Diversity in Drag

By DEVON GOHDE

Every other Friday of the month, The Alamo, a small sports bar located in Mount Vernon, N.Y., transforms into a night of drag called “Fierce Fridays.”  Liam Bohan, known as “Amber Guesa,”  a big blonde hair, campy, vintage glamour queen, is the host.

Amber wanted to do drag after watching the reality competition show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Her first time getting into drag was her freshman year of college for a Halloween dance and amateur drag competition just over four years ago. After getting connections in the area, Amber started doing shows outside of school when she had free time. Amber has been doing drag professionally for two years.

“I make it a point to expose people of different types of drag and open their minds,” says Amber. “Society has already put queer people in a box. We’re a minority, so why would we try and exclude anyone in our community.”

In the Fall of 2018, an opportunity to host at The Alamo opened up, and she took the opportunity right away to make a name for herself. Now, she has patrons and performers from all over the tri-state area come to “Fierce Fridays.”

Lack of fans for queens of color 

According to statistics made by Pride.com, White and Asain queens that have competed  “RuPaul’s Drag Race” have more of a following on social media than Black and Latina queens. White and Asian queens have a following between 600-650k while Latina queens have about 550k and Black queens only have about 400k.

Amber wants her shows to be not only a safe space for anyone to perform or watch but also a diverse space and for drag artist of color that are usually pushed aside be center stage

One of the Drag Kings that has made appearances at “Fierce Fridays” is 20-year-old, Oliver Herface, who has been doing drag for 10 months. Oliver met Amber in Long Island, and she invited him to perform at The Alamo.

He was impressed by the high energy at the shows and Amber’s ability to throw a good party. The night of Oliver’s first performance at The Alamo, it was the first show he has been too that had mostly Drag kings and AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth) performers.

Oliver’s drag style is inspired by Disney villains, blurring the lines of feminine and masculine and punk fashion.

“Many people think drag is only men dressing up as women, but that’s absolutely not the case. Trans drag artists have existed for forever, yet are not involved in most mainstream conversations regarding drag,” says Oliver. It’s important that it is recognized!”

A trans drag queen was the first to say “boots the Haus down” and the first to wear 301 lashes . Remember that

— Nico (@nicozuniverse) January 25, 2020

It’s never the same show twice at “Fierce Fridays.” There have been shows with mostly drag kings, older queens, and young queens, cis women who do drag and straight men that do drag as well. Sometimes,  even the occasional comedian and burlesque dancers.

There’s a feeling of acceptance and connection in that air every other Friday night at The Alamo. No matter age, race, gender, or sexuality,  a variety of patrons are welcomed to perform and attend these shows. Strangers dance together to the music and cheering on the performers as they do death drops and cartwheels.

“I have really built a safe space where anybody is able to come and express themselves and enjoy themselves. I make it a point to book queens, kings, and performers of all shapes colors and identities,” says Amber.