#DragQueenHistory during 1983 02 February

Darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time-travelling fashionista, ready to take you on a trip to the utterly fabulous February 2nd, 1983. Get your pink tutus at the ready and let's whisk ourselves away!

Before I embark on this thrilling journey, a little bit about me for any new readers (it's been a whirlwind tour through time!). I'm Emma, a Derbyshire lass who's head-over-heels for the dazzling world of drag. I absolutely adore anything pink, I could get lost in a tulle factory for a lifetime (let's be honest, that's practically my dream life) and I can't get enough of a fabulous drag show, whether it's in a seedy bar, a lavish theater, or even in a glamorous 1980s club!

Now, the pink tutu on my back is no ordinary one, darlings. It’s enchanted with a touch of time travel magic. Every month, this beauty lets me flit through the years and report back to you on the fantastic world of drag, fashion, and history. All for the price of a fabulous performance (because a drag queen's gotta fund her passion somehow!)

So, where were we? Oh, right! Back to 1983 and the ever-so-glamorous 2nd of February!

You’ll never guess where I landed – right in the heart of the fabulous Village in New York City! Oh darling, the 80s! It’s almost too much to handle! Big hair, bold makeup, a disco ball flashing over everyone… and that fantastic energy in the air – pure drag magic!

As I stepped out of the time-traveling tutu, I felt the unmistakable buzz of excitement, just the feeling you get walking into a buzzing, exciting club… only much brighter and wilder. I was outside “A&A,” which my pocket “What’s On” guide, featuring a big photo of drag superstar Divine (I will be meeting her one day), proclaimed to be “NYC’s hot drag club.”

Just before I sashayed inside, I stopped for a moment, taking in the view. There I was, standing under the legendary “Stonewall” plaque on Christopher Street – talk about making a statement! What a fitting location for a night of amazing drag. And in a year where Ronald Regan was trying to make “gay and lesbian Americans ashamed,” a whole generation was defying those restrictions – finding joy, finding power, and finding each other on the dance floor!

The entrance had a long queue of excited New York City locals, just as thrilled as I was, wanting a glimpse into the heart of a place that felt like home. It was bursting with glitter, outrageous fashion, and, as you can imagine, some fantastic drag queens (I am already jotting down some fabulous outfit inspiration in my secret diary).

There was something exciting about being outside of this drag haven - seeing those long queues, feeling that energy that told me this was where it all happened, where the drag pioneers were making history right there in the heart of New York City.

#### Dancing Queen? More Like Diva!

Then, before I knew it, the DJ was dropping the beat, the strobe lights were flashing, and I was suddenly thrust right into the energy and the chaos of it all – dancing my little pink tutu socks off with the locals!

It was quite an experience! You have to understand, drag in the early 80s, in the epicentre of it all - was a whole different vibe! It was rebellious. It was unapologetic. It was defiant!

It's funny because even then the showmanship and entertainment were at the forefront of everything. They weren’t simply doing a show, they were owning the show! This wasn't just a party. This was about building community, celebrating diversity and challenging those who tried to silence the “A&A’s” and all the incredible queens that called it home.

Imagine… everyone with huge 80s hair, sequins and vibrant colours bursting out from the outfits. There were some looks with a vintage 40s and 50s vibe and lots of big hats, even a couple of amazing cowboy drag acts, all doing what they loved: bringing the house down in New York City!

Now, as the “What’s On” guide revealed to me (for a grand total of two dollars!) this evening’s featured entertainer was none other than a woman known only as "Miss Fame." She came in all her pink-clad glamour and it felt as though the place erupted! The lights changed to spotlight the stage and her voice filled the entire club with such warmth. You couldn't help but be dragged into her story!

She spoke of the strength she found in her performance and shared the stories of a time when drag queens like Divine had paved the way for others. She made her message so powerful and inspiring - she talked of acceptance, self-love and standing up to those who were trying to pull them down. It made me wish that everyone back home could hear her message – because what she had to say was something everyone should hear!

And, darling, when Miss Fame began to sing “Vogue!” - I couldn’t help myself. The music washed over me, and I was spinning and twirling. Suddenly, it was a whirl of flashing lights, disco balls and all that great 80s synth music, and a total kaleidoscope of outfits, styles and people coming together.

