Drag Queens share the disgusting racism they face while performing
Drag Queens open up about the racial slurs they face on the LGBTQ+ scene ahead of ‘pride not prejudice’ panel at National Student Pride 2019
Performers Sum-Ting-Wong and Tia Kofi have opened up about the kind of racist language they face while performing at LGBTQ+ bars.
In a video discussing racism on the queer scene, they have shared some of the vile slurs that audiences have cat called at them before calling time on the prejudice from within the LGBTQ+ community, ahead of the event focusing on racism in the LGBTQ+ community in the UK.
‘I am Chinese, and I get people saying «Hello Miss Wong» and «Ching chong chang chung chang», says Sum-Ting-Wong in the video, explaining she mostly just has to laugh it off’.
It comes in the wake of the hysteria following both Manchester Pride and National Student Pride’s inclusion of the black and brown stripe in rainbow flags this year – including the divisive poster with a unicorn puking the black and brown stripes.
Education is at the forefront of what National Student Pride aims to achieve. The queens cover simple tips on how to call out racism at LGBTQ+ venues. First and foremost the queens call on you to call out racism when you see it:
«Everyone needs to understand its the little things, like if you laugh along because you don’t want to cause a scene, that all adds up», Sum-Ting-Wong says.
Tia Kofi also says too many performers get ‘too close to the edge’ in their acts. If this happens she encourages you to speak to the venue instead of calling them out and causing a scene.
National Student Pride Luca Mitchell who directed the video says:
«National Student Pride is all about inspiring young people by engaging them in conversation regarding important topical issues facing our community. And this video seeks to crack open the door to a wider discussion that will take place on the 23rd of February for our Pride not Prejudice panel in collaboration with Attitude Magazine».
«Effectively, we want to educate not only our audience but the whole community, on how to challenge racism. We must not be complicit in an issue that affects our queer brothers, sisters, and siblings».