. | Klubstitute.com
- ^ "Faux Queen Diva Holy McGrail". http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=33935597/. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ^ "Connie and Carla". http://www.connieandcarla.com. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
See also
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