Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.09.2019, Qupperneq 25

“In the daytime, we
don’t look like drag
queens; but in the night
time we are like Batman!
Fabulous drag Batman!”
have this platform to scream it off the
stage. You’re a woman and you’re will-
ing to fight.” Chardonnay continues.
Drag is inherently political. It is
a statement every time a performer
puts on their metaphorical (and literal)
war paint and walks out of the house.
However, as Lola makes clear, “We are
still choosing to do this. This is some-
thing that we really enjoy doing, and
for whatever reason we continue to do
it, even though it’s hard.”
“And we do have the privilege of
being undercover drag queens,” adds
Jenny “In the daytime, we don’t look
like drag queens; but in the night time
we are like Batman! Fabulous drag Bat-
man!”
Community
Creating a community full of love and
support is at the heart of the scene.
“It’s so funny because people like to
pit us against each other,” Jenny says.
“We’re not throwing pearls at the
stage, saying I hope she falls. We are
a community.”
Lola reiterates how important her
drag family is: “We are always there
to help, and comfort. People have this
perception of Drag Queens being cat-
ty and never getting along. And also,
just women in general can NEVER get
along.”
“And that’s why I love that we’re do-
ing a show with an all-female cast,”
Jenny continues. “It’s very empower-
ing. We are women, and we can put on
a show together, we can support each
other. We can appreciate everyone’s ef-
fort and we’re not intimidated by each
other.“
Femme-In-Unity is the result of
their passion, love, and a desire to work
together. “We just figured why can’t
we do that on a grander scale?” Char-
donnay explains. “We have amazing
kings, queens, monarchs...monsters.
We have everything.”
Far from excluding anyone, this is
a show about empowering a certain
group within the drag scene. Taking
place at Gaukurinn—the spiritual
home of drag in Iceland—a cast of ten
will come together for a spectacular
show in support of Stígamót; an insti-
tution that helps survivors of sexual
abuse and violence.
With every penny of ticket sales
and tips going to the charity, Jenny ex-
plains the importance of this event:
“Basically, at some level, we have all ex-
perienced some form of attack. Wheth-
er its harassment or, unfortunately,
actual assault. This is something that
we women can connect to.”
What can we expect?
“A spectacular show!” says Chardon-
nay, “I also love that we’re getting a
bunch of kings in one show. That
doesn’t happen in other drag scenes,
because it’s always separate. That’s
something that’s very special about
the drag scene in Iceland.”
“Drag kings face a lot of obstacles in
drag. So, we are booking drag kings
because they're amazing, they're fe-
male, and they deserve the stage and
platform,” Jenny adds.
At the show itself, you can expect
guaranteed comedy, fabulousness and
fierceness as well as a more serious
take—“Just like every female mood-
swing!” says Jenny.
There is no doubt these women are
doing something differently, and are
about to smash the glass ceiling; all
while holding hands and looking fabu-
lous!
Whiskey Cocktails, Whiskey Fligths, Whiskey Shots, Whiskey School, Happy
Hour, Draft Beer & Exterior Patio
25The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 16— 2019
Ascending to glory