Sasha Colby, the most recent winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, made her first appearance in Washington, D.C. last week, performing at the popular gay bar Pitchers in the Adams Morgan section of the capital city. Among the throngs of excited fans was California Rep. Robert Garcia, the first gay immigrant elected to Congress, who has been vocal about his fandom for all things Drag Race.
In an interview with The Advocate, Rep. Garcia expressed his support for Colby, noting that he had been a fan of hers since episode one. He also praised her work as an icon in the community, particularly for trans people and trans rights, and thanked her for inspiring so many in the LGBTQ+ community. The two had a lengthy and meaningful conversation about trans rights, Colby’s work with the ACLU Drag Defense Fund, and her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Drag Defense Fund is a joint initiative between RuPaul’s Drag Race, MTV, and World of Wonder, the show’s production company, to support the American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBTQ+ rights work. Rep. Garcia noted that drag queens and trans people have always led the civil rights movement within gay spaces, and that their impact on the LGBTQ+ rights movement should never be forgotten.
In light of recent Republican efforts to exclude and discriminate against trans, non-binary, and queer people, including a bill passed in the U.S. House banning transgender athletes from sports, Rep. Garcia emphasized the need to uplift and support vulnerable communities. He argued that voices like Colby’s must be heard, and that advocacy and support for the LGBTQ+ community must be strengthened.
“To be able to talk to Sasha about those issues and then vote against that horrific, shameful bill strengthens my resolve to support and continue to uplift our community and our trans community here in Congress,” Rep. Garcia said.
As the fight for LGBTQ+ rights continues, Colby’s win on RuPaul’s Drag Race and her advocacy for the community serve as a reminder of the power of representation and the importance of standing up for what is right.