Drag Wars Featuring Congressman George Santos

Embattled U.S. Congressman George Santos, who has been accused of lying about multiple aspects of his background including his work history, ancestry, finances, and that his mother was in the World Trade Center on September 11, has responded to accusations that he once performed and dressed in drag.

Of course, he strongly denies them.

“The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag queen or ‘performed’ as a drag queen is categorically false,” the congressman tweeted last week. “The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results. I will not be distracted nor fazed by this.”

The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or “performed” as a drag Queen is categorically false.

The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results.

I will not be distracted nor fazed by this.

— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 19, 2023

Santos, who is openly gay and represents New York’s 3rd District, was identified by a Brazilian drag performer known as Eula Rochard. On January 12, she posted a picture of herself with another person in drag at a Rio de Janeiro-area parade. She claims the other person is Santos, who went by the name Kitara Ravache.

In an interview with CNN, Rochard said that she knew Santos from LGBTQ events he attended in the town of Niterói, near Rio de Janeiro, where he was well-known in the gay community. She recognized him from a recent news report and dug up the old pictures, but was surprised to learn that Santos was a Republican.

“I don’t know him now; I only knew him then,” she says.

Rochard adds that she wishes Santos would own up to this part of his past.

“It’s marvelous work (to be a drag queen)” she exclaims. “He can’t discriminate against what he himself did, and if he does; he is discriminating against me.”

Santos, who has gone on record saying he has never experienced discrimination in the Republican Party, has voiced support in the past for policies seen as discriminatory against LGBTQ individuals. In April 2022, he posted a video on Facebook vocalizing his support for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ legislation in Florida banning certain teachings about sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms.

In the video, he accused Democrats of “wanting to groom our kids”—a homophobic term that invokes an idea that LGBTQ people corrupt children.

Although Santos took to social media denying claims that he ever dressed in drag, he gave somewhat of a different response when he landed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Saturday and was bombarded by reporters.

One of the questions Santos commented on involved the drag photos circulating online. He responded, “I was young, and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life.”

However, the cherry on top of this whole fiasco had to be when he started a Twitter battle with drag superstar Trixie Mattel. It started by Santos complaining about people impersonating him on late night television shows such as SNL and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“I have now been enshrined in late night TV history with all these impersonations, but they are all TERRIBLE so far,” he wrote. “Jon Lovitz is supposed to be one of the greatest comedians of all time, and that was embarrassing—for him, not me! These comedians need to step their game up.”

I have now been enshrined in late night TV history with all these impersonations, but they are all TERRIBLE so far. Jon Lovitz is supposed to be one of the greatest comedians of all time and that was embarrassing— for him not me! These comedians need to step their game up.

— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 23, 2023

Mattel, who won the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, responded with: “Maybe the source material was weak.”

maybe the source material was weak.

— Trixie Mattel™ (@trixiemattel) January 24, 2023

From there, it went on a short, but extremely comical ride.

I am not an actor! I was young and I had fun at a festival!

— Trixie Mattel™ (@trixiemattel) January 24, 2023

It’s all good! I won my race against the fan favorite too. ????????????????

— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 24, 2023

As expected, Twitter users were quick to drag Santos even further.

Girl not u being a super fan knowing the lore

— in my george santos lying era (@livelaughnnicki) January 24, 2023

All this knowledge of drag & RPDR, so you should be fully aware that drag is not the equivalent of porn or pedophilia or grooming.

— I'm not a girl I'm Janet (@ArielDLacy1) January 24, 2023

Not the man who supports the “drag queens are groomers” nonsense admitting he is a fan of @RuPaulsDragRace. pic.twitter.com/SDjQGijFZk

— Ashley Vrana (PARODY) (@THEashleyvrana) January 24, 2023

The difference is Trixie won her money, and you committed fraud

— Tyler Mead (@Meadbymead) January 24, 2023

@KallolDatta OMG! Katrina Vs Trixie smack down! Do not miss!

— Anand Bhushan (@AnandBhushan) January 24, 2023

So, in the words of Mama Ru herself, “I can’t wait to see how this turns out.”

Photos courtesy of social media