Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com! Your girl Emma here, fresh from another whirlwind time travel adventure, and this month, we're taking a dip back in time to the fabulous, glittery, and utterly glorious June of 1937.
Iâm so excited to share this one with you because â honestly? It's pure drag magic. This trip was one of the most eye-opening journeys yet, a complete gem of a historical excursion.
Step into the Time Machine, Hon!
Now, my time-traveling tutu isnât as straightforward as simply leaping through years, lovelies. Itâs more like a choose-your-own-adventure story. A good old-fashioned flick of the feather boa, a twist of the tulle, and Iâm transported, usually ending up somewhere utterly fabulous and exciting. This month, June 1937, seemed to just pop up like a beautiful blooming rose in my time-traveling tapestry!
I touched down inâŚwell, letâs just say a little sketchy part of Manhattan, New York, with more neon than you could shake a glitter stick at. Just a couple of decades away from the glorious "Stonewall," this wasnât your typical "Drag Motherhood" scenario. Let's be clear, this was still a time where most drag artists were doing their thing underground, often in a hush-hush setting. This period really emphasised the whole "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" vibe, and it just highlighted how incredibly important Stonewall was.
Finding a Spark in the City That Never Sleeps
After a little scouting, I stumbled across a drag performance in a speakeasy â hidden behind a library facade, naturally! The stage was tiny, the lighting a bit questionable, but the energy was electric! Think Josephine Baker meets Judy Garland in a smoke-filled room â a bit of that Weimar Republic extravagance mixed with good ol' American spunk. It was drag in its raw, unsentimental form.
These queens were doing it all: singing, dancing, jokes, you name it! There was this stunning drag king, âRuby,â rocking a charcoal pinstripe suit with an attitude that would rival Joan Crawfordâs. Their âmasculinityâ was camp, hilarious, and oh-so-confident! Imagine that: an era when women were struggling for the right to vote, and youâve got these women, dressed up as men, with a voice, a stage, and an audience of the same gender applauding. Itâs truly revolutionary stuff, my darlings!
But even with that thrill, the whole thing felt somewhat melancholic, right? They were hidden away, trying to hold on to their art and their freedom amidst so much pressure and scrutiny. There was a distinct tension in the air that made me ache a little. It truly brought home the impact that movements like Stonewall had.
Lessons from the Past
That's the thing about time travel, darlings. It isn't just about exploring historical glamour â it's about appreciating what we've built. Seeing the early stages of drag's journey in this context reminds me of how far we've come.
We owe it to the trailblazers, the unsung heroes who paved the way in these pre-Stonewall times. The brave women, the LGBTQ+ pioneers who were fighting to exist, who were finding ways to be themselves, to find their voices, to share their art despite societal resistance. These incredible figures laid the foundation for drag today, allowing it to blossom into the globally-celebrated art form it is now.
But we mustnât forget. Weâre not done yet! There's still so much to do â to champion for equality, for acceptance, to build on that glorious foundation of freedom and love that we all owe so much to.
Where Will Pink Tutu Go Next?
As for me, darlings, the time machine is itching to go, my sequins are sparkling, and I can't wait for the next incredible journey through time! And you can bet that pink tutus will be at the centre of it all â after all, whatâs the point of a journey through time without a fabulous ensemble?
Keep your eyes on www.pink-tutu.com â Iâll be posting another fabulous travelogue soon, sharing stories from my next trip!
Donât forget to wear a pink tutu (or at least have one tucked in your handbag)! And if youâve got any travel requests, just drop me a comment below, darling!
Your fabulous friend in time,
Emma
XOXO!
