A coalition of former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants have joined forces to create Drag PAC, a political action committee intended to push Gen Z voters to turn out for LGBTQ+ rights in November.
The group formally announced its existence last week via a YouTube video, with its founding queens — Alaska, BenDeLaCreme, Jinkx Monsoon, Monét X Change, Peppermint, and Willam — stressing the stakes of the 2024 U.S. elections and exhorting young people to vote.
“Founded by global drag queen super stars, we’re here to engage, educate, and mobilize Gen Z voters and progressive allies to vote ahead [of] the most consequential election for LGBTQ+ rights in our nation’s history,” Drag PAC wrote on Instagram last week.
Drag PAC has not yet officially endorsed any candidates, and its website does not currently list specific policy goals or positions, aside from “protecting LGBTQ+ rights though democratic action.” The PAC appears focused on improving voter turnout among a notably queer demographic, according to recent polling — essentially a rainbow-tinted version of Rock the Vote with better contouring skills. Drag PAC has raised $20,000 so far according to its initial FEC filings, but that money came exclusively from Dylan Bulkeley-Krane, a Drag PAC organizer who previously co-founded another progressive PAC, Disability Action for America.
“Drag queens have always kind of been our community leaders in the queer community, and they’re some of our most public-facing and boldest and bravest community members,” Bulkeley-Krane told The Hill, adding, “Have you seen how invigorated ‘Drag Race’ fans are? [...] That is our community, and it needs to be harnessed and driven in the right direction so that queer people across the country don’t have to live in fear.”
According to the independent Trans Legislation Tracker, there are currently 111 anti-trans bills being considered across the U.S., with 48 already passed into law this year. 2024 is the fifth consecutive year that the U.S. has broken its own record for anti-trans legislation.
“We’re in the middle of something historic, okay?” Monét X Change said in Drag PAC’s announcement video. “This is the most important election cycle for queer people’s rights and freedoms in our lifetime.”
“I think it’s time we remind people who we are,” Jinkx Monsoon agreed, staring forebodingly into the camera. “Après moi, le déluge,” she added — “after me, the flood.”
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