Drag queens unite to form political action committee ahead of 2024 election

A new political action committee is stomping the runway, bringing together some of the biggest names in drag to push back against anti-LGBTQ legislation and politicians. Through a flurry of social media posts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok and X, the PAC has begun a campaign to raise funds ahead of the November election.

Aptly named Drag PAC, the committee was officially formed in March 2024 Federal Election Commission filings show. As a hybrid PAC, the committee can make limited donations to politicians from one account but raise and spend unlimited money to make independent expenditures from another.

In a YouTube video announcing the launch of the committee, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumni Peppermint, Monet Exchange, Alaska, BenDeLaCreme and Willam explain that they connected to form the first and only PAC led by drag queens.

“I think everyone is a little disheartened with a lot of our elected leadership,” said “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 5 and All Stars Season 7 winner Jinkx Monsoon in the video. “And frankly our community is being assaulted and it’s escalating to violence.”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 9 alum Peppermint told OpenSecrets that she was initially approached by rapper and podcaster Dan Stermer, professionally known as Big Dipper, to start the PAC.

Because Big Dipper was familiar with Peppermint’s involvement in social issues and activism including the Black Queer Town Hall, the performer said she wasn’t surprised that she was approached to join.

Peppermint said that it is important to raise money to support candidates whose ideals and motives align with the PAC’s mission. She added that candidates who don’t support LGBTQ issues or who actively work against the interests of queer individuals are sometimes supported by large donors.

“Candidates that we would want to support us, people that we would go out and vote for, are being defeated at the polls by candidates that have so much backing, millions of dollars,” Peppermint said. “What we want to do is support candidates, sort of pick that same model and support candidates who are willing to speak up on behalf of the LGBTQ community.”

July 2024 FEC filings show that the PAC has raised more than $140,000 so far, with long-time Democratic donor Dylan Bulkeley-Krane contributing $60,000 since March. Bulkeley-Krane is one of the committee’s organizers and is also the co-founder of Disability Action of America.

Bulkeley-Krane told OpenSecrets that he donated the initial start-up funds to the PAC so that the committee could get off the ground. “Since then we’ve received hundreds and hundreds of small dollar donations and a few big donations as well,” Bulkeley-Krane said. “Much of our staff, including the Queens, volunteer our time for the PAC, so all of the money we raise go towards our GOTV efforts, filming content, hosting events and building our tech tools.”

Rainbow waves

While committees that have historically supported LGBTQ issues are not new — the LGBTQ Victory Fund has raised more than $1.8 million during the 2024 cycle and contributed just over $129,000 to Democratic candidates — Drag PAC appears to be the only federal political committee openly led by drag performers.

Podcaster and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4 alum Willam said that part of what makes Drag PAC unique is the commitment to boosting candidates and politicians who are actively supporting queer issues.

“We haven’t endorsed anybody but our focus is on voter outreach and we will be highlighting down ballot candidates who are fighting for our communities in the future,” Willam said, adding that they personally support candidates who are visibly working to support the community, citing examples including Honey Mahogany of San Francisco and Maebe A. Girl of Los Angeles.

Mahogany, another Drag Race alum, ran for supervisor of District 6 in San Francisco but was defeated by Matt Dorsey. The social worker and activist previously served as a member of the San Francisco DCCC and was later elected chair.

Girl was the first ever drag queen elected to public office after winning a seat on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council. She would go on to run unsuccessfully against Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) for California’s 28th congressional seat in 2019 and again in 2021. After Schiff announced his retirement to run for California’s Senate seat, Girl said she would run to replace him in 2024 but lost the primary.

To get candidates like Mahogany and Girl elected, there needs to be a high level of engagement from younger generations, Peppermint said, adding that educating people about who the candidates are and what they represent is part of the plan.

“It’s important for people to understand what types of people are getting ready to run for office,” Peppermint said. “It’s important to understand what the support of those people looks like and understand how those people move through the world of politics and through the ranks. How people, how we as individuals, can support those people.”

Peppermint said educating younger voters, particularly Gen Z, is a focal point of Drag PAC and noted that younger people tend to be more progressive but don’t always show up to vote.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts College, 41 million members of Gen Z will be eligible to participate in the 2024 presidential election, eight million of whom will be new voters. It is these voters who Drag PAC is trying to engage through voter registration and social media presence. But to do that, the PAC needs monetary support.

“I want to be able to affect change and make sure the right people get elected,” Willam said. “So I’ll go wherever there’s a party that there’s campaigns and I need to schmooze some people and get them to get their checkbooks and Venmo’s out because drag queens are good at what? Getting money.”

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and X.