RuPaul’s Drag Race: An Ethical (Lip Sync) Smackdown
Artwork: Lee Olson
For me, the spring semester isn’t just about unpredictable temperatures, spring break plans, and increased aggression in the campus turkeys. January through April is the time of year my roommates and I gather in front of our TV each Friday night, eagerly drinking in the newest episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It’s become a sort of weekly ritual in the past years. Interestingly enough, each new season of Drag Race doesn’t just serve as a source of bonding amongst my friends and I, but also across many people I meet. There’s a sense of cohesion, as I swap predictions of wins and eliminations with classmates and strangers alike. I take this as proof of the show’s prominence today. RuPaul’s Drag Race has become a pop culture powerhouse; sparking memes and starting conversations that reach beyond dedicated viewers. With its global surge—over a dozen international spin-offs have aired—it’s undeniable that the show has left a high-heeled footprint on world culture. Considering the size of its reach, it’s important to take a multifaceted approach when examining the show’s influence, taking the time to both celebrate victories and mark areas for growth.
A Message of Love and Power
Beyond the show’s sheer enjoyability, Rupaul’s Drag Race has made an incredible impact on our social landscape—both in the United States as well as globally. The show, which premiered in 2009, fleshed out queer representation beyond what had ever been seen on TV. It brought real queer lives and culture to living rooms across the country, assuring LGBTQ+ individuals that they weren’t alone. This feeling of affirmation and support is incredibly important, given the rates of mental health struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. In the past 16 years, RuPaul’s Drag Race has improved lives by spreading stories of queer resilience and celebration and pushing to make the world a safer, more accepting place.
Tucked between jaw-dropping runway looks and iconic lip sync battles, Drag Race manages to approach hard-hitting social issues. Contestants have used their time on screen to discuss topics such as mental health, addiction, and immigration, opening the door for these conversations to continue. In the first season, Ongina spoke out about living with HIV. After competing on the show, she used her platform to advocate for HIV education in the hopes of reducing the stigma and teaching others about prevention. Many other competitors have spoken out on the topic since, continuing to push for greater visibility. In terms of stories like this, RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a revolutionary force in the media.
It’s Not All Glitter and Rainbows
Despite everything RuPaul and RuPaul’s Drag Race have done to push the needle on social acceptance, I sometimes hesitate to commend the show for its positive influences. For all its strides forward, there have also been stumbles through the years.
One of the most prominent issues was RuPaul’s stance on transgender drag queens participating in the show. In a 2018 interview he said that even though competitors had come out as transgender while competing on the show, he wasn’t willing to cast transgender women who had begun medically transitioning. This statement garnered criticism and outrage from fans, trans drag performers, and former Drag Race competitors. It was shocking for RuPaul to exclude trans women considering their significance not only within drag, but also the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. RuPaul initially stood firm in his decision, but soon apologized, and has since allowed openly transgender drag queens to compete on the show. Despite the change in casting policy, it can be difficult to forget this incident, especially in combination with the show’s history of using transphobic slurs.
In a similar vein, Drag Race has been accused of narrowing the perception of what drag can be. When it comes to the casted performers, RuPaul’s Drag Race has only accepted drag queens, unlike The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, which has casted drag artists of all gender expressions. Drag Race judges also enforce a set of specific aesthetic standards in their decisions. Competing queens are expected to wear traditional-looking makeup and to shape their bodies using corsets and padding. Those with unique looks might be asked to change their drag in order to fit these metrics. One example of this is Season 17’s Arrietty, who was told to get rid of her signature white stripe on her nose. While the show has the right to set standards, is it responsible for a show with as large of a platform as Drag Race’s to be fostering exclusive attitudes about such a broad and culturally significant art form?
RuPaul’s Drag Race has also been criticized for commodifying queer ballroom culture. The show features language and actions originating from the predominantly Black and Brown ballroom culture, but often portrays these aspects "cheaply" in order to appeal to white audiences. Some examples of ballroom culture on the show include "reading" and voguing. The nature of these sloppily made cultural references mean that Drag Race viewers may be unwittingly participating in cultural appropriation by taking on mannerisms from the show. Furthermore, Drag Race is incentivized to encourage this behavior, as more dedicated fans earn them profit from views and merchandise purchases. So while RuPaul’s Drag Race has popularized queer culture, it may not be doing so in the most respectful or responsible way.
Should Viewers Sashay Away or Stay Loyal?
So, what do we do about RuPaul’s Drag Race’s moral ambiguity? Do we celebrate or cancel the show? There’s no straightforward approach to a show as complex as Drag Race. For all its negative aspects, it’s put so much positivity into the world, and vice versa. While it’s tempting to dismiss one side of the show and view it as wholly good or bad, the best thing we can do is acknowledge both the positive and negative aspects. Celebrate all the good that has been put into the world, but don’t forget about the flaws—they won’t go away if we ignore them. This doesn’t mean we have to accept the show’s more damaging impacts, though. Recognizing the show’s shortcomings allows us to push for improvements in those areas. Being a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race or any other media shouldn’t mean providing mindless approval to the show. Sometimes the strongest dedication is shown through recognizing faults and choosing to push for growth.