Pride 2024: A Q+ Celebration!
June 26
RuPaul’s Drag Race
RuPaul’s Drag Race is an American reality television franchise that spans sixteen seasons. As the title would suggest, the infamous RuPaul plays the role of host, mentor, and head judge as contestants submit video auditions to the show for consideration. RuPaul then watches each tape and selects the season’s competitors. Like so many other reality programs of this nature, each episode tends to conclude with the elimination of at least one contestant.
Over the years, various judges have come and go, with the constant being RuPaul himself. From season seven onwards, Carson Kressley and Ross Matthews have been permanent fixtures. The show has also enjoyed several different homes over the years. Premiering originally on LogoTV, then moving to VH1 some time later, and now taking up residence on MTV, RuPaul’s Drag Race has been a crowd favorite for quite some time.
Despite its highly entertaining qualities, the show has also been congratulated for its varied LGBTQ+ representation, slaying at breaking barriers and showcasing the vast talent that exists within the drag community. Drag Race is responsible for launching the careers of highly successful drag queens such as Bianca Del Rio, Jinkx Monsoon, and Sasha Velour.
Projecting a message of self-love and acceptance, RuPaul’s Drag Race is so much more than just a reality television program. It’s a celebration of modern queer life and a reminder of the absolutely pivotal role drag queens have played in advancing equality for the queer community.
Considering there are so many episodes, it’s quite a task to sit down and watch from the beginning. However, marathoning through all seasons is definitely a must for the LGBTQ+ community and all of its allies.
Where to watch? Check your local listings for where to watch regarding your location in the world. RuPaul’s Drag Race is available on Netflix in North America, but you may have to look for it elsewhere in other regions around the globe. Nevertheless, it is readily available and can be consumed internationally.
In At The Deep End by Kate Davis
Julia is in a bit of a sexual rut. Her roommate and her boyfriend are at it all the time and it makes Julia feel, well, a bit blah, actually. Their enthusiasm for each other serves as a stark reminder for Julia that she’s all alone, and has been for quite some time. On a whim, in an effort to address this very lackluster part of her life, Julia accepts an invitation to a party that she hopes will inject some life into her.
It’s at this part that Julia meets a woman who irrevocably changes her from that moment onwards. After this meeting, Julia decides to ditch dating men and adopts a lesbian persona, embarking on a sexual awakening that brings her back to life. She embraces many new experiences and a vast and varied number of people make their way into her life.
She gives BDSM a go, throws her hat in the ring for an open relationship, subjects herself to dominance, and sleeps with more than a woman or two. Not all of the experiences are great ones, and she does wind up in a toxic relationship that’s not good for her, but they’re experiences all the same. Be warned: there’s a lot of dildos, a bit of fisting, and all kinds of sexually explicit content woven into the pages, so just know what you’re getting in for when you embark on this reading journey.
Described as a bit of a Bridget Jones-esque introduction to lesbian life and culture, this book accurately depicts the varied representations of lesbianism that exist within queer spaces. The character of Julia is flawed but also described as enigmatic. The prose is funny, witty, and engaging from the first word.
Where to buy? In At The Deep End is available to purchase from all reputable booksellers.
Your Name Engraved Herein
The majority of Your Name Engraved Herein takes place during the 1980s in Taiwan, just as martial law is lifting across the region. It’s the story of two high school-aged boys – Chang Jia-Han (Edward Chen) and Birdy Wang (Jing-Hua Tsang) – who are both struggling to come to terms with the realities of their friendship, which clearly extends far beyond that of the platonic realms.
At the time, martial law may have lifted, but it took quite some time for actual social change to infiltrate Taiwanese society, and these two boys find themselves caught up in the whirlwind of it all. Jia-Han becomes resolute on the fact that he is gay far sooner than Birdy does, and what happens to them both during this tumultuous discovery is nothing short of heartbreaking.
Despite the struggles these characters endure throughout this story, Your Name Engraved Herein has a mostly happy ending. Historically, queer folks in this region of the world haven’t always been able to live their truth. However, this film bravely shows the progress that society in Taiwan has made regarding queerness and the LGBTQ+ community. By the end of the film, despite many years of separation, Jia-Han and Birdy reunite by chance in Canada leaving viewers with the hope of promise in the future.
This film doesn’t always portray Taiwan in the best light, however, it’s commendable that the filmmakers didn’t shy away from the truth like so many often do. Your Name Engraved Herein pays homage to the history of the Taiwanese LGBTQ people, artistically depicting the progress and change in the region. Films like this are why Taiwan is considered the leader of LGBTQ productions in the Asia region. Do yourself a favor and give this one a watch during Pride 2024!
Where to watch? Your Name Engraved Herein is available to stream globally on Netflix.
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