Iowa City Today

The City of Iowa City’s Office of Equity and Human Rights will host "RoyalTea: Queens Talk About Drag" via Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The presenters will discuss topics including the intersection between being trans and doing drag, all ages versus adults-only events, and drag and the law. There will be ample time for conversation and questions.

The program will feature three outstanding performers:

• Paris J Beverly Hillz, a Black trans woman with eight years of experience doing drag, concentrating on the poised and glamorous old-school pageant show-girl style. Paris is working on a double major at the University of Iowa and is a wife, dog mom of two, and home chef.
• Hazel Sanchez Belle, who also has eight years of experience doing drag and is the owner/show producer of Big Grove x Brunch Babes and HSB Productions. Hazel is a pageant contestant with three past titles, including Miss Gay Iowa USofA Newcomer 2018. During the day Hazel works in the medical field and on weekends she’s playing Barbie, which she describes as the best of both worlds. Hazel says what she loves most about drag is meeting people and - with a wink - inspiring young people to live their inauthentic selves. 
• Wilma Carstart, who is a camp/comedy/theatrical Queen, is the reigning Miss Iowa Ultimate Star Newcomer, Miss Gay Winter Wonderland, Mx. OhZONE, and winner of Des Moines Drag Race. Wilma has interned for Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show. He daylights as a student at the University of Iowa College of Law, has taught English, and coached wrestling. Wilma will take his “stupid camp glamour” style to Philadelphia this summer while working at a law firm there.

This will be a rare chance to draw back the curtain on a world many people do not have a chance to experience. So register here for the tea on Drag, and get ready: as Paris says, “stand back, cause there’s a hurricane coming through!”

For questions or if you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please contact the office at 319-356-5015 or humanrights@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

Original source can be found here.