RuPaul: ‘All of us are God in drag’
By Nick Levine
RuPaul has shared his views on the purpose of drag in a new interview.
The much-loved performer and host of RuPaul’s Drag Race – full name RuPaul Andre Charles – argued that drag serves an important function in society – namely, helping us to see the lighter side of life.
“I think my 32-year career makes a statement and it’s always been the same — you’re born naked and the rest is drag,” RuPaul told Idolator. “Which to break it down even more: don’t take yourself or life too bloody seriously! That’s really what it’s all about. Drag is all about reminding our culture to not take itself too seriously.”
RuPaul continued: “Drag says ‘look I’m a man, now I’m a woman, now I’m a cowboy, now I’m a sailor.’ It’s all about shape-shifting. What it boils down to is this — all of us here on this planet, we are God in drag. And it’s important to remember that and be reminded of that. My entire career has been a testament to not taking yourself too seriously.”
Last month (April) RuPaul became caught up in a controversy when some viewers complained that apparently transphobic language had been used on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The term “she-mail” has since been dropped from the show, which is now in its sixth season on US cable network Logo TV.
RuPaul also made headlines recently by coming up with a novel way to combat music piracy, which involved one of his popular catchphrases, “You better don’t!”.