drag kings, moving & lesbian feminism part II

so about the drag kings....

I went to the Seventh International Drag King Extravaganza (IDKE 7) in Winnipeg, Canada last weekend. I left New York on Thursday morning and arrived into Winnipeg around dinner time. I had to go through Canadian customs with this card that I filled out saying my visit was for business (I *was* going to give a paper at the conference-regardless of the drag shows throughout the weekend) and then they asked me what business I was in. I told them I was going for an academic conference, so I guess my business is the business of learning. The lady asking me the questions didn't think that was so funny. I thought it was hilarious.

So this year Winnipeg included an airport pick up option which was great. I got picked up by these two darling young women. I asked them what they did (thinking they were college students). Nope, they are *high school* seniors. How cute is that? Their names were Jessica and Tessa. Here is a picture of me and Jessica:



She is 17 and word on the street is she got lucky on Saturday night. I have no *proof* of this, its just what I heard.

So the two darlings dropped me off at my hotel the Ramada Inn. It was this gorgeous old building that looked very fancy. The rooms were not that fancy but that was ok. There was some serious pot smoking going on on floor 4 (the floor I was on). I mean seriously I got a contact high. I think it was the young folks staying across the hall. The other hilarious thing was that there was some sort of conference for filipino ladies in our hotel. So there was this juxtaposition of very queer folks from IDKE, filipina ladies and pot smoking young white kids. good times.

the weekend, as always, was outstanding and terribly exhausting. jes didn't come with me this year so i was flying solo, but luckily, my friend mel was without her sweetie too so we roomed together. it was great to have a friend to process with through the weekend. mel is on the steering committee with me so along with having fun, this weekend is about meetings and administrative crap, so we shared the pain of that. there were some great numbers both at dragdom and the showcase. the showcase took place in this lovely old theater that was literally across teh street from my hotel. actually everything was within walking distance which totally rocked even though it was so cold. the cold made you hustle. anywho the theatre was divine and the emcees were these hilarious women called the lesbian rangers. for more information you can go to:

http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/current/artgallery/lesbianrangers/

they are these two performance artists who do this sort of stand up. i mean hilarious. here is a picture of some of us with one of the rangers, who is "undercover":



from left to right that is quid pro quo and thatway from DC, the ranger and the the big headed one up front is me (ugh).
thatway did this amazing number at dragdom about race and blackness. very creative and very theatrical.

here is a picture of mel with the ranger:



now next year IDKE 8 will take place in austin, texas. i am very excited about this for two reasons:
1. this will be the first time that IDKE has gone to the southern united states. i am very proud it has finally made it there
2. austin is a great troupe. they are smart, professional, and well to be shallow- incredibly hot. here are some photos of them:



the two on the left got married on sunday morning. how cool is that?

more austin:



they did a number in the showcase about being trans and trans violence that made me cry. it was very personal and honest and very beautiful. i am so glad they are hosting next year. and i am also thrilled IDKE finally made it to canada. winnipeg was a lovely city and the folks there were so nice. as a host city they added a number of aspects to IDKE and I really think they did a great job. overall, it was a good time.

i am most excited by some of the newish and upcoming troupes. i am loving the kings from tuscon, arizona and i am hoping they consider hosting IDKE some time. there were also these sweet young things from vancouver. seriously, they looked really young. one of them, bless his heart, approached me at dragdom (which took place friday night-the same day mel and i did our workshop on drag and politics). anywho this one king came up to me and told me he thought the fact that i was so well spoken and opinionated was really sexy. how cute is that? here is a picture of him and me:



lastly, here is a pic of this king from omaha, nebraska who rewrote a number of eminem's songs to make him queer and performed them at dragdom. he had lots of great ideas for moving IDKE forward into the future. i think he is adorable:



ok i have more to say and more pics but jes is ready to go the YMCA to get our membership. more on IDKE and lesbian feminism later.