Crystlll Blue

 

A photo of Crystlll Blue from the shoulders up. She is looking directly at the camera and is wearing a black ruffled top with colorful necklaces. She is wearing a tiara with bright rhinestones.

 

About the Center Stage drag story project

We center the stories of drag performers across Idaho to celebrate queer joy and advocate for the protection of drag performances as legal art form and first amendment right in Idaho. We believe in the value of visibility and the understanding of being seen is a crucial factor in preserving lives.  Our intention is for performers to redefine the narrative of drag and expand the public perception of its true essence through their stories and lived experiences. Drag is a form of creative expression like any other and has always been about joy and acceptance. The stories shared on this page are here to celebrate and advocate to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right to dance, fashion, music, and DRAG! 

SHARE YOUR DRAG STORY WITH THE ACLU OF IDAHO Reach out to ACLU of Idaho Advocacy Fellow Jenna Damron to learn how you can participate.

Drag encompasses dance, music, and fashion, comedy, education, and political activism as creative self-expressions protected by the First Amendment

A.Drag encompasses dance, music, and fashion, comedy, education, and political activism as creative self-expressions protected by the First Amendment

A.

"Without drag, what would the LGBTQ community have for entertainment or gatherings? Lots of drag shows are fundraisers to help causes like bullying, suicide, cancer, homelessness, HIV, MMIP (Missing or Murdered Indigenous People), TRANS, or other awareness events. These fundraising events will not exist in our LGBTQ world if we don't protect drag in public and in private spaces."

-Crystlll Blue

Drag is vital to LGBTQ culture; banning non-sexual public performances is an absurd attempt to erase LGBTQ visibility

A.Drag is vital to LGBTQ culture; banning non-sexual public performances is an absurd attempt to erase LGBTQ visibility

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"To me, drag means confidence, self worth, value, very thick skin, talent and me. It matters who I am truly from head to toe, heart and soul. The main key is providing entertainment and having strength on and off stage."

-Crystlll Blue

Violence and threats aim to silence LGBTQ voices. Families and performers have First Amendment rights to attend and host drag events

A.Violence and threats aim to silence LGBTQ voices. Families and performers have First Amendment rights to attend and host drag events

A.

"I have total support from family and friends with being a drag performer. They never stopped supporting me and didn't give up on me when other people did. When there were individuals that tried to bring me down by saying hateful, mean, and cruel comments, my mother was the one that advised me to use that negativity and become stronger and more positive to become who I am as a performer and a person. The negative experience in the drag world is a definite "given,” there will always be haters who are not aware or educated about drag performers."

-Crystlll Blue

Drag performances are cultural and gender expressions that are protected by the First Amendment, not sexual exhibitions

A.Drag performances are cultural and gender expressions that are protected by the First Amendment, not sexual exhibitions

A.

"Drag performances are not about misbehaving or in any way teaching the younger generation to be sexual or to change their own identity. Drag performers are merely entertainment like any other. We want to have fun in a behaved matter, not to give anyone the impression that performers are all evil predators and want to change anyone's identity. We just want to accept and love people for who they are and have fun along the way."

-Crystlll Blue

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