Three Kelowna drag queens have come together to launch a collective designed to not only support Okanagan drag queens but to create more spaces and opportunities for such queens to perform throughout the valley.
The Okanagan Drag Collective (OKDC) 香蕉视频直播� currently composed of Ella Lamoureux, Jenna Telz and Chastity Caige 香蕉视频直播� hosted their first show as a co-op at Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 DunnEnzies Pizza Mission location on Saturday (Nov. 20), featuring local drag queen Bell Ini as the group香蕉视频直播檚 first guest performer.
As Telz puts it, OKDC is a collective effort by drag queens for drag queens.
香蕉视频直播淎 lot of the time, for bookings and stuff, we香蕉视频直播檙e booked by a promoter who sells tickets for $20 and sells 100 of them and only gives us $150,香蕉视频直播� said Telz. 香蕉视频直播淲hat we do is we split it all equally instead, so we end up doing better. It香蕉视频直播檚 more of a democratic way of running a business because the workers are the owners.香蕉视频直播�
In addition to Kelowna, the OKDC is planning on hosting shows in Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm and Kamloops. The idea is that the three current members will travel throughout the Okanagan and feature a guest at each show, which would ideally be a local queen from the respective town. As the group travels and performs, the plan is to add permanent members to the OKDC.
香蕉视频直播淲e always need to be supportive. That香蕉视频直播檚 one thing I find that a lot of people forget, like (RuPaul香蕉视频直播檚) Drag Race as well. They forget that this started out as a sisterhood and that香蕉视频直播檚 working together to create change,香蕉视频直播� said Lamoureux.
香蕉视频直播淣ow it香蕉视频直播檚 all one for themselves, so we香蕉视频直播檙e just bringing it back to how it used to be, which is us having fun together, unified and building each other up instead of bringing each other down.香蕉视频直播�
By working together, Lamoureux said, drag queens will be working more.
香蕉视频直播淲e realized that it香蕉视频直播檚 better to have a community or a collective so we can work together and build instead of having one person do their thing,香蕉视频直播� she said.
READ MORE: Creating Queens: Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Indigenous drag queens use their platforms to inspire
In the OKDC, everyone gets paid the same amount, from the core members to the guests involved.
香蕉视频直播淭he goal of a worker collective or a co-op is to provide employment for the employees. So, instead of having someone who owns a business trying to make money off of what we do, we are making money ourselves,香蕉视频直播� said Telz. 香蕉视频直播淲e are the business altogether.香蕉视频直播�
The OKDC is hoping to build towards hosting three to four shows a week throughout venues across the Okanagan Valley. By creating more spaces for queens to perform, the hope is that this will also help pave the way for more safe and comfortable spaces for Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 queer community.
香蕉视频直播淓veryone has a space that would make them feel the most comfortable,香蕉视频直播� said Caige. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 great to be able to provide those spaces, and also provide work and experience for local drag queens.香蕉视频直播�
The OKDC香蕉视频直播檚 second show is scheduled at Penticton香蕉视频直播檚 Brexit Pub on Dec. 16. Two more shows are scheduled in Kelowna at DunnEnzies Pizza Mission location on Dec. 18: an all-ages show at 1 p.m. and a late show at 8 p.m. Tickets are available .
READ MORE: Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 drag story
aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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