Drag Is a "Celebration of Being"

A behind-the-curtain look at northern Michigan’s most popular drag show

By Ren Brabenec | Sept. 21, 2024

Drag shows have become a central feature in modern discourse, but most Americans would be hard-pressed if asked to define the term. According to celebrated drag queen Jay Jackson (stage name: Laganja Estranja), “Drag stands for ‘Dressing-as-a-girl.’ That’s where the term originated from in Shakespearean days when women were not allowed to do theater; men would dress in drag to portray women in musicals and plays.”

“A lot’s changed since then,” notes Ben Eaton, drag king and MC of Up North Pride’s annual drag show. According to Eaton, like most art forms that have been around for centuries, drag has evolved.

From its Renaissance application of men dressing as women because women were barred from theater to today’s depiction in which performers of all gender expressions don glamorous costumes, countless rhinestones, and hair/makeup that accentuates femininity or masculinity, drag has become an expression of identity and a one-of-a-kind performance.

A Labor of Love

Up North Pride (UNP) will host its annual drag show on Sept. 28 at the Open Space. The organization, founded in 2014, has quickly grown to host the largest LGBTQ+ events in northern Michigan, of which Drag Night is just one. According to Programming Director Nick Viox, UNP gained nonprofit status in 2016 and has succeeded in creating visibility for the LGBTQ+ community with its yard signs campaign, full event calendar, and Safe Business and Resource Directory.

“Our annual drag show is one of our biggest events,” says Viox when asked about the upcoming show. “We’re grateful for that, because a lot goes into planning these performances. As soon as we close the books on one show, we start planning for the next one, even if it’s 365 days out.”

According to Viox and Eaton, from gluing thousands of rhinestones onto costumes to selecting performers to obtaining permits from the city, securing tent and equipment rentals, and organizing vendors, each show requires planning and plenty of volunteer hours.

“Even tasks that look different each year are streamlined,” says Viox. “Like choosing performers. We’ve set up a committee to review applications for each year’s performer lineup, and we select a diverse array of performers, focusing on talent, style, and background. We choose several local and regional drag queens and kings, and we usually get two national headliners. Each performer will have about four different numbers to perform, each being about two to five minutes long.”

As for what the shows look like in person, Viox says to expect the unexpected, as drag shows are unlike any other form of performance art. “There will be plenty of banter, lip-syncing, and call and response with the audience during and in-between numbers,” says Viox. “Unlike the opera or the ballet, drag shows include a fair amount of audience involvement and participation. The event is so much fun to watch and participate in that it makes all the preparation worth it.”

Eaton seconds that notion. “The show is a palpable expression of love, from the performers to the audience and vice versa,” he said. “Drag shows are an opportunity for those in the LGBTQ+ community—traditionally marginalized individuals—to express themselves to their fullest. Visibility helps bring about safety and inclusion, and drag shows are a way for us to express ourselves with levity and joy.”

The Show Must Go On

Of course, not everything that goes into northern Michigan’s most popular drag show is without challenge or difficulty.

UNP works closely with the Traverse City Police Department, which monitors the internet for potential threats leading up to the event and provides boots-on-the-ground security. UNP also contracts with a private security company to ensure the shows are safe for performers and attendees.

A few protestors inevitably show up at each event, but Viox says UNP’s commitment to inclusion and acceptance extends even to those who oppose the organization’s activities.

“Drag is a celebration of being,” says Viox. “We’ll express ourselves no matter what, and we’re fine with protestors being present, as we see it as an opportunity for them to express themselves, yes, but also as an opportunity for them to educate themselves on what drag is all about. We respect the space they take up, and we’re OK with them being there as long as they don’t create hostility.”

UNP has also implemented attendance rules to promote safety. For example, to prevent attendees from bringing prohibited items to events, UNP has a clear, see-through bag policy (clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags that do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12” are fine). The organization also prohibits weapons, outside alcohol, smoking material, marijuana, illegal drugs, and outside food and drinks.

These rules create a safe space where performers and attendees can dance, sing, interact, and celebrate without fear of harm.

Why Drag Matters

On the surface, a drag show feels like a fun night out where attendees enjoy performance art that includes impressive feats of physical prowess, creative choreography, comedy, social satire, and, at times, political commentary. But according to Viox and Eaton, there’s a deeper meaning behind the events.

“Nationally, our safety is fragile,” says Viox. “We’ve been able to garner safety and acceptance here in northern Michigan, but we’ve also seen how quickly LGBTQ+ members in other parts of the country can become discriminated against due to state-level policies. Drag shows are a way for us to tell the world we’re here, we’ve always been here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

Viox continues, “We’ve found that the more visible we can get, the more we’re able to pressure local, state, and federal leaders to remove discriminatory barriers on LGBTQ+ members and instead enact policies that give us the equal rights we deserve.”

“The success of the LGBTQ+ movement in recent decades can largely be attributed to visibility,” Eaton agrees. “Visibility leads to acceptance. When folks see LGBTQ+ members out in the open—like at drag shows—they go home and have kitchen-table conversations with their loved ones about LGBTQ+ issues. When our community members are having those conversations, even if the conversations are difficult at times, we’re making progress, because the worst thing for us is to be kept in the dark. These shows bring us into the light where we belong.”

Up North Pride will host its annual Drag Night & Silent Disco on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 6pm. The event will take place at the Open Space immediately following the organization’s Visibility March. Refreshments and food will be available for purchase on-site. After midnight, the party continues with the iconic Silent Disco under the stars. All attendees will be given headphones specially designed to keep the party going (quietly) after hours. Learn more about this and other UNP events at upnorthpride.com.

Pictured: Performer, Dymond Denae. Photo Credit, Harpe Star