Becoming a Drag Performer! How Embracing my Queerness & Creativity Led to Community.

By Morgan Orthner, Registered Social Worker

Their Collective Affirming Mental Health Network Member

Why did I decide to start doing Drag?

For me, it wasn’t a spontaneous decision or even my love of make up and fashion, but a long slow burn that turned into a serious case of FOMO! Today, I’m sharing my story of how I started doing drag as a nonbinary human. Some people may believe that only gay men become Drag Queens but that’s far from the truth. Anyone can do drag!

I am queer and always been but I only recognized queerness in myself when I was in my early to mid twenties. How does this happen? Both my family system and local community are very heteronormative. An example is, I would get “excited” feelings whenever a female character I liked came on tv. At the time I believed these feelings were a strong sense of wanting to be that character myself so I brushed it off. 

Later in my life I had the standard “boys crushes” we were all expected to have. Unfortunately for me, these feelings were encouraged by the same family systems and societal structures. My queerness came to me slowly as I filled my life with things that were queer, queer friends, queer advocacy,  and queer hair and fashion with out knowing that’s what I was doing. Eventually, I explored my own queerness with more depth as I learned more about queer culture and concepts, like different sexual and gender identities. 

I had attended a couple large scale “Rupaul’s Drag Race” shows but I did not experience queer culture for myself until I found local drag through friends. My friend and I started going to the local gay bar to watch drag shows. I learned about an organization called the Regal Social Association of Regina or RSAR for short. In 2023, I watched another friend get “Crowned” as the leader of the RSAR. I continued to attend local drag shows, it was exciting to get to know the performers, finding the perfect fit for a night out, and celebrating other’s successes with the queer community. Eventually I started volunteering at the events because RSAR is a charity that fundraises for local needs, andI got front row seat to each performance!

I wanted to start doing drag with the RSAR but life was busy and I did not believe I had the capacity to learn something new. However, when I was invited to perform as a new special guest at a Musicals Themed Drag Bingo (with like, 100 attendees!), I enthusiastically agreed. I dressed up as a “70s Barbie Girl” and sang Dancing Queen by Abba. I invited all my friends and some family to have that extra support and ugh, they were so sweet, all of them. I showed up, all wide eyed and terrified, but in the end my friends gave me a standing ovation. 

I remember waiting for my entrance cue. My heart was beating so hard it felt like it was going to rip out of my chest, my hands were extremely sweaty, and I fought to stay present. The moment Dancing Queen started to play it  freed my body from anxiety, and I walked out with ease. I had such a fun time! Everyone loved the song and cheered me on! (I got so many tips, oh my-but not the point). It was such an adrenaline rush. When the song ended I went “back stage” (a closet for changing lol) to decompress. I may have sweated profusely and ran out of breath, but I smiled so wide. When fellow drag performers complimented me on my first performance, I truly felt so special and supported. When I try to think about about my performance my memory is just a blur.

Since then I have performed a few more times and enjoyed it more every time. I have committed to a year of performances and growing my drag! I am a total NEWBIE! But what I can say is if you have ever had an inkling of interest in doing drag, please try it out! Reach out to local performers, go to drag workshops, watch videos on youtube, or do it with friends! My favourite part about doing drag so far is the opportunity for endless creativity and the bonds I have made with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community.