Drag queens are more popular than ever, but parents have recently been criticized for taking kids to family-friendly drag shows perceived to be inappropriate for children. Granted, not all drag shows are created for young audiences, but the art of drag is far-reaching, and it's making a difference for youth.
My middle son came out as gay at age 9. When I tell him that gay bars used to be raided by police or that drag queens were once arrested for their art, he finds this absurd. He's 12 now and, like so many young people, marvels at the queens on "RuPaul's Drag Race," their ability to express themselves and make a career doing it. He doesn't know the gritty side of drag; the booze-soaked, smoke-filled clubs and cabarets. Maybe he never will. Public perception and expectations around drag have changed. What matters is that my son knows there are people out there like him, people who celebrate an art form that has a sense of humor and elevates the human spirit. Drag isn't something to hide behind, it's powerful creative expression. As RuPaul says, drag is for everyone.
