Drag Race star reveals how Supreme Court trans ruling affects drag queens now

Metro

2 days ago

RuPaul's Drag Race star Kitty Scott-Claus has revealed how the Supreme Court ruling on transgender people has affected drag queens.
The series three finalist spoke about how her fellow drag queens and other members of the LGBTQ+ community have felt 'dehumanised' by what the ruling means for toilet access.
In April the Supreme Court ruled that the definitions of 'sex' and 'woman' in Equality Act 2010 refer to 'biological sex'.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) then recommended in a interim guidance that 'trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in public spaces.
Speaking at festival Mighty Hoopla yesterday, Kitty Scott-Claus told Metro how the ruling has changed how she feels when working in drag.
'If I'm in drag going to the toilet now I'm like, 'Well, what do I do?'
'Because normally I would just go to the ladies toilets if I'm presenting as a woman.
'If this is happening to me in drag, for our trans and non-binary siblings it so how invasive and dehumanising.'
Kitty said many of her fellow drag artists feel the exact same way, but are aware that other members of the LGBTQ+ community are also struggling.
She added: 'Everyone just thinks it's the biggest joke.
'It feels like a joke that we're gonna wake up from and be like, 'Oh, well. That was a disaster.'
'Stuff like this makes me so proud to stand with charities like Not A Phase and to stand with our trans siblings.
'We need to show our support for them now more than ever.'
Reflecting on pride marches set to hit the UK during Pride Month, Kitty said they should return to their roots of being 'protest' events.
'We need to remember, like, Pride started as a protest,' she said.
'It is a protest. It is to show we're here, we're proud, we're queer.'
The drag star was speaking during Mighty Hoopla, where she interacted with fans in 'Grindr's Gaybourhood' area of the festival.
She spent most of the afternoon standing on a large Grindr bus, which will travel around Europe to promote inclusivity.
The dating app's head of marketing and communications, Tristan Pineiro, told Metro: 'Festivals like Mighty Hoopla bring everyone together.
'We are continuing to show up and be proud and unapologetic.
'That is our way of furthering the cause. We're not going anywhere.'
Mighty Hoopla is a two day pop festival, popular with the LGBTQ+ community, running over the weekend May 31 and June 1.
The festival went ahead after fears it would be cancelled after the High Court backed a campaign by some residents claiming that the application for permission to hold the events had failed to meet all requirements.
Speaking about the decision, Kitty said she was relieved that festival goers were still able to gather. More Trending
She added: 'They want me to go home and sit in a quiet, dark room and read a book. Sorry, life is for living.
'Queer inclusive spaces shutting down all over the place and I think it's a sign of the times.
'We need these spaces. They're so important now more than ever.'
Other acts performing at Mighty Hoopla this year have included Ciara, Kesha, Jade, Lulu, and dozens of other acts.
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