Find your gay joy!
The Chappell Roan song “Pink Pony Club” is a little window into how I felt watching a drag show for the first time. Growing up in a space that didn’t have representation of that kind of self-expression, drag shows feel like heaven to me. Maybe that’s why I’ve had multiple birthdays hosted by drag queens. Maybe it’s because of the immense joy they brought every single one of my friends in attendance, regardless of their potential conservative streaks. Maybe it’s because their humour inspires me to no end, they’re some of the most quick-witted people walking among us. Maybe I wish it were me up there entertaining a crowd. Maybe it’s because, regardless of the months and days and cupcakes and lanyards dedicated to them, they’ve been doing this for years. A film simply ahead of its time, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is an Australian classic, and I hope you all add it to your watchlist after reading this.
Pic is @samtdrag killing it as Britney’s ‘Toxic’ at Recess Bar in Geelong at my 22nd birthday night that I wish I could relive.
As someone who holds the LGBTQIA+ communities close to their heart, gay things bring me joy! In this world and the communities we walk among, there are realities hard to face. Amid homelessness, rising costs of living, underpaid essential workers, protests, and concerns for the future, we must find moments of reprieve to continue serving in ways that bring us purpose and help others. I don’t mean to get preachy, but during Pride Month, it would be remiss of me not to think about the community of people who continually break boundaries and open doors, all while searching for and maintaining their sense of self.
Earnestly, I am working to nurture my true sense of self and things that bring me joy have undeniably been crucial tools in building a life that is authentic to me and my values. As I progress in my (mid!) twenties, things inherently become more serious. My friends and I find we truly have to take responsibility for our health, finances, relationships, and think logically when to aim to buy a house and when to put a ring on it. Before then, we must consider the people we are dating, if they’re worthy of raising children with, and gosh, don’t even get me started on the body clock concerns.
We need to escape these serious things once in a while, more often than not, that bring us joy. It might not be the Thursday night drag bingo at the local pub for you like it is for me, but I encourage you to take a leaf out of a gay’s book this month. Whether that be someone you know, someone you follow online, or yourself - they tend to have more fun.
