Drag, turtles, and snakes

This post as two distinct parts, unrelated by anything other than their proximity in time.

Patch hosted a drag show on Saturday, two performances, to raise money for a local charity. It was great fun and a lot of money was raised. All well and good. And yet, as with other gay things that have gone mainstream (Pride month generally), I'm left somewhat disquieted. The show Saturday night got me thinking about the role of drag in the queer community, past and present. 

I'd say that at least 85% of the audience Saturday evening was straight and female. At the very real risk of sounding like an old fart, I'm going to use a phrase I hate, and say that "back in my day" drag was pretty much confined to the gay male community. I was never particularly into it even back in my bar days. I mean, I was interested in men, not men dressed up as women. I couldn't quite understand it. Still, drag always featured prominently in gay pride events and parades even though drag queens represented only a small segment of the community. 

The reason for that, I think, is that drag queens exemplified pride in queerness that resonated with all of us. That was reflected in many of the songs that they chose Saturday night, such as Pink's "I am here," which was performed Saturday by a drag queen wearing a dress that read "Trans Rights are Human Rights" on the front, and "Drag is Art, not a Crime" on the back. 

"I am here, I am here, I've already seen the bottom so there's nothing to fear."

And there was this queen, wearing the ultimate pride dress and signing the ultimate gay anthem, "I am what I am." 

I guess that's why drag has always been a core part of the gay community — it's ballsy, in your face, sometimes outrageous, but never apologetic queerness. That feeling was something we could all relate to, and strive for, even if we weren't interested in putting on the glad rags and make up to perform.

The fact that drag has become more mainstream must be a good thing. It's still in-your-face and unapologetic. It's an easy target for religious bigots, but drag queens begat the Stonewall riots and have never shied away from a fight. 

Sunday morning I had Norman, Mercy, and Rocket out for a very early morning pasture run. After they were back in, but while the temperature was still tolerable, I took Bailey on a four mile hike. We saw two turtles, two snakes, and I brought back one tick. 

This guy was in the middle of the trail but he wasn't moving so Bailey didn't even notice him and we walked right on by.

He was easy to spot just off the trail, but again, no motion, no notice.

On the other hand, she saw a bird or moving branches up in a tree and we stopped and she stared.

This is a much larger turtle and he was moving. 

Bailey kind of freaked out, not knowing what it was, 

but I hustled her past him and we went on our way.

Another snake, but not moving.

Four miles