Dapat Pakak: Analyzing the Intersecting Identities of Drag Queens That Influence Their Advocacy for LGBT+ Rights
Document Types
Paper Presentation
School Name
De La Salle University Senior High School (Manila)
Track or Strand
Humanities and Social Science (HUMSS)
Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)
Ferrer, Nathaniel Rey D.
Start Date
25-6-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
25-6-2025 2:30 PM
Zoom Link/ Room Assignment
https://zoom.us/j/97863912335?pwd=BKJm0WyfODOIZXivBFrrpyFh41m6ef.1 Meeting ID: 978 6391 2335 Passcode: 207029
Abstract/Executive Summary
In the Philippines, drag has emerged as a compelling platform for performance and advocacy, particularly within the LGBT+ community. Beyond entertainment, drag offers space for self-expression and activism. In recent years, drag has entered the cultural mainstream, gaining visibility and influence; yet scholarly attention remains predominantly Western, overlooking the unique struggles of local performers. This study fills that gap by examining how drag queens in Metro Manila use their art to advocate for LGBT+ rights, focusing on their experiences, motivations, problems, and intersectionality of their identities. The researchers used a phenomenological qualitative approach, conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six drag queens and used thematic analysis to analyze observations. The findings show that drag is an efficient means of self-expression, empowerment, and resistance. Drag allows drag queens to address issues of gender, discrimination, and personal experience. Honoring past injustices, battling internalized and social homophobia, and fostering inclusive communities are among the primary goals. Challenges include economic precarity, media-driven expectations, limited legal protections, and discrimination in personal and professional spaces. Findings indicate that the intersecting identities of drag queens are influenced by their nationality, gender, and sexuality, which they reflect during performances. They often showcase Filipino pop culture, commentaries on Philippine politics, and Filipino values in their drag. Moreover, the paper explored the challenges faced by the LGBT+ community and the advocacy for LGBT+ acceptance seen in their camaraderie and support. Collective findings emphasized the value of recognizing drag as a valid form of expression and advocacy.
Keywords
Drag; Drag queens; Advocacy; LGBTQ+ rights; Intersectionality
Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)
Gender, Human Development, and the Individual (GHI)
Initial Consent for Publication
yes
Statement of Originality
yes
Dapat Pakak: Analyzing the Intersecting Identities of Drag Queens That Influence Their Advocacy for LGBT+ Rights
In the Philippines, drag has emerged as a compelling platform for performance and advocacy, particularly within the LGBT+ community. Beyond entertainment, drag offers space for self-expression and activism. In recent years, drag has entered the cultural mainstream, gaining visibility and influence; yet scholarly attention remains predominantly Western, overlooking the unique struggles of local performers. This study fills that gap by examining how drag queens in Metro Manila use their art to advocate for LGBT+ rights, focusing on their experiences, motivations, problems, and intersectionality of their identities. The researchers used a phenomenological qualitative approach, conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with six drag queens and used thematic analysis to analyze observations. The findings show that drag is an efficient means of self-expression, empowerment, and resistance. Drag allows drag queens to address issues of gender, discrimination, and personal experience. Honoring past injustices, battling internalized and social homophobia, and fostering inclusive communities are among the primary goals. Challenges include economic precarity, media-driven expectations, limited legal protections, and discrimination in personal and professional spaces. Findings indicate that the intersecting identities of drag queens are influenced by their nationality, gender, and sexuality, which they reflect during performances. They often showcase Filipino pop culture, commentaries on Philippine politics, and Filipino values in their drag. Moreover, the paper explored the challenges faced by the LGBT+ community and the advocacy for LGBT+ acceptance seen in their camaraderie and support. Collective findings emphasized the value of recognizing drag as a valid form of expression and advocacy.
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2025/paper_ghi/8
