US: Legendary drag bar Trannyshack will change name to T-Shack
San Francisco drag bar Trannyshack has announced that it will change its name to T-Shack.
Drag artist Heklina, who has run the famous venue for nearly two decades, said in a Facebook post: “I generally loathe to be political, but whether I like it or not the very name of my legendary nightclub has become political.
“When I started the club (waaaaaay back in 1996) the word ‘tranny’ did not have the charged weight to it that it has today.
“Increasingly, and in the past year especially, it’s become clear to me the meaning the word tranny has taken on.
“I’ve tried to avoid the issue because I’ve spent almost 20 years branding and promoting my club. But more and more, I am asked on the street, in interviews, and online about my thoughts on the word, and the name of my club.
“I’ve given the answer ‘Oh, my club is different, it means so much to so many people, it’s this it’s that, etc.’, but it’s been nagging at me. I started to talk to people close to me about the need for a rebrand.
“What really was the clincher for me was a post I saw on Facebook by a performer at my club. I wasn’t tagged in the post, but came across it anyway.
“He said how excited he was to be performing at my club but, out of embarrassment, he couldn’t type the name of it, and something along the lines of ‘you all know where it is’. Ouch, OK. Time for a rebrand.
“I am in the business of (hopefully) entertaining people. It’s never been my intention to hurt people.
“I have not as of yet decided what the final name will be. I used T-Shack for the Seattle event because that is what the insiders of my circle of friends have always called it, so I’m trying it out.
“Other names have been thrown around. Drag-Shack does not seem right. Maybe simply The Shack. I don’t know, that’s why it will take a few months.
“As I see it, there’s two ways we can deal with this. We can see this as progress and a step forward, or we can engage in fighting and divisiveness. Whichever one you choose I am going for progress, and away from hurt and anger.”
Trannyshack London is yet to confirm whether it will undergo a similar re-brand.
