In this two-part episode on the corporatization of drag, hosts, Sam Perri and Pragnya Vella, interview Grayce Burns, a Harvard Law student, to discuss the rising popularity of drag as both a hobby and profession -- and as a form of both personal and political expression.
In Part 1 Grayce explained how corporate control over drag queens is reshaping drag, undermining unique local drag cultures and harming queens who go on popular shows like Drag Race through restrictive non-disclosure agreements -- or NDAs (as they’re called in the biz) -- and meager pay. Grayce explains how, despite those challenges drag persists as a vibrant form of queer visibility and artistic expression for queer identities.
In this second part, the conversation continues, as Grayce sheds light on how some queens are pushing back to reclaim the activist roots of drag culture and offers ideas for how we can support local drag performers outside of the Drag Race monopoly.
Guest Bio:
Grayce Burns is a student at Harvard Law School in the Class of 2025 and a Linthicum, MD native. She’s interested in international litigation and arbitration, and enjoys examining issues at the intersection of law, philosophy, and economics. When the Law School lets her go outside, she enjoys hanging out with her hairless cat, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and cheering on any and all Maryland sports teams.
For more information and complete show notes, go to the episode's webpage: https://theflaw.org/?post_type=articles&p=4409&preview=true.
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