Charleston’s drag queens dish and spill tea on the community
by Vishnu Volate
Sunday night, 8:30 p.m. I walk into the dimly lit bar, a few older gays share a cigarette and a conversation on the patio.
It’s a typical Sunday night crowd – a few locals, some tourists, and friends of the queens who are the stars of the night.
The moments leading up to the start of the show are a controlled panic. Lights lower to near pitch black. A second later, a voice comes over the speakers and into the crowd.
Like the Big Bang, a glamorous, loud, but tastefully excessive explosion of light bathes the room in reds, blues, purples, and greens.
The spotlight is on her.
Wearing a black form-fitting dress, her face complete with foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow, and bright red lipstick, Kymmya Starr is a mainstay in the Charleston drag scene.
Doing drag since 2013, Star is nothing less than royalty within Charleston’s very vibrant drag community. But she is not alone. Shesha Mansion, Mira Shatter, and Electra Lyte are all here to provide the same.
And this is despite a rather spotted history.
A leopard-print history
As of 2019, only 4 percent of South Carolina’s population identifies as a part of the LGBTQ, ranking 41st in LGBTQ representation in the United States. Within that 4 percent, the number of drag performers is limited. However, Charleston’s drag scene seems to be an outlier.
The government's actions against the LGBTQ community as well as the drag community stem from a bill put into law in 1868. This ordinance prohibited anyone from dressing as a gender other than their own and banned what was then known as cross-dressing. South Carolina consistently ranks among the lowest for hospitability toward LGBTQ individuals and families.
The gay population in South Carolina is made up of various groups, socio-economic backgrounds, and ethnic make-ups.
According to the Williams Institute, 30% of the LGBTQ+ population is raising a family, that looks to grow in the coming years. The growth of the gay community is a fantastic omen for Charleston.
However, the LGBTQ community has not been equally prosperous as their straight counterparts. In fact, the same Williams Institute study showed that 5% of non-LGBTQ individuals are unemployed whereas 11% of LGBTQ people are unemployed.
This trend of inequity continues with 8% of non-LGBTQ people facing food insecurity compared to LGBTQ individuals at 36%.
The disparities faced by the LGBTQ community are further propagated by a South Carolina House of Representatives proposal – House Bill 3616.
Called the “Defense of Children’s Innocence Act,” the bill has nothing to do with children.
Kymmya Starr claps back at any accusations of kids being brought to drag shows in some sort of indoctrination.
The bill is a way to punish drag shows by severely limiting performances “‘in which a performer exhibits a gender identity that is different” from their gender assigned at birth.
As written, the bill says “any business where drag shows are held is deemed to be a sexually oriented business.” This would mean that criminal offenses at any drag show venue could result in 10 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
The South Carolina ACLU is adamantly opposed to the bill as a violation of free expression as well as discrimination toward LGBTQ+.
Drag is inherently camp, and that naturally means being “over the top” with makeup, costumes, and even song choice.
This kind of performance is self-expression at its core, and to limit it based on content is a violation of the drag queens’ First Amendment rights.
“Drag is a form of creative expression, and just like dance, fashion, and music, it is protected by the First Amendment. It’s a fundamental principle of our democracy that the government can’t discriminate against people — or silence them — based on the content of their speech,” according to the South Carolina ACLU.
The bill was introduced in January 2023 and referred to the Judicial Committee to be passed for floor debate. No action was taken on the bill again in January 2024, so it remains dormant.
Fear of legislation
“No matter what happens, it's just giving people the idea that they have access to us like that”
Queer existence in Charleston has been a relatively peaceful one, but HB 3616 threatens to mess with that if lawmakers ever decide to advance it for a vote.
The intended purpose of the bill is to target drag performers and drag show venues by classifying them as “sexually oriented businesses” and including bigger fines plus jail time for violations.
The state defines a drag show as an event “intended to provide sexual stimulation or sexual gratification," like a strip club.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Drag shows are about performance, not sex. The goal is to entertain through exaggerated gender expression via outlandish costumes, makeup, and song/dance. The entire performance is meant to entertain while still pushing societal boundaries to promote diverse identities.
