November 29th 2024.
I have a confession to make – I, a straight man, am absolutely hooked on RuPaul's Drag Race. I know, it's not something you would expect from someone like me, but hear me out. The show has been running for over a decade now, with international versions popping up all over, and it has always been on my radar. Maybe it's because I have many friends in the LGBT+ community, or maybe it's because social media algorithms keep bombarding me with content from the show. Either way, I resisted it at first. See, I had this phase in my mid-20s where I was anti-talent shows, and Drag Race just happened to fall in that category. But everything changed when the UK version premiered. My fiancée was certain that it would bring me even closer to our best friends who were also fans, and with the pandemic keeping us locked indoors, I finally gave in and gave it a chance. And let me tell you, I was immediately converted. Now, I make sure to keep up with every episode, whether it's the queens competing in comedy, musical, acting, sewing challenges, or the infamous Snatch Game.
What I love most about Drag Race is the sense of community and camaraderie among the contestants. It's not a cut-throat competition, but rather a celebration of individuality and self-expression. And with each season, I feel like I learn something new about the LGBT+ world, something that I wouldn't have known otherwise. Thanks to Drag Race, I have a deeper appreciation for my friends and their identities. It's like a window into their world, and I am grateful for the opportunity to understand them better. Plus, watching the show with my fiancée has brought us even closer, giving us yet another thing to bond over and discuss.
Speaking of discussing, even my mum has gotten into the show and now watches it every week. It's amazing how Drag Race has brought us together, and I love gossiping about it with her just as much as I do with my LGBT+ friends, who are always so encouraging and welcoming of my newfound enjoyment. However, I can't say the same about my straight male friends. In fact, I don't think it has even come up in conversation with them. It's funny because when I think about it, I realize that I don't have many straight male friends to begin with. But I digress. Let me tell you about something that recently struck me while watching an episode of the UK season six.
The episode was called Glam Your Fam, and it involved the contestants dressing up their family members in drag for a runway challenge. One of the contestants, La Voix's dad Richard, completely stole the show with his heartfelt monologue. This elderly straight man was gleefully dolled up in drag for hours, and his appearance brought tears to the eyes of thousands of viewers. He spoke to the show's host, RuPaul, saying, "All the hard work and effort people go through in this world is tremendous. I give praise to everybody. I'm 78 years old, and I hope I'm setting an example for other parents who should equally love their child irrespective of gender or anything." It was a beautiful moment, but it also made me realize something. It was so special because it was so unexpected. It made me sad to think that as straight men, we often don't show up enough for our LGBT+ friends and family.
In that moment, I also realized that I am probably the only straight man in my circle of friends who watches Drag Race. I decided to reach out to the show's subreddit and ask if there were any other straight male viewers. To my surprise, there were quite a few serious responses, and it was both eye-opening and encouraging. One viewer shared, "I'm the father of a trans female daughter, and my wife and I always cry at the family-focused episodes." Another straight male viewer pointed out that Drag Race is the only show that depicts men actively loving and supporting each other in a positive and healthy way. However, one thing that struck me was that none of these straight men were watching the show with their other straight male friends. It was almost always with their wives or daughters. Of course, Drag Race wasn't made for a straight male audience, but it's crucial for us to look beyond what is presented to us and expand our horizons.
I'll be honest, I'm not your typical "guy's guy." I'm not great at building things or doing anything that involves the words "assemble" or "put up." But I am still a straight man with some conventional interests like sports and action movies. It took my fiancée and my LGBT+ friends to push me out of my comfort zone and introduce me to the world of Drag Race. And now, it's something that enriches my life and has made me a better person, especially as a cisgender heterosexual member of society. I value curiosity and empathy as personality traits, and Drag Race rewards those parts of me. But after seeing Richard's episode, I couldn't help but feel disheartened that there aren't more straight men like me in the show's fandom.
So, if you're a straight man reading this, I hope it piques your curiosity just a little bit. Because I truly believe that the world needs more straight icons like Richard, who stand firmly and say that our LGBT+ loved ones need our support and encouragement to be unapologetically themselves. And to everyone else, I urge you to share your story and spread awareness. Let's continue to make the world a more accepting and loving place for all.
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