Drag, artwork and protest in Venezuela

Caracas, June 28 (EFE).- With make-up, vibrant costumes, wigs and heels, a ‘drag queen’ in Venezuela performs on stage not solely a creative presentation, but in addition a protest, in keeping with individuals linked to this motion, which insists in persevering with to develop regardless of the prejudices rooted within the society of the Caribbean nation.

“The actual fact of current, of going out and of (doing) what I’m doing, is already one thing political, it’s already one thing disruptive, it’s already one thing that’s telling the norm that I’m in opposition to it,” Aisak Ovalles informed EFE. , 31 years outdated, who has been doing drag since 2020, when he discovered on this artwork a “house as a creator, as an artist and in addition as an activist.”

As she places on make-up, her face disappears beneath one other, that of The Queer Queen, her ‘drag’ character, with whom she not solely combines her ardour for singing, appearing and dancing, but in addition practices activism and It says, amongst different messages, that make-up, wigs and heels don’t correspond solely to at least one gender.

The ‘drag’ tradition – he famous – “has at all times existed” in Venezuela, the place it has been “marginalized by the patriarchal and sexist system” and “prejudices”, however because of the struggle for its recognition, primarily by the LGTBI collective, In the present day that motion “is gaining somewhat extra visibility,” which doesn’t imply that the battle is gained.

As well as, it’s also pending to realize an financial worth, since it’s “poorly paid,” stated Ovalles, who, for that motive, sees this work as “a complement” to different earnings.

‘Dragtivism’

For the ‘drag queen’ Crystal Claire, “it is vitally essential” to reveal the “difficult actuality” that exists within the nation, the place final 12 months there have been 461 circumstances of violence in opposition to LGTBI individuals, in “a context of impunity and state homophobia », in keeping with the Venezuelan Observatory of LGTBIQ+ Violence.

Aisak Ovalles (c) performs a present, on June 21, 2024, in Caracas (Venezuela). EFE/ Miguel Gutierrez

In line with the 28-year-old artist, Venezuela “has many prejudices that it has to refute and break down little by little” with a view to overcome the “retrograde mentality” and have the ability to “reside and coexist in a society the place you aren’t seen in an unpleasant method simply since you look totally different from others.”

Venezuelan society, she defined to EFE, “could be very normative, and nonetheless” there may be the concept “males do that, girls do that and there may be nothing else, there aren’t any different choices,” so “something that begins to deviate from that framework finally ends up being rejected, (…) one thing for which they’ll assault you.”

“If you get on stage, you’ve gotten a voice, (…) you’ve gotten the likelihood to present a message (…) you will be an agent of change in your neighborhood by doing this, you’ll be able to grow to be the voice of people that don’t essentially have a option to be heard,” stated the artist, for whom drag should even be “understood as politics.”

However, regardless of every little thing, she isn’t going to alter what she is or what she does, in keeping with Crystal Claire herself, who, on stage, performs with the fantasy of being a pop artist, like her biggest reference, the American Girl Gaga. , who “modified his life” by exhibiting, from a creative perspective, “a complete world of prospects.”

Disguised prejudices

Producer Yorvin Mijares informed EFE that he has encountered corporations alongside the best way that agree to supply their assist however ask to not be talked about, or that reject the proposals once they see that it’s an LGBT occasion.

Aisak Ovalles (c) performs a present on June 21, 2024, in Caracas (Venezuela). EFE/ Miguel Gutierrez

“They gloss over it in hundreds of the way, however we already know the language of rejection,” stated Mijares, who isn’t discouraged and, quite the opposite, insists on persevering with the struggle and “conquering floor,” that’s, organizing “queer” occasions in “hetero” venues.

Seeing that there have been “many extra artists who needed to go for that motion or who noticed potential in them,” it was proposed to launch the nationwide competitors ‘Gala Drag