“Trans women have always been a part of the drag spectrum.”
Michelle Visage says trans women have always been welcome to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
In an interview with The Sun, the American performer was questioned on the controversial comments RuPaul made earlier this year about trans queens on the Emmy Award winning series.
“Everyone has always been welcome, and trans women have always been a part of the drag spectrum,” she explained.
Back in March, RuPaul said that he “probably” wouldn’t let a post-transition woman compete on the show.
In an interview with The Guardian, he said: “Drag loses its sense of danger and its sense of irony once it’s not men doing it, because at its core it’s a social statement and a big f-you to male-dominated culture.
“So for men to do it, it’s really punk rock, because it’s a real rejection of masculinity.”
When asked if he would let a fully transition queen compete, he said it wasn’t likely.
“Probably not. You can identify as a woman and say you’re transitioning, but it changes once you start changing your body.
“It takes on a different thing; it changes the whole concept of what we’re doing. We’ve had some girls who’ve had some injections in the face and maybe a little bit in the butt here and there, but they haven’t transitioned.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Michelle opened up about her affinity with the LGBTQ community.
“It comes down to acceptance,” she said. “I never felt welcome in the heteronormative groups. I was never pretty enough or cool enough. I was the class weirdo, but I didn’t own that weirdo moniker until much later.
“When I moved to New York, the gay community welcomed me with open arms and told me how beautiful I was. I will never turn my back on them.”
The fourth highly-anticipated season of Drag Race All Stars premieres this Friday (14 December).
It sees the return of ten fan-favourite queens: Manila Luzon, Latrice Royale, Gia Gunn, Jasmine Masters, Naomi Smalls, Trinity Taylor, Valentina, Farrah Moan, Monique Heart and Monét X Change.
In the UK, it will straight after on Comedy Central at 1.30am, and will then be available on all catch-up streaming services.
The brand new trailer teases the “biggest, boldest move” in the show’s HERstory – watch below.
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