The bill essentially criminalizes drag and threatens with a felony, jail time up to 10 years, and/or a $5,000 fine -- just a modern attempt to harm and reduce the drag and LBGTQ community.
Of course like the performers themselves, shows vary from venue to venue. So, there's always something new to explore. The shows themselves use elaborate lighting and staging techniques, which bring the ambiance.
Not to mention the queen's costumes. Unique to each queen and crafted painstakingly by hand. This element brings the soul of drag and showcases the queen's ability to design costumes, apply makeup, and overall perform.
It’s quite clear the purpose of the bill is to punish expression that is unique to the LGBTQ+ community.
And the drag queens here know it.
“I feel like it's so far-fetched and so absurd that it will never be signed,” says Shesha Mansion. “We can't let these people come in and rewrite legalities.”
Mira Shatter doesn't like that lawmakers clearly do not understand the drag scene at all.
“I know that they've been trying to classify us as fucking cabaret shows,” Shatter said. “We have to have like a strip club license or some shit.”
Her outrage is echoed by Electra Lyte.
“I think it will obviously affect any queer entertainer,” she said. “Honestly any queer person. Especially any trans person.”
The house bill is blatantly discriminatory and endeavors to repress the queer and drag community.
But so far the community has been unphased by the state's proposed actions.
“Thankfully I have not run into any issues regarding that,” said Cirice Delray. “I host, we haven't run into any issues.”
As a figurehead in the community, Kymmya Starr has stayed out of the fray.
“I don't really get into politics,” she said.
Family acceptance
“My mom was super accepting… she was one of my biggest cheerleaders, even today”
While drag is a specific subset of the queer community, most drag performers are gay or trans men or women.
Considering how restrictive South Carolina is when it comes to LGBTQ rights, family and its support are a major influence on drag performers.
“They were cool,” Shesha Mansion said of her family. “I grew up wearing women's clothes and dressing alternative.”
Mira Shatter’s family was hesitant at first but eventually warmed up to the idea.
“My dad said ‘I don't want to stifle your creativity or who you are as a person,” she said.
These drag performers have been fortunate to share a tight bond with their families – something that can be more rare than common.
“My family was very supportive of me coming out,” said Cirice Delray. “My dad's mindset is just, it's always revolved around his kids.”
Kymmya Starr’s drag life was a surprise to her family.
“My family found that I did drag, actually, when I was in my first pageant,” she said. “My mom wasn't mad because my mom was super accepting. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders.”
Electra Lyte’s family, which is very religious, grew to show acceptance and admiration.
“My mom is pretty chill about it,” Electra Lyte said. “As [much as] a very conservative, Christian woman can be.”
For those who do not find support within their biological families, “drag families” step in.
Drag families, a consistent feature in the drag community, offer security in numbers, social validation, and general companionship.
Members of a drag family will typically live together and participate in shows together. Notable drag families in the area are “The Enchanted Mansion” and the “O’Bishops.’”
The Enchanted Mansion includes the namesake, Shesha Mansion, and her drag sisters Mira Shatter and Electra Lyte.
Both families are known to be amicable with one another and both families are responsible for new drag shows popping up in the area.
Inclusivity within the drag community
“People already knew who I was, granted, I was a little rowdy 21-year-old”
Even though the population of LGBTQ individuals in South Carolina is limited, the drag community is tight-knit. But it can take some time to become accepted, as Shesha Mansion learned.
“The community was not very accepting of me when I started out,” Shesha Mansion said. “[Now] there's wide diversity here, you can find people from all walks of life.”
Kymmya Starr has been in the drag scene for 11 years, but her entrance was quite natural as she had been around the scene for years.
“When I started out, people already knew who I was because I was already around," she said. "So it wasn't too hard."
Since then she has been an influential figure in the Charleston drag community.
To many, drag is a form of self-expression. To some, it's a way to make money, and to others, it's a way to have fun.
The Queens of Charleston all come from various backgrounds, but what bonds them together are their stories of perseverance and triumph over dated social norms.
Each queen, whether immediately accepted or not, has found safe spaces and family within a group many rarely get to see.
