As part of Queer History month, the event “Herstory and Culture of Drag” featured a panel discussion and presentation on the history of drag culture and contemporary issues facing drag performers. And OSQA was there to record the event!
Panelists: Dharma Mirza, Brandi Douglas, and PJ Harris
Moderator: PJ Harris
Date: October 18, 2017
Location: OSU Memorial Union
Watch the full recording of “Herstory and Culture of Drag” available online
Starting with a presentation about the growth of drag culture and terminology, the panelists offer a useful introduction to the topic from the perspective of performers with varying levels and types of engagement with drag. Following their presentation, the panelists responded to a series of questions, mostly relating to the history of drag, the many complexities of drag performance, and the ongoing violence and risk affecting drag performers and their allies. The event is geared towards a general audience, but the panelists often spoke directly to people considering the possibilities of drag in their own lives.
PJ Harris: Currently under the performance name King Julian G-String, PJ has been doing drag since 2014 and was OSU Beaver Royalty in 2015. PJ is also a Student Success Peer Facilitator at the OSU Pride Center.
Miss Dharma Prada MacPherson: Mother of the Haus of Dharma and the recipient of numerous awards for her many years of drag performance, Miss Dharma is a self-identified legend within the drag community of Oregon and beyond and a member of “Queens of the Valley,” a group three well-known drag queens from Corvallis and the surrounding areas.
Brandi Douglas: Brandi is currently the Assistant Director of Outreach in the Office of Institutional Diversity. Their drag name is Petty Washington, and they are a member of the Haus of Petty. Their drag performances frequently raise money for causes important to them.
PJ Harris, Miss Dharma Prada MacPherson, and Brandi Douglas
This event was a part of OSU’s 2017 Queer History Month
