Drag queens are lip-syncing all over the ‘Burgh these days, with oodles of brunches, bingos, pageants, and happy hours to fill your Google Calendar. Regarding the burgeoning drag scene, Phoenix Fatale said, “You can’t throw a pump without hitting two drag queens before it lands in a pile of glitter around here.”
Phoenix Fatale holds the title of Ms. Blue Moon, the bar’s tenth reigning queen. Fatale is not the only title holder reigning on the Pittsburgh stages. Trista Storm, who was recently crowned Ms. P Town, said, “Pittsburgh is a wonderful place for performers. It’s diverse.”
Dixie Surewood, who has held multiple titles over the years, including Miss PA Trash 2016, Miss Blue Moon 2018, Miss Tristate’s Comedy Queen 2016, Miss Greats Lakes Comedy Queen 2017, and National Miss Comedy Queen in 2018, said, “Unlike other cities, Pittsburgh has a ton of spaces for all kind of art! Drag has become mainstream in the past few years, and Pittsburgh has embraced it.”
The queens are all in, but soft boy offered a slightly alternative perspective. The drag king, whose signature color is pink, found flaws in Pittsburgh’s scene but remained optimistic. The pink performer said, “Pittsburgh certainly has the potential to be a great place for drag, and things are heading in the right direction. But there’s a lot of improvement needed when it comes to diversity and holding people accountable for problematic behavior. That being said, there’s a good community of performers who are really try