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Many transgender people have been contestants or judges in the Drag Race franchise. The franchise originated with RuPaul's Drag Race , which premiered in the United States in 2009. Since then, several adaptations and spin-offs have been created internationally. In 2019, The Guardian said the U.S. series "is known for its camp theatrics, but it has become a flashpoint for discussions of race and representation in the queer community and trans-inclusivity." [1] RuPaul's stance on trans inclusion has evolved over time. [2]
According to Them , "Longtime RuPaul's Drag Race fans know that the show's history of trans representation has been something of a mixed bag. The program, revolutionary in many ways for the LGBTQ+ community, has also included several segments that have made jokes at trans people's expense, including the infamous original catchphrase for Ru's video mail and a season 6 challenge that asked contestants to guess whether a close-up picture was of a trans or cis woman." [3]
In 2023, Bernardo Sim of Out magazine wrote, "Over the years, drag performers who identified as trans revolutionized the way that mainstream audiences perceived them in the RuPaul's Drag Race franchise." [4]
RuPaul, who hosts the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, has said he would "probably not" allow trans women to compete. He backtracked and apologized for his comments. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Contestants Monica Beverly Hillz, Peppermint, [10] [11] Sasha Velour, [12] and Willam [13] were among contestants who criticized RuPaul's comments. [14] In 2021, RuPaul told Stephen Colbert:
I walked into this thing with an idea of what drag is and the kids have a different idea. They keep changing it. This season we have a trans man who is on our show who is competing with the other drag queens and this man is fantastic. Fantastic! So, I keep moving with what the kids are doing. [15]
The following transgender contestants have competed on Drag Race: Aja, Adore Delano, [16] Amethyst, [17] Carmen Carrera, Dax ExclamationPoint, Detox, [18] Eureka, [19] Farrah Moan, [20] Gia Gunn, [21] Gigi Goode, [22] Honey Mahogany, [23] Jade Jolie, [24] Jiggly Caliente, Jinkx Monsoon, [25] Kelly Mantle, Kenya Michaels, Kylie Sonique Love, [26] Laganja Estranja, [27] [28] Lashauwn Beyond, Madame LaQueer, [29] Stacy Layne Matthews, Trinity K. Bonet, [30] Trinity the Tuck, and Valentina. [31] [32] Gia Gunn was the first contestant to compete after transitioning. [33] She has criticized how trans people have been represented on the show. [34] She has also been criticized for some of her own comments about trans representation on the series. [35] Kylie Sonique Love came out during the second season's reunion episode, making her "the reality show's first trans competitor — and the first person to come out as transgender on any reality-TV show", according to Vulture . [36] Honey Mahogany later became head of San Franicsco's Trans Initiatives Office. [23]
Monica Beverly Hillz was the first contestant to come out on the main stage while filming Drag Race (2013). On the ninth season (2017), Peppermint became the first contestant to enter the completion openly trans. On the thirteenth season (2021), Gottmik became the first openly trans man to compete; one of Gottmik's looks acknowledged having chest reconstruction. [37] [38] [39] [40]
Five trans contestants competed on the fourteenth season (2022): Bosco, [41] Jasmine Kennedie, [42] Kerri Colby, Kornbread Jete, and Willow Pill. [31] [43] [44] Queerty said of the season's premiere: "not only is this is the first reality TV show with two openly trans women in the cast, but it is also the first Drag Race episode where trans women dominated the episode, by winning both the Mini Challenge and the Maxi Challenge". [45] The group of contestants became known as the "Trantastic 5". [46] On the show, Kerri Colby wore an outfit inspired by the transgender flag. [47] After Drag Race, some of her comments about trans children were criticized by Bosco. [48] Jasmine Kennedie came out during an episode of the companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked. [49] [50]
Sasha Colby competed on the fifteenth season (2023). [51] She became the first trans contestant to win a season of the U.S. series. [52] [53] Trans contestant Amanda Tori Meeting [54] competed on the sixteenth season (2024) and Hormona Lisa [55] and Lexi Love competed on the seventeenth season (2025). [31] [56]
Trans actress Ts Madison is a recurring judge on Drag Race. [57] [58] Hunter Schafer was a guest judge on the seventeenth season. [59] The sixth season (2021) of All Stars marked the first time two trans contestants competed. [60] On All Stars, A'keria C. Davenport discussed detransitioning. [61] Laith Ashley is the first trans member of the Pit Crew. [62]
In 2022, the show reunited seven trans former contestants for a photograph commemorating LGBTQ History Month. [63] Various contestants from the series spoke out against anti-trans legislation at a 2023 event celebrating the 200th episode; the video was shared on social media by GLAAD. [64] Judges from the show have also defended the trans community. [65]
On the first season (2020) of the Canadian adaptation of the series, Ilona Verley became the first Indigenous and two-spirit contestant. [66] [67] Ilona Verley claimed they were asked not address their identity as production was "saving that storyline for the American franchise". [68] They identified as non-binary while filming. [69]
After season two (2021) aired, contestant Eve 6000 came out as a trans woman in 2024 and has retired from drag. [70] [71]
On the third season (2020), Kimmy Couture became the first openly trans woman to compete on the show. Trans contestants Denim and The Girlfriend Experience competed on the fourth season (2023). Denim became the second trans man to compete in any franchise. [72] Trans contestants Jaylene Tyme, Makayla Couture, and Sanjina DaBish Queen competed on the fifth season (2024). [73]
Trans contestant Etcetera Etcetera competed on the first season (2021) of Drag Race Down Under (originally known as RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under), an adaptation of the show for Australia and New Zealand. [74]
Trans contestants Arantxa Castilla-La Mancha [75] and Inti competed on the Spanish adaptation of the series. [76]
Kitty Space competed on the French adaptation of the series. [77] [78]
Trans contestants Ma'Ma Queen [79] and Vanessa Van Cartier competed on the Dutch adaptation of the series. [80] The latter became the first trans winner of the series and the third of any franchise. [81] [82]
Melissa Bianchini competed on the Italian adaptation of the series. [83]
Trans contestant Margaret Y Ya competed on the Mexican adaptation of the series. [84]
The Filipino adaptation of the series became the first in the franchise with two trans permanent judges: [85] television personality KaladKaren and Jiggle Caliente, [86] who had previously competed on the American series. [87]
Three trans contestants were cast for the show's second season: Bernie, Captivating Katkat, and M1ss Jade So. [88] Bernie and Captivating Katkat placed in the bottom two on the sixth episode and faced off in a lip-sync contest. The performance was dedicated to the trans community and resulted in neither contestant being eliminated from the competition. [89] Captivating Katkat became the show's first trans winner and wore an outift showcasing the trans flag and the text "trans women are women" stitched on the front. [90] Trans contestant Angel Galang competed on the show's third season. [91]
Trans contestant Endigo competed on the first season of the Swedish adaptation of the show. [92]
On the first season (2018) of the Thai adaptation of the series, Angele Anang became the first trans contestant to win a season of Drag Race. [93] [94] Trans contestant Zepee competed on the show's third season (2024). [95]
Trans contestants Cara Melle [96] and Dakota Schiffer [97] have competed on the British adaptation of the series. [31] Dakota Schiffer was the first trans contestant to compete on the series. [98] [99] On the show, genderfluid contestant Bimini Bon-Boulash wore an outfit inspired by the trans flag. [100]