On the train ride to the Miss Chicago Comedy Queen Pageant last week, a little kid told me he liked the flowers I was holding.

“Thank you. They’re for my mother,” I told him, neglecting to mention they were for my drag mother, Zenon TeaVee , who was competing in the drag pageant. A drag parent can fill many roles, but in short, they’re typically someone who mentors and supports another drag performer (usually new to the scene). For some, the distinction between a drag mother and a mother of origin might be an important one, but to me, my drag family feels just as vital and real as those I grew up with. I lean on both for support when I need it. I’ve gotten hand-me-downs from both families (though the outfits are wildly different). I sometimes bicker with my drag family just as biolo

See Full Page