Goodbye Trannyshack! And hello, whatever new thing Trannyshack will be called.
A few days ago, drag legend Heklina announced that she’d be changing the name of the nearly-20-year-old institution to something a little less off-putting. Some people are uncomfortable with the name, she explained, and it’s hard to promote an event when people can’t even bring themselves to say it. Anyway, it’s not the name that makes Trannyshack great: it’s the incredible talent, the hard work, the shocking twists, the arts and crafts, and the occasional deep dive into obscure queer history.
Even so, when Heklina brought her show to Dragonfly in L.A. this weekend, there was some concern that somehow it would have changed. But never fear! Trannyshack is still the same weird wild showcase of outrageous talent that it’s always been. And once the name finally goes away next year, to be replaced with some as-yet-undecided new name, we have no doubt it’ll be better than ever.
At this weekend’s Trannyshack L.A. show, Heklina told the audience that she always wanted her event to be as inclusive as possible, and the old name was getting in the way. Of course, to be fair, there are some people who will never feel welcome at this event no matter what the name. A religious fundamentalist will probably never be delighted to walk into a bar and discover a drag queen singing to sexy Jesuses. But there’s no pleasing everyone, and anyway maybe that sort of person deserves to feel a little uncomfortable once in a while.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And now, without further ado, the photographic evidence of Trannyshack’s enduring awesomeness. And if you haven’t had your fill, there’s lots more pics available over here.
Wendy Ho rages on.
Cupcake Canne is on point.
Love Connie rocks out. Not pictured: cock out.
The Boulet Brothers dress to impress.
Sue Casa does not care for your bullshit.
The enchanting Killer knocks it out of the park with a magical Judy routine.
Cazwell was definitely the hardest-working queen on stage that night, sprinting through half a dozen hits for the crowd despite having sustained a painful-looking sunburn earlier that day.
Did we mention that Cupcake Canne was on-point? That girl knows how to suffer for her art.
Cazwell and Manila Luzon are nonplussed.
The show kicked off with a phantasmic Devan M.
Paulie Addams left a trail of destruction in her wake.
It wouldn’t be a Toxic Waist number without a few entrails.
Ambrosia Salad discovers religion.
Hey sister.
It’s almost Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, but with a bondage twist.
The Boulets bookend Cody Bayne, Ambrosia, and Heklina backstage.
Some backstage shenanigans. Is that a Mr. Tumnus hat?
Antony and Evan appear to be having some sort of difficulty with their lips.
Everybody loves a kickline!
Here Nicki Vicious, Lilly La Muerte and Tranny Panda, perhaps soon to be called T-Panda.
Mezaien
Homosexuality, is the best thing that happen to the humanity.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Meh. Drag is played out. Same tired ass themes explored a million times before. Unimaginative. No longer shocking. No longer transgressive. Coopted. Infantile. Dull.
“ha ha it’s a man..A MAN!!! In a laydeees dress..a LAYDEEE’S dress!!! ..LOOOOOOOOL!!!
Oh. My. Subversive. Fucking. Sides.
No doubt their are some extremely talented, intelligent and funny performers among them. I would question their need the over reliance on their prop.
Faux drag queens (biological women), at least have some extant claim to fresh and interesting social commentary and post-modern-y type shit. Or something.
Cam
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: said…
“Faux drag queens (biological women), at least have some extant claim to fresh and interesting social commentary and post-modern-y type shit. Or something.”
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Fresh? That was the plotline of “Victor Victoria”
BROOKECERDA
SORRY TO BREAK YOUR HEARTS GAYS,BUT BIANCA DEL RIO DOESN’T EXIST.ITS A CHARACTER JUST LIKE BOZO OR RUPAUL, BUT CARMEN, JANET , LAVERNE & MYSELF ARE WOMEN.
AND IF ANY OF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A MAN, YOU WOULD KNOW HOW TO TREAT A WOMAN .
THERE ARE NO DEGREES OF WOMANHOOD.
WOMEN ARE WOMEN, TRANSGENDER OR CISGENDER.
YOU BEING GAY DOES NOT GIVE YOU A PASS BE VULGAR WITH US.
I DONT CARE HOW FEM YOU LOOK.
BODIES ARE NOT GENDER.
RESPECT ALL WOMEN !!
STOP MAKING AN ASS OF YOUR TRANSPHOBIC SELVES .
Nowuvedoneit
Oh, here we go again! *grabs popcorn!
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Fair enough. Substitute “freshER”; it’s still under-explored. You’d be hard pressed to name many other examples. Modern examples, that is. Shakespeare explored similar themes which remain richly complex, playful, and psychologically interesting, unlike the current moribund genre of drag.
PS Go easy on me, tiger..you’re one of my Queerty crushes! Actually it’s a fight out between you and DK!
michael
@BROOKECERDA:
? Bianca Del Rio is not mentioned in this article.
The vast majority of gay men understand the difference between a transvestite and a transexual.
The vast majority of gay men know how to treat a woman – we have mothers, sisters and female friends/co-workers.
Being gay does not give anyone a pass to be vulgar with anyone. There is a small sub-set of “bitchy queens” who still cling to the out-dated notion of catty/cutting remarks as a form of gay rebellion/social satire. Yeah it’s probably time to retire this questionable “gay” characteristic. BTW – Being a transexual does not give anyone a pass to be vulgar with anyone either.
Typing in all caps is a form of online shouting. It is also hard to read. It makes your point significantly less persuasive. Do you merely want to be seen, or do you want to create change?
michael
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: Yeah, I have been watching drag (less and less) since the early 70s. Not much new to see there anymore. I must admit I am enjoying the genderqueer/genderfuck antics of performers like Conchita Wurst. A man beautifully dressed/coifed in a pretty gown. But with a beard – and still obviously a man.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: oops! That was meant for @Cam
theekiller
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID: you know what’s played out? bitter old queens feebly throwing shade from behind a computer screen. i’ll get off your lawn now, i’ve still got fun to have.
Cam
@BROOKECERDA: said… “AND IF ANY OF YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A MAN, YOU WOULD KNOW HOW TO TREAT A WOMAN ”
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So just so I understand this. You see Bianca Del Rio as your real enemy and not the right wing.
And you have an outdated 1950’s sexist view on relations between the men and women that seems to completely skip over the women’s rights movement.
And lastly, it is interesting that your community has consistently attacked others for trying to label you screaming that you won’t live under the traditional labels, and here you are screaming that you are a REAL woman. Perhaps everybody should have a meeting so your commentors stop posting things that directly oppose each other.