The Drag PAC created by several RuPaul’s Drag Race stars to empower LGBTQ+ voters is teaming up with Chicago’s drag superstar Lucy Stoole for a different kind of DNC.
Drag Night Chicago—a play on the Democratic National Convention’s initials—will be a massive drag show held while the DNC is in town to celebrate the queer community’s power as voters and engage its members in the upcoming election.
The drag show is happening 8 p.m. Aug. 21 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., starring a mix of national and Chicago-based performers. Tickets cost $5 and are available here.
Headliners include Willam, one of six Drag Race stars who founded the political action committee; Detox, a Chicago-based queen who also starred on Drag Race; and Lucy Stoole, who is bringing a mix of Chicago favorites with her, like Miss Toto, Bambi Banks-Couleé, and more.
“Drag Night Chicago will be an amazing opportunity to bring together the LGBTQ+ community during the DNC to show our voting power, have a little fun and educate a few people,” Lucy Stoole said. “It’s going to be a big, fun, celebratory night.”
The show will also have voter registration booths and VIP meet-and-greets. The proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Drag PAC, which was recently founded to rally LGBTQ+ voters and allies to protect queer rights across the country.
The event also builds on Stoole’s recent efforts to organize Chicago’s drag community through fundraising for various causes, including two shows she produced last year at Metro that raised money for transgender organizations across the country and for Palestinian relief funds.
“This is a really awesome continuation of those efforts,” Stool said. “I really wanted to find a way to use this platform and continue using drag as a way to educate the community, bring people together and make some positive change around the world.”
Amalia Mesa-Gustin, a producer who is part of the Drag PAC team, said Drag Night Chicago is one of many events the political action committee will be involved in during the DNC, happening Aug. 19-22 at United Center. Having an LGBTQ+ presence at and around the convention is “critical,” given the rising attacks and legislation against the community seen across the country.
“There’s this growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and we need to be in the mix at the convention to lift up and platform the values and heart that our community shares,” Mesa-Gustin said. “We’re making sure our voices are heard this election season.”
Big Gay Sal’s, a gay-owned pizzeria that opened earlier this year in Northalsted, is also partnering with Drag PAC, according to a Facebook post from the business that teased events during Market Days and the DNC.
Drag PAC will also have a presence at the convention itself, with co-founder and Drag Race star BenDeLaCreme planning to visit the convention to chat with candidates, LGBTQ+ elected officials and other politicians.
“Drag performance, queer identity and queer bodies have been pulled into the political arena a lot lately by a whole mess of people who aren’t us,” BenDeLaCreme said. “I’m honored to be an actual drag artist, in the building, representing the community in conversations about us that too often don’t involve us.”