Drag has completely changed Shantel P. Mandalay’s life. Ms. Shantel, as she is known, especially at Drag Queen Story Hour, said drag helped her feel accepted. During the day, Ms. Shantel is an elementary school teacher named Shane, which he said was very tough when he first started. “I’m an educator, so when I first […]
drag kings
Posted inArts & Culture
Untapped talent
YesLove OKC co-founder and executive director Albert Rios said he used to be “terrified of drag queens.” “I’m very introverted, and I was like, ‘Don’t pick on me,’” Rios said. “I’d go to The Boom, and they’d ask me questions, and I shut down immediately. I think that I didn’t understand drag.” Sponsored by YesLove, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
PRIDE King of drag
At age 17, Damian Matrix-Gritte became a king. But when he first began performing at drag shows in Oklahoma City, Matrix-Gritte, now 34, had very few people to pattern his monarchy after. “It was interesting,” Matrix-Gritte said. “There weren’t really drag kings, so I didn’t really have anything to go off of. I’m sure there […]