Acceptance in Charleston
“You can find people from all walks of life. There are weird girls, goth girls, men, things, and monsters”
In general, the city of Charleston tends to be more progressive and accepting. The drag scene extends to the College of Charleston, which boasts a stellar drag pageant every academic year.
The Queens had only pleasant things to say about drags broad appeal in Charleston.
“Here in Charleston, we don't really have much of a negative group coming for our shows or anything,” said Shesha Mansion.
Her sister Mira Shatter has experienced the same. The two have been in Charleston for nearly 15 years, having moved here from other parts of the state in the mid-2000s.
“I actually find Charleston itself to be a very welcoming space for drag queens,” she said.
Cirice Delray notes that for the South, Charleston is pretty progressive – especially when it comes to drag.
Circe had no problems feeling love from the other queens. “I would say the Charleston community is very supportive,” she said.
Mira Shatter would agree.
“They sent me so much love that I was like, I'll do it,” she said, referring to her desire to perform drag.
Electra Lyte has also found the Charleston drag community to be very accepting of new queens as they move in.
Kymmya Starr is not as convinced.
“Charleston is very much 50/50 because there are some people that [are] like, wow, fascinating,” she said, adding that some come to the shows for the novelty and not for the art.
Electra Lyte has seen this same phenomenon, even though she believes Charleston audiences as a whole are very receptive to their expression.
“I guess it's more like case by case,” she said. ”There are some times where [people are] not respectful.”
Whatever the level of acceptance from the city overall, it has basically left drag culture alone to thrive.
“I would say eclectic. I know a lot of people who use drag as a way to feel more comfortable in their own skin. But for a lot of people, it is about performance and putting on a show.” Shesha Mansion, describing the scene in the Lowcountry.
Mirra believes the “show” in Charleston is gaining traction, even if mostly among a faithful few.
“I’d say renowned,” Mirra added. “We have the best drag in the southeast.”
Electra Lyte likes to think of the drag scene in Charleston like a web.
“We all connect now. We're all interacting. So, we're connected," she says.
The families support one another by attending or hyping up performances, showing the community’s support for one another.
But Kymmya Starr feels differently.
“Messy,” she said.
Cirice Delray said the state of the drag community in Charleston is thriving in part because of its diversity.
“I think diverse is a really good way to put it because there's just, there really is something for everybody,” she said.
A brighter future?
“If you don't vote, it looks nonexistent…”
In general, the queens were in high spirits about the present and future of the drag community in Charleston.
Shesha Mansion sees the industry expanding.
“I think it's growing it will definitely get bigger," she said, noting the pandemic had an impact. “The community started dwindling; [now] we have drag back as a real viable option for entertainers.”
This opinion was reflected by the other queens “I see it growing” said Mira. “There are a lot of great minds on the scene that I feel can bring new and interesting things to Charleston.”
“Performers are growing and are getting better and are getting more polished,” said Cirice Delray.
The general feeling within the community is one of optimism regardless of how the state or society sees them. With new and captivating shows, the Charleston drag scene looks to be a bastion for creative and gender expression.
“I think it looks really promising," says Electra Lyte. "We have a lot of different drag now."
The drag world turned upside down
Kymmya Starr is a Charleston local and has been a prominent performer in the area for almost 15 years.
Like many, she started out as an onlooker at late-night drag events before being encouraged to participate in her own shows.
As the Charleston drag culture changed over time, Kymmya Starr changed alongside it.
But now she's looking to move on.
“I don't know what it's gonna look like with Charleston in a few years," she said. “Honestly, in a few years, I'm probably not going to be in Charleston.”
This admission, though seemingly insignificant, silenced the dressing room. The bold statement will change landscape of the drag industry in Charleston and will have a ripple effect for years to come.
The story of Charleston's drag queens and culture encapsulates such a minority of the population that sometimes it is largely overlooked. The queens themselves are regular people, going through life one day at a time -- albeit far more glamorously.
The only difference is, that their livelihoods, relationships, and mere existence seem to cause issues for uninvolved parties.
However, the current queens of Charleston predict the next generation of Charleston drag is rising and will benefit the future of the queer community.
Comments