Goodness gracious, has it really been twenty years? For the past fifth of a century, drag kings from around the globe have converged upon San Francisco to perform and compete in the annual San Francisco Drag King Contest.
Yes, you read that correctly. Drag king.
So what's a drag king?
"A drag king is a girl dressed as a boy," explained drag king extraordinaire Fudgie Frottage, who co-hosts the show with Sister Roma. "It's similar to drag queens, its the opposite. It's art and theater."
This year the Drag King Contest takes place at Oasis, and Frottage promises that a wild and woolly time will be enjoyed by all. Though not as well known as their queen counterparts, Frottage says drag kings have a larger audience than many people may realize.
"I hope that we bring in the crowd that supports the Oasis," Frottage said of the show's new venue. "We're bringing out a lot of the old title holders for an all-star show."
Contest judges will include Leigh Crow, once known as Elvis Herselvis, an early star of the drag king genre.
"Laughter is the best medicine," Frottage said. "It's great to go to a drag show and laugh at someone doing an exaggeration of a man or a woman. That's not saying that every man or woman fits that stereotype."
Many drag kings are quite accomplished. Former contest winner Arty Fischel has an extensive theatrical background, and teaches Shakespeare to kids. Momma's Boyz, a drag king troupe who perform old-school hip hop, bring an extensive resume of activism to the table.
Alex U. Inn of Momma's Boyz is part of #My Name Is ..., a coalition of queers who are fighting Facebook's "real names" policy, which forces transgenders, drag queens, and even domestic violence survivors to post their legal birth names on their Facebook accounts. Momma's Boyz are set to perform at the Drag King Contest.
"I'm so excited to return to return as co-emcee for the butchest event in San Francisco," said Sister Roma. "I love my kings! They always bring amazing creativity, humor, and masculine sexuality to their drag. I can't wait to see what they have in store for us!"
Roma described drag king audiences as over-the-top and rowdy.
"The audience always becomes part of the show," she said. "It's complete mayhem."
The evening will serve as a beneficiary for PAWS, Pets Are Wonderful Support, the organization which provides pet food, supplies, vet care and dog walks for low income people with AIDS and the disabled.
The San Francisco Drag King Contest: 20th Anniversary Show will commence on Thursday, August 20 at 9:30pm at Oasis, 298 11th Street.
www.sfdragkingcontest.com