Shea Couleé on Denver PrideFest
Shea Couleé had a chance to chat with OFM about being announced as one of the headliners for Denver’s 50th Anniversary of PrideFest.
Couleé placed top four in their original premier in RuPaul’s Drag Race season nine. They went on to win RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 5–showcasing fierce fashion, quick quips, and drag at its finest.
Couleé is described as a “a non-binary, internationally-renowned drag superstar, recording artist, model, and actor, known for their fashion-forward editorial looks, expanding their artistry and brand into many different spaces.”
They are “widely celebrated as an activist focused on uplifting LGBTQIA+ individuals and the BIPOC community, they have countlessly shared how important it is for them to harness their career in drag to inspire, calling their drag a ‘love letter to Black women’.”
To catch Shea Couleé live this June, all you need to do is put on your shoes and come to Denver PrideFest.
PrideFest will be occurring Saturday, June 22, 11am–7pm and Sunday, June 23, 10am-6pm at Civic Center Park. Coulee will be performing on the Center Stage at 2pm on Sunday, June 23.
What can we expect from your set (without spoiling too much)?
You can expect a really fun, high-energy celebration of queer music for Pride.
Why is Pride important to you?
It’s important because community and celebration are necessary, especially considering all that’s going on in the world right now. It’s just important for us to come together every year and reflect on the sacrifice that our queer liberators made for us generations ago.
What do you hope people walk away with after witnessing your set?
I hope that they walk away feeling absolutely fed and I want them to feel, as corny as it sounds, a sense of pride for belonging to such a special and important community. I want them to feel seen and safe and celebrated and encouraged and inspired.
What advice would you give any young queer people struggling this Pride?
A piece of advice that I would give would be to find your tribe and your core group of people and supporters. Once you feel that you’ve built a strong enough safety net, explore reaching out and giving that to others that need help too.
What are your personal plans this Pride?
My personal plans are to enjoy the experience of touring this incredible country, performing in front of these amazing audiences full of LGBTQ fans, friends, and family.
What are your thoughts on the importance of drag/Pride/celebration in this time of more and more anti-LGBTQ+ laws/policies?
For me, drag is the backbone of Pride celebration, because it was drag queens and trans women that were on the front lines in the very beginning of queer liberation back in the 60s, so it’s always important for there to be high visibility for drag and trans icons and performers. It’s important for us to be seen. It’s important for us to be celebrated, and it’s important for us to be able to show that you can flourish being your most authentic self, in spite of the circumstances of having so many people that oppose our very existence.
Featured images courtesy of King of Queens LLC.
Interview conducted by Clara Gauthier.