What started as a little cabaret became a movement. I knew right there that these queens were changing things. It was a moment I won’t forget!

Now, it’s true. Sometimes even a time-traveling tutu needs to recharge. So, I’m going to admit, darling, I had to jump ahead to another date, as I really need a dose of a London nightlife! But don't worry, it’s all in the name of fabulous research.

I flew forward in my tutu (never take your safety for granted – this magic is no joke!) to February 18th, 1983, straight to the door of “The Wag.”

Yes, darling, that's right! The legendary club of the 80s - The Wag Club, one of London’s most infamous and controversial drag and cabaret destinations. (You’d be surprised, darling, at the level of intrigue this place housed, which is a whole blog post in itself! A juicy bit of drag history just for you, babes!)

Even as I popped out of the time portal in a back alley, I could hear that unmistakable thump of the disco beats from miles away. I took in the iconic exterior with its imposing brick wall and bold lettering… there it was, my little pink tutu standing outside the one and only, legendary “Wag.”

The club had this unique atmosphere about it – a real mixed bag, all those different personalities crammed into the space, like punks, pop icons, musicians, models and everyone from the glam rock and new wave scenes.

I slipped past the line (always got to keep that low-key chic vibe! ). And suddenly, darling, I was transported! Imagine the air thick with cigarette smoke and the pulsing lights filling the place. The stage was ablaze, but the centre of all that activity seemed to be this incredible, glittery-costumed drag act dancing, doing cartwheels, and showing off amazing splits in what appeared to be a fabulous feather boa, with an abundance of gold chains. He was a spectacle to behold and you just couldn't look away.

You see, in a world where "punk” reigned and the idea of challenging the “establishment” was rife, The Wag really stood out as a place that was making a “statement.” They brought it back to the art form, and they made it into this incredibly intimate and close experience – almost like a little theatre where everyone came to be a part of the production!

There I was dancing and swirling in my pink tutu – right in the midst of a wild, fantastic crowd! That was “The Wag.” Just another example of how in 1983, the UK and US embraced this incredibly dynamic time of drag that embraced change, individuality, and redefined what it meant to be a “drag queen” - moving it away from simply being a “costume” and really allowing it to flourish.

As if that wasn’t enough fabulosity, I took my pink tutu to the other side of the globe – right into a Hollywood premiere that I’m sure you’ll have heard of – because who hasn’t seen this 80s film masterpiece!?

Let me tell you - it is the kind of movie that you absolutely need to see, whether you are in the 80s or 2023. I'm talking about the film that revolutionised the idea of a “drag queen” – and not in the camp, funny kind of way – but in a completely powerful and heartbreaking manner.

So, you can just imagine what it must have been like at the 1983 premiere for “Tootsie.”

As I strolled through the red carpet (I couldn't be there in all my pink tutu glory, obviously, it was an undercover mission! ) and found myself standing among the film stars and journalists all starstruck by the moment. There she was – Dustin Hoffman – the actor who became “Dorothy Michaels,” a stunning drag queen star in the movie – with her own set of struggles and challenges about embracing gender roles.

Talk about changing the way the world viewed drag, this movie did.

For a long time, there had been this “stigma,” so to speak, that dragged drag queens and their performances back into the darker, seedy corners. This film really helped to break down those barriers! And who better than Dustin Hoffman – one of the greats – to help re-shape this image!

This was history being made on the red carpet - it’s how important it is for the wider public to have an opportunity to see that drag, like any other art form, is valid and real. It is worthy of respect, worthy of its own artistic identity. This film created such an incredibly special space and pushed those boundaries. It also offered so many more diverse, relatable experiences to drag - a really positive message for those struggling with acceptance and their identity!

It's a drag queen's life for me! What an incredibly thrilling month for drag, darling. As we make our way through time – February 1983 will stay with me. I love seeing that history being made all around the world, just like today, with the queens making waves across the USA and the UK.

I really encourage you, babes, to learn a little bit more about drag's journey - a fabulous trip back to the late 1980s with your favourite, well, it's my favourite.

And until next time – keep the pink tutus fabulous!