IN ASSOCIATION WITH
STUDENT GUIDE 2017
LGBTQ+
P H O T O :
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C R A G W A D D E L L
Arusa Qureshi explores the thriving drag scenes in Glasgow and Edinburgh
D rag has always been a vital part of LGBTQ+ culture and activism, from the queens that fought against police harassment at the Cooper Do-nuts Riot of 1959 to the key voices behind the Stonewall uprising of 1969. But despite this essential role that drag queens have played within the wider LGBTQ+ community, it has only been in the past decade or so, and certainly as a direct result of the success of RuPaul's Drag Race, that drag has truly exploded as a mainstream cultural phenomenon. Drag, in a way, has become the jewel in the crown of queer culture, encouraging a greater level of engagement with issues of gender and sexuality. For those starting university, the process can be intimidating and overwhelming, perhaps all the more so if you identify as LGBTQ+. Luckily, Glasgow and Edinburgh are two cities with a huge array of networks where you can i nd support and friendship when you need it. The drag scenes in both cities are thriving and blossoming, providing more opportunities and safe spaces for members of the queer community to let loose, meet friends and generally enjoy university the way you're supposed to.
The drag scene in Glasgow is gaining a lot of traction, especially thanks to venues like AXM and Katie's Bar, who host tremendous nights. Past AXM headliners have included Violet Chachki, Latrice Royale and Kim Chi, with Adore Delano popping by for her birthday tour at the end of September and Sasha Velour expected on Fri 26 Jan and Tue 6 Feb. While it's great to see the queens of Drag Race make pit-stops in Scotland, make sure you don't forget to support your local queens too. Mothertucker at The Polo Lounge is a weird and wonderful weekly drag show starring Lacy Rain, CJ Banks, Perry Cyazine, October Fist, Ru Jazzle and guests. On the i rst Sunday of every month, head over to the Drury Bar for a drag and cabaret extravaganza with your host Eli Buck and residents Ann Phetamine, Frans Gender and Violet Grace. Meanwhile, Let's Get Savage at Savoy Nightclub is a new LGBTQ+ night featuring drag queens, DJs and cheap drinks. If you're after something a little more alternative, Drag Punk have just announced that they're bringing I'm Not Okay to Glasgow on Sat 16 Sep, which mixes drag with the perfect amount of emo, punk, rock and metal.
In Edinburgh, The Rabbit Hole (pictured) at CC Blooms is a great place to start with i erce and fabulous host Alice Rabbit and her drag sisters giving you some epic performances every Tuesday night. Along with Alice, expect to see well-known Scottish queens like Groundskeeper Fanny, Roche Rabbit and so many more doing what they do best. While we're talking about CC Blooms, another excellent night worth checking out is The Church of High Kicks, which takes place every Sunday with a rotating lineup of guests. For a strictly anything-goes get-together, the folks behind Dive Queer Party have got you covered. An eclectic night with everything from drag to burlesque, Dive has become a mainstay on the Scottish queer club scene, popping up for regular nights around Edinburgh. Over at the Wee Red Bar, XOYO is another popular monthly queer party that usually incorporates a theme, with past events titled 'Prom' and 'Summertime Sadness'. And if you're looking for a synth and electro-pop heavy night, look no further than Temptation, a fairly new addition to the Wee Red calendar that donates all its proi ts to LGBTQ+ charities such as Edinburgh Action for Trans Health.
1 Sep–31 Oct 2017 THE LIST 111