‘Drag Isn’t Dangerous’ Telethon Aims to Combat Anti-LGBTQ Legislation

Due to the discriminatory and bigoted legislatures attacking our drag and trans communities, several LGBTQ organizations are teaming up to fight back against tyranny and oppression with the “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” campaign.

Led by Producer Entertainment Group (PEG), with support from GLAAD, Q.Digital, OUTtv, Five Senses Reeling, SERV Vodka, and Trixie Cosmetics, the social media and digital campaign offers resources and information on how to support drag and LGBTQ causes. On May 7, a one-night only telethon will be live-streamed worldwide at moment.co/dangerous, which will raise money for charitable LGBTQ causes supporting out of work drag artists and transgender people.

“’Drag Isn’t Dangerous’ came out of a moment of just feeling fed up and frustrated by the things that I’m reading and seeing,” explains PEG co-founder Jacob Slane. “As an LGBTQ community, we’ve spent decades trying to earn and fight for our rights. Now, it feels like a dystopian moment in America where we’re having to defend ourselves all over again. Even though this campaign is called Drag Isn’t Dangerous, we’re focusing on all letters under the spectrum because it starts with the most marginalized among us, typically trans people. They are the first ones to be attacked, and now they’re lumping drag queens with that. No one’s going to be satisfied. They’re banning books; they’re banning abortions, and I’m sure they would take away our right to marry if they could. They’re banning everything but guns, so this telethon is a response to that by all of us who think this is messed up.”

The May 7 telethon will feature a mix of live and pre-taped performances, testimonials, and celebrity cameos, as well as a live switchboard of drag queens taking donations over the phone.

“We have enlisted over 100 Hollywood actors, musicians, and recognizable names, as well as our own clients, trans celebrities, and superstars in the field of drag to be involved with the telethon,” Slane says. “And the list is still growing.”

Among the artist lineup are Adam Lambert, Ali Wong, BeBe Zahara Benet, Bob the Drag Queen, The Boulet Brothers, Charlize Theron, Darienne Lake, Desmond Is Amazing, Frankie Grande, Idina Menzel, Jackie Beat, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jinkx Monsoon, Jujubee, Katya, Kelly Osbourne, Laganja Estranja, Marcia Gay Harden, Miz Cracker, Nina West, Orville Peck, Sarah Hyland, Trixie Mattel, TS Madison, and Wilson Cruz.

Lake, who is best known for coming in fourth on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 and is now competing in the upcoming edition of All Stars and Hulu’s Drag Me to Dinner, was instantly on board to participate.

“These legislatures impact me, as well as so many other people, especially those living in Tennessee right now,” she says. “We have found that when one domino falls, they all start to follow afterwards. You never know what could happen. We think this isn’t going to affect us, but if you think about women’s rights and reproductive rights, when they take one right away, something next is on the list. Drag is a part of my livelihood, and so many of us are in jeopardy.”

Based in Rochester, New York, Lake has been doing drag since 1991.

“I lived through so many hardships of the LGBTQ community,” she recalls. “From the government darkness during the AIDS crisis, and the generation before me got through Stonewall. These days, we don’t have bricks. We have things much more powerful, and not just assault weapons like they do in Florida. Our voice, words, and votes can really make a difference. There are a lot of people who look up to drag queens and drag artists, and they’re of all ages.

“I am so angry that we are allowing the country to get to a place where the religious minority is trying to rule who we are,” Lake continues. The Bible may tell you how to live your life, but it doesn’t say how to live mine. It’s not my book. My book is Martha Stewart Living. This affects us so deeply because your job is your livelihood. It’s a part of your soul, so it really angers and saddens me that we are going this way. Also, not everybody is ready to fight for us. I don’t have a vagina, but I’m ready to fight for every woman and her reproductive rights. I’m not a person of color, but I’m right there with you and the BLM Movement. We must fight for each other.”

If all goes successfully, Slane says he could easily see the “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” telethon becoming an annual event.

“I’m sure it’s going to get worse before it gets better,” he states. “So, I’m hoping that we have great success this year, and then make it exponentially bigger next year. An example that comes to mind is Stand Up to Cancer, which has grown in scope over the years. That’s my aspiration, but right now, it’s going to be a digital live stream with Moment, who we work with regularly, and the nice thing about that platform is that this will be an interactive show. Tipping is a big feature of drag entertainment, and audiences love to tip, so you can tip on Moment and tip your favorite drag queens, and those funds will go into the charity, not into anyone’s pockets.”

In addition to raising awareness and funds for LGBTQ causes and organizations that support drag artists, the “Drag Isn’t Dangerous” telethon also aims to showcase the breadth and beauty of the ancient art form of drag.

“Don’t call drag queens criminals,” Slane says. “They are entertainers, and they are going to show you the breadth and beauty of this art form. Then, maybe one person will realize and go, ‘Oh, my kids are not at risk here.’ This is vaudeville. This is entertainment. This is comedy. We are combating a narrative that we’re tired of hearing.”

“To children, we’re either pretty and sparkly fairies, or we’re clowns,” Lake adds. “There are scary clowns that work in haunted houses, and then there are happy clowns that will make you a balloon animal. I sometimes like to be a scary clown, so I’m not going to sit there and make balloon animals in a haunted house. I’m not going to go to a children’s birthday party and spit blood on them, unless they’re dark and twisted, sort of like I was. But that’s the thing. There are different types. I think people can watch us and be like, ‘This isn’t so bad,’ or, ‘This is amazing.’ Open your mind a little bit and realize what’s going on.”

“These people are messing with the wrong group because there is huge strength in our unity,” Slane concludes.

Ticket sales and donations for the telethon have already surpassed $100K since the event was first announced. For more information and updates, visit dragisntdangerous.com.

Click here for a direct link to purchase tickets for the telethon, and make sure to tune in at 4:00 p.m. PST on May 7. Tickets cost $20.

Photos courtesy of PEG, Ian Argo, and Social Media