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Drag queen Kristina Kelly performs at Apex last weekend. Drag has continued to thrive despite some obstacles. (Blade photo by Henry Linser)
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HOME > OUT IN DC > COVER
By: ZACK ROSEN COMMENTS
 
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the loss of a drag performance space will be acutely felt. Monthly women’s performance night Mother Tongue recently turned the stage over to the Kings, and Phase One still holds performances, but the kings have their fingers crossed that the trouble at Chaos will end in time for an eight-year anniversary party on March 5.
For the Activist: Ken Vegas
 Drag King Ken Vegas looks hot in a tie, but that’s only half his act. Drag kings were born as a way for women to display masculinity, but their acts have also evolved into social critiques that address themes like racism and prejudice. “We’re repeating the ignorances of the past, we have to change that,” says Vegas creator Kendra Kuliga. “The kings have taken it upon themselves to take action and use the performance space as their platform to express these views.” Ken and company can be seen on second Sundays of the month at Phase One and are hoping that Chaos will get its performance license back soon. (www.dckings.com) (Photo courtesy of Kendra Kuliga)
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A different kind of drag show happens four times each weekend at Town, which fills the void of drag performances at large-scale dance clubs created when Ziegfeld’s closed. The shows happen at both 9:30 and 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and include some big names in D.C. drag like Shi-Queeta-Lee, Destiny B. Childs and hostess Lena Lett. Town is a dance club, but proprietor Ed Bailey hopes the drag shows will provide a different kind of attraction.
“Various kinds of music go in and out of style, but if you give someone something that’s actually entertaining it won’t go out of style,” Bailey says. “[We try to cater to] traditional audience people who don’t want to come for the dancing but would enjoy a drag show, but the people who come out for dancing find themselves very entertained by a drag show. We try to find some middle ground for the audience.”
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