The 9 Differences Between a Drag Fan and a 'Drag Race' Fan

There are drag fans, and then there are Drag Race fans. The two aren’t synonymous whatsoever. Some people just follow the drag queens who have been on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and value drag as a TV show. Nothing more.

So here are the major differences between Drag Race fans and real drag fans.

1. YOU TIP YOUR QUEENS

Do you know what doesn’t pay a drag queen’s rent? Screaming, "Yasss bitch work!!!!"

Accolades are great, but the queens who haven’t been on RuPaul's Drag Race are often doing gigs for as little as $50, or in some cases, for free (they simply get tips). If you’re at a bar and buying 5 cocktails in one night, you can afford to tip the performing queens a few measly dollars.

2. You appreciate various types of drag

Drag Race producers and viewers tend to prefer a certain type of drag queen; one that’s more fishy and glamorous, as opposed to gender-bending and alternative. If you can appreciate all types of drag, then you’re a true drag fan.

3. You can name at least 5 local drag queens in your city

If you live in a city with a huge drag scene, like Chicago or New York, you should be able to name at least 10. If you don’t know your local queens, then you’re just a Drag Race fan.

4. You know your drag herstory

Fun fact: drag wasn’t invented by Mama Ru. It’s been around for centuries. Do you know some of the herstory of drag? Some of the older, famous drag queens who were around before RuPaul? Or do you only know what’s happened in drag over the past decade?

5. You stay for the live performances after the Drag Race viewing party

I’m always shocked by the number of gays who book it out of the bar the moment Drag Race finishes. The poor local queens just sit there, watching this mass exodus like, "WTF???"

6. You have your favorite queens who live in different cities (and who haven’t been on Drag Race)

You can definitely have your local faves, but you should also know (and become a fan of) some queens who aren’t from your town and who haven’t been on RPDR. I'm personally obsessed with James Majesty (a Seattle queen) and Ariel Versace (a Philly queen). 

7. You’re aware of hot button issues in the drag community

There have been issues involving the exclusion of cisgender and transgender drag queens, not to mention the transphobic comments that RuPaul said about how he likely wouldn’t include trans queens who have had gender confirmation surgery compete on Drag Race.

Are you aware of the social and political issues surrounding drag today?

8. You watch other drag shows

RuPaul's Drag Race is a great and iconic show, and there's nothing wrong with being a big fan of it, but just know that there are other drag shows out there that are definitely worth checking out and supporting! Drag fans should appreciate all the varied drag offerings media has to offer.

I, for one, am obsessed with the Boulet Brothers’ Dragula. But there’s also, Shade: The Queens of NYC on Fusion. 

9. You believe that everyone should be included in drag

If you're a real drag fan, you believe that drag has space for transgender queens and cisgender women drag queens. You appreciate and believe in drag kings. You believe drag should include bearded queens and goth queens. The gender-bending queens.

You know that drag is for everyone, not just a select few.