This story about “RuPaul’s Drag Race” first appeared in the Limited series/movies issue from TheWrap Awards Magazine.
Season 15 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was one of changes: The show went from VH1 to MTV, featured the largest group of contestants (16) and debuted a new permanent judge, transgender activist and personality Ts Madison.
But it was the legislative changes pushed outside of the show that had the biggest impact this season. As the queens demonstrated their charisma, uniqueness, grit and talent week after week, anti-LGBTQ bills, many of which would ban drag performances, piled up across the country. (The ACLU is currently tracking 500.)
For Carson Kressley, who has been a judge on the 27-Emmy-winning reality competition since Season 7, the queer-phobic laws only strengthened the resolve of the “Drag Race” crew. “There are always new opportunities and new challenges,” she said. “We see with this ridiculous legislation that there is always a reason to have a platform like this. And I think that every year we have a new show because we are always in a different social and artistic climate. We also get, you know, 15, 16, how many new queens each season, and we get to hear their stories and watch them win and lose and rebuild again.” That sends a strong message of inclusion. Plus, Kressley added, “That keeps it fresh because we get to meet amazing new people every season.”
Season 15 certainly brought a lot of original ideas. During the first episode’s talent show, contestant Anetra combined her “duck-walking” dance moves with board-breaking karate chops. Her performance left all the judges, including guest Ariana Grande, speechless. (The performance has over 10 million views on YouTube.) “We’ve seen a lot of things before, but we welcome new things,” Judge Michelle Visage said. “When I can say, ‘I’ve never seen that before,’ or when Ru and I look at each other and say, ‘I guess I’ve never seen that before,’ that’s the best feeling in the world. ”
This season also featured the show’s first twins: Sugar and Spice, queens who represent a new generation of talent who grew up watching “Drag Race” and honing their craft on social media.
“You think of the kids on our show now, who grew up watching the show; many of them were 10 or 9 years old when our show started,” Judge Ross Matthews said. “They grew up in a world where we were on TV and you see it in their creativity. There isn’t a span of time where they had to ask themselves as a 15-year-old if they were worth it or if they could do anything. I grew up with it. These children have known that there is a place for them. And it’s because of that portrayal that they’re taking it by storm in Season 15.”
Madison, the show’s first full-time transgender judge, echoed the importance of representation. “(We need) more trans visibility, providing more trans opportunities, allowing trans people to occupy space, and humanizing trans people,” she said. “Because the reason laws are made to demonize or criminalize us is because (lawmakers) don’t see us as human.”
Season 15 delivered its strongest message yet, crowning proud trans woman Sasha Colby America’s next drag superstar.
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