RuPaul, host of RuPual's Drag Race,
has responded to Mary Cheney's query on why drag is “socially
acceptable” but blackface isn't.
Cheney, the 45-year-old openly gay
daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, asked the question in
a private Facebok post, CNN
reported.
“Why is it socially acceptable – as
a form of entertainment – for men to put on dresses, make-up and
high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy,
catty, dumb, slutty, etc.) - but it is not socially acceptable – as
a form of entertainment – for a white person to put on blackface
and act out offensive stereotypes of African Americans?” she asked.
“Shouldn't both be ok or neither? Why does society treat these
activities so differently?”
RuPaul responded in a video released
Friday titled A Message to Mary Cheney from RuPaul's Drag Race.
“What is drag?” RuPaul rhetorically
asked over a photo montage of famous drag queens. “Drag is
underground and over the top. Drag is political and politically
incorrect. Drag is camp and couture. Drag is punk and mainstream.
Drag is a laugh riot and it can start a revolution. Drag is never
having to say you're sorry, because drag is all about being whoever
the hell you wanna be.”
“And drag brings people together,”
RuPaul added. “And the most important thing of all: Drag never,
ever takes itself too seriously.” (The video is embedded on this
page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)