I kind of started making my drag character, who's Violet.
It's a hard thing to create a person that you don't know yet.
She just kind of started taking on this personality, like I would just start acting a certain way,
and so I'd just go with it.
I work at Hamburger Marys, yeah.
Anyway, if one of us up here wants you to make as much noise as you physically can,
that would be the most way that you physically can't.
There we go!
A drag queen is basically supposed to be the life of the party.
Have fun!
Drag queens aren't closeted.
I mean, we aren't looking to not bring attention to ourselves.
We're looking for attention. That's why I'm wearing turquoise.
We met when I was 17. Four years later, we're still here.
When we first met, I had no clue what drag queens were,
and I just thought they were tall women, crazy hair.
Yeah, I think all drag queens have to have a diva side.
It's a lot of fun just to see the transformation of him going from a boy to a girl,
with his makeup, and then there's layers and layers and layers because you have to try and look like a female.
My mom has this video of me, and nothing but a loincloth.
That's kind of where it all started from, was when I was a little kid and just making up things and being crazy and imaginative.
I started working with Disney Tokyo.
I was character performer, so I impersonated famous characters.
One of the greatest things that I've learned in my drag experience was watching Disney princesses in their hands.
That is the best drag tip I can have, is if you want to know how to walk and talk and speak and be proper like a woman,
look at a Disney princess, because they're doing it.
It's a princess, mommy! It's a princess!
That's what little kids think I am, I think. They think I'm a princess.
I love singing Disney songs. I don't know why, they're just really catchy. I've been singing them since I was really young.
Kids, I mean, all I have to do is sing some Ariel, and they're just like over the moon.
I love it when the audience engages with me. That makes me feel special.
There's people texting and using their phones during it.
It's just really rude, especially when the performers are giving their lives to you.
People should really honor performance, and they should honor art.
Ooh, Daddy!
Hello, Daddy!
Work, girl. Work out those highlights.
I like to give credit where credit is due.
Oh, thank you. You look beautiful. Look at you.
What a nice look.
They can do just about anything to you in the street, because there's not going to be a policeman right there all the time.
So, I carry Mace.
Just the other night, this guy in a car pulled up next to us, and he goes,
You ain't ladies. Why are you acting like ladies?
And we just laughed and kept walking.
Good morning. Good morning. Hi.
Good morning. I like to say good morning, whether it's morning or not.
It's just like, you know, good morning.
I'm a drag queen. Good morning.
Violet is everything that I'm not.
She's very, very outgoing, very bubbly, young, Paris Hilton, kind of really stupid girl.
Ah!
Then you do the face that goes with it, whatever it is.
I'm stupid. This is what you do to create a drag character.
You walk around in women's clothes and pretend like you're doing things that you're not doing.
Sounds fun, huh?
Drag queens are just inconspicuous. You can't miss them.
Anyone hungry?
Hi, my name's Violet.
Oh, I love your dress.
Oh, thank you. I got it from Goodwill.
I love your hat. You are so fierce. Look at you.
So, how come you're here?
Well, I'm a drag queen.
Yeah, it's kind of cool.
Yeah, it's cool because I come down to Portland and see all these.
Just, Portland is so unique. Thank you for exciting my day.
Oh, you're welcome.
I think everybody kind of wants to change their identity sometimes.
They don't.
I don't feel as much like Violet's changing who I am because she kind of becomes her own thing.
Happy birthday to you.
Hi!
In the gay community, it is an honored tradition.
Drag queens were at the very front lines of our battle for equality.
It's supposed to be an art form.
It's supposed to be honored.
At the same time, it's a real person under there.
Thank you.
