The dust, on Season 8 of Rupaul’s Drag Race, has settled. The decision has made and Bob The Drag Queen is firmly ensconced in the pantheon of Drag Race superstars. Rupaul has been quoted as saying about drag, “It’s a sort of piss-take on culture because a drag queen is a clown – a parody of our society. It’s a sarcastic spoof on culture, which allows us to laugh at ourselves – but in a way that is inclusive of everyone.”
Queer Voices spent some time with Drag Race executive producer, Tom Campbell at Rupaul’s DragCon. Tom shared some insights into all things Drag Race as well as its importance to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Drag Race Executive Producer, Tom Campbell
WW: This convention is massive. What is the secret behind it?
TC: DragCon is the new gay pride. It’s more inclusive. It brings people together, all the colors of the rainbow. The crowd is a diverse population. Drag Race is very popular with tween girls and they are here in force with their parents. As they get older, they are trading Disney for Drag. DragCon is the most fabulous place on earth. It’s like the movie, A Field of Dreams –“if you build it they will come.” The current cover of Frontiers magazine is all about Gay Pride. Next year the cover will be all about DragCon.
WW: There’s an older generation that still has a push back against drag?
TC: That’s true. Even though, the queens at Stonewall were the catalyst for the Pride movement. There was a whole generation of gay men, in the ’60s and ’70s, who were attached to shame. There is less of that now.
WW: Is that part of the Drag Race phenomenon?
TC: Certainly, Drag Race has lifted the hood, to show the high quality of artistry and performance by drag queens. Additionally, the foundation of the show is—IMAGINE IT! BECOME IT! You know, Drag Race airs on Monday nights. It trends nationally head-to-head in social media with Dancing With Stars. Drag Race fans are not casual. They are all in.
WW: How did Drag Race happen?
TC: I loved RuPaul since I went to Washington for the march on DC, in 1993. Aids was happening. All the planes, trains and automobiles to get to DC were filled with gay people. There were all these people speaking at the mall on Washington, from celebrities to politicians, and I remember thinking–there’s no leader. There were a million people gathered to listen to the speeches and they were all kind of watching and kind of paying attention, until Rupaul came onstage dressed as Wonder Woman. Suddenly, everyone paid attention. Here was this larger than life glamazon with a message, “Everyone say love.” That inspired me and I thought to myself, –a drag queen will lead us.
WW: So, Rupaul was involved from the get-go?
TC: When I came to World of Wonder. Rupaul and World of Wonder founders, Fenton Bailey, and Randy Barbato were looking for a show for Rupaul. RuPaul said, “I’ll do anything, except a competition elimination show. “ We batted around a number of different ideas but eventually we came back to this idea that I had for Drag Race. It’s a show where everyone is a winner even the contestants that get eliminated.
WW: Because of the television exposure?
TC: It’s life-changing. It creates careers. I hear stories about how the former Drag Race contestants are like pop stars in Brazil. There is graffiti of the Drag Race queens on the streets of Paris.
WW: Has the show changed much since it’s inception?
TC: The bones of Season 1 are the foundation. That first season was a perfect storm. There was a very low expectation for the show. Everyone thought it would be a bunch of bitchy queens, but instead, it was magical. The moment when Ongina came out as HIV positive was life changing for her and many others. Transformation and self-acceptance are essential to the show.
WW; Do you think lip-synching has moved into mainstream culture because of Drag Race?
TC: As RuPaul says, mainstream culture is constantly stealing from gay culture. However, the lips synch battles on Drag Race have become a kind of gay sporting event. The queens are tested, live and in the moment. Everyone is pulling for their favorite to win. There are some truly epic lip-synch battles like Chi Chi DeVayne and Thorgy Thor lip-synching to And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.
WW: That was amazing and powerful. It gave me chills.
TC: That’s Drag Race. It’s an eclectic, magical competition show and Chi Chi’s farewell speech proves my point–everybody wins.
Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, founders of World of Wonder
WW: What’s the best part of producing Drag Race?
TC: It’s so much fun working with Ru, Fenton, and Randy. It’s like a creative think tank for drag. We plan ahead and create some wonderful original material. It’s also fun to match the judges to the challenges–top recording artists for singing challenges and top designers for the design challenges. Mostly, I never get tired of watching a queen become a star. The transformation is extraordinary.
WW: What are you excited about for the future?
TC: Drag Race All-Stars is coming in late summer, early fall.
WW: Can you tell me anything about it?
TC: Let me just say this, there is a format twist and IT IS EVERYTHING! It’s a new way to play the game, and we think viewers will love it.
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 2 is the sequel of the All-Star spin-off of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It will premiere on the Logo network. Cast members are still unknown, but fans were asked to voice their opinion on which Queens should be brought back to compete on this 2nd edition.
