In the season 15 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the show delivered a powerful message of trans rights and queer representation. While the show has had a controversial relationship with trans performers in the past, host RuPaul used the finale to speak out against anti-trans bills being introduced and passed across the United States.
In recent months, drag has been criminalized in some states, including Tennessee, which became the first state to prohibit drag in public spaces. To combat these attempts to suppress drag and discriminate against the trans community, RuPaul encouraged viewers to donate to the Drag Defence fund, an initiative launched by World of Wonder in partnership with MTV and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The finale also included a touching tribute to the importance of queer representation and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Drag Race alumnus Latrice Royale, celebrities like Kevin Bacon and Adam Lambert, and queer people from all over the United States delivered a powerful speech, reminding us that “queer people don’t come from another planet, we’re your sons, we’re your daughters, we’re your neighbours, we’re your favourite uncles, we’re your tías, we’re police officers, we’re your teachers, firefighters, nurses, caretakers, immigrants, drag kings, priests.”
The season 15 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for queer liberation in the United States and beyond. As fans continue to celebrate the show’s message of trans rights and queer representation, it is clear that drag and the LGBTQ+ community will continue to fight for their human rights and demand acceptance and equality.