RuPaul would ‘probably not’ let a post-transition contestant on Drag Race
A ten-strong cast has been revealed for season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars. (VH1)
The man-behind-the-queen-behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, RuPaul Charles, has said “probably not” when asked whether a trans person who had transitioned should be allowed to compete on the show.
The show’s host made the comments in a new interview with the Guardian.
Discussing the topic of drag queens, and whether trans women, in particular, should do drag, the 57-year-old also addressed past contestants who have transitioned.
(getty)
Peppermint, who was in the final of Season 9 of the show, was the first out trans woman to appear on the show, and she talked about her transition openly during her season.
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And RuPaul has now called the idea of trans women appearing on Drag Race “an interesting area”.
In the latest interview, he addressed Peppermint’s appearance, saying: “Peppermint didn’t get breast implants until after she left our show; she was identifying as a woman, but she hadn’t really transitioned.”
Then, when asked whether a fully transitioned contestant would be allowed to appear, he said it was unlikely.
RuPaul answered: “Probably not. You can identify as a woman and say you’re transitioning, but it changes once you start changing your body.
(cred VH1)
“It takes on a different thing; it changes the whole concept of what we’re doing.”
He addressed contestants like Detox and Trinity Taylor who have had implants in order to be able to appear without padding.
Adding: “We’ve had some girls who’ve had some injections in the face and maybe a little bit in the butt here and there, but they haven’t transitioned.”
Going on, RuPaul said drag loses some if its “danger” if it is not a man under the drag.
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“At its core, it’s a social statement and a big f-you to male-dominated culture. So for men to do it, it’s really punk rock, because it’s a real rejection of masculinity.”
While Peppermint entered Season 9 as an out trans woman, Beverly Hillz came out as trans on the main stage during season five.
Other queens like Gia Gunn, Kenya Michaels, Jiggly Caliente, Stacy Layne Matthews, Carmen Carrera and Sonique, have come out as trans since leaving the show.
