Posted on Apr 6, 2023
Drag in Wichita has been going on for decades. Now the art form is under scrutiny
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Conservative legislators nationwide, including in Kansas, have introduced bills to restrict or criminalize certain drag performances. But drag queens haven’t stopped performing.
In the darkened Roxy’s Downtown theater, a drag queen struts to the center of the stage in a sparkling silver halter dress and matching fingerless gloves.
As the Pussycat Dolls’ “Hush Hush” begins to play, the brunch crowd begins to cheer. Because as her hot-pink over-the-knee boots and purple wig make clear, Imani KO Kouture’s performance packs a big punch.
“I'm a very big fan of Marvel Comics,” said Justice Jermaine Thomas, who performs as Imani onstage. “So I always loved the very beautiful but strong female lead. Like they’re beautiful, but they’re dangerous. And so Imani is all of that.”
In the darkened Roxy’s Downtown theater, a drag queen struts to the center of the stage in a sparkling silver halter dress and matching fingerless gloves.
As the Pussycat Dolls’ “Hush Hush” begins to play, the brunch crowd begins to cheer. Because as her hot-pink over-the-knee boots and purple wig make clear, Imani KO Kouture’s performance packs a big punch.
“I'm a very big fan of Marvel Comics,” said Justice Jermaine Thomas, who performs as Imani onstage. “So I always loved the very beautiful but strong female lead. Like they’re beautiful, but they’re dangerous. And so Imani is all of that.”
Drag in Wichita has been going on for decades. Now the art form is under scrutiny
Posted from kcur.org
Wichita
LGBTQ+
Art
Conservative
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“When there are real threats of harm, when you may be outnumbered, you begin to just look around a little bit to see if this is worth fighting or not,” Thomison said. “And most of us who are used to fighting maybe don’t look hard enough.”
Justice — Imani KO Kotoure — is scared, too. At just 25, they have much of their life left to live. Bigger markets, like Kansas City, boast more booking opportunities for queens. Justice has considered leaving Wichita, their hometown.
But Justice said moving won’t escape the legislation targeting drag.
“It’s going to spread. … It’s like cancer,” Justice said. “I don’t think there’s any way to avoid it, unfortunately. It’s coming, and we just got to figure out how we are going to react.”
Onstage, though, Justice isn’t scared. After all, Imani KO Kotoure is practically a superhero."
..."“When there are real threats of harm, when you may be outnumbered, you begin to just look around a little bit to see if this is worth fighting or not,” Thomison said. “And most of us who are used to fighting maybe don’t look hard enough.”
Justice — Imani KO Kotoure — is scared, too. At just 25, they have much of their life left to live. Bigger markets, like Kansas City, boast more booking opportunities for queens. Justice has considered leaving Wichita, their hometown.
But Justice said moving won’t escape the legislation targeting drag.
“It’s going to spread. … It’s like cancer,” Justice said. “I don’t think there’s any way to avoid it, unfortunately. It’s coming, and we just got to figure out how we are going to react.”
Onstage, though, Justice isn’t scared. After all, Imani KO Kotoure is practically a superhero."
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