See RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Important Times Square Billboard
RuPaul's Drag Race took out the ad to promote the Werq the World Tour and highlight the ridiculous hypocrisy in this nation.
In case you haven’t noticed, a rash of anti-LGBTQ bills have been working their way through local governments in states across the U.S., specifically targeted at trans people, especially youths, and the art form of drag. Now, one of the loudest voices in drag, RuPaul’s Drag Race, has spoken up once again and pointed out the hypocrisy that surrounds so many of these new laws.
To promote the Werq the World Tour, which sees many of the most beloved and talented contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race performing for crowds all around the world, the show enlisted America’s founding fathers with the goal of helping people understand just how ridiculous these anti-drag bans are. The ad also points out that drag has always been a part of American history, whether most people think of it that way or not.
The billboard features a painting of the men who created America the nation, gathered as they sign the Declaration of Independence, perhaps the most important document in U.S. history. In bright pink bold type, the ad reads, “The declaration of independence was written by men in wigs, heels, and tights.”
The ad is situated in the middle of Times Square, one of the busiest areas of the country. It’s sure to be seen by millions of people, especially now that the billboard has become a story. And what’s more important is who sees this ad. Countless tourists from the middle of America, many of whom come from states supporting bans on drag, flock to the NYC spot, where they will look up at the famed ads and bright lights, only to be met with this vital statement.
The billboard was shared on Instagram by both Werq the World and Voss Events (the company that produces the tour), allowing the ad to reach an even larger audience. The profiles captioned the post by saying, “Drag is a first amendment right. This Independence Day, support your local LGBTQ+ charity and drag queens!”
By highlighting the fact that the very men who laid the foundation for American democracy were not afraid to express themselves through fashion and self-presentation, RuPaul’s Drag Race and the Werq the World Tour are challenging the discriminatory and regressive laws that seek to limit the freedom of expression for drag performers and the LGBTQ+ community.
The timing of this campaign couldn’t be more significant, as it coincided with Independence Day, which celebrates the principles of freedom and equality upon which the United States was built. Drag has always been a form of artistic expression and political activism, pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms. It has played a crucial role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance throughout history, and even the men who created these rights and put them down onto paper were participating in a form of drag.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
