Drag, Defiance, and Dirty Jokes: Lady Bunny on Wigstock, Queer Resistance, and Political Games

Creative spaces for artistic and self-expression have always been a central part of queer culture. Historically, these spaces have also been safe havens for gender diverse people to express themselves. From William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved African American who held drag gatherings in 1880’s Washington D.C., to the South Side of Chicago’s racially-inclusive and gender-expansive drag balls of the 1920’s through 1950’s. 

In this tradition, Wigstock, hosted by co-creator Lady Bunny, was an outdoor drag festival in New York City’s Tompkins Square public park which started in 1984. What began as spill-over from nearby Pyramid Club and a handful of drag performers grew over the next twenty years to become a highly-visible celebration of LGBTQ+ people, as well as neighborhood allies in downtown Manhattan who enjoyed the festival’s diverse range of performers.

Never heard of it? You most likely have seen it before. If you’ve watched viral online footage of RuPaul performing on an outdoor stage in the 1990’s, it is likely at Wigstock. Other iconic performers to take the Wigstock stage have been Amanda Lepore, Kevin Aviance, Debbie Harry, Boy George, Neil Patrick Harris and John Cameron Mitchel (both as Hedwig from the Broadway show Hedwig and the Angry Inch).

Lady Bunny has remained an icon of the drag community, performing as a DJ, a sharp-witted and brash comedian, and a nightlife legend. Her one-woman shows have brought international acclaim, and her songwriting chops have led to her solo dance single “Take Me Up High” as well as two duets with RuPaul.

Now, as Lady Bunny embarks on touring with her latest show, “Don’t Bring The Kids,” which is coming to Phoenix on Feb. 24th, America is facing a cultural moment where drag and creative spaces for queer, trans and non-binary people are under imminent threat. 

LOOKOUT writer Royal Young got a chance to talk to Lady Bunny over the phone, and spoke about the origins of Wigstock, the importance of queer visibility, how Lady Bunny became politically aware, her take on trans rights, and how we can move forward as a country, as well as her perspective on how gender and drag have changed over the decades. 

This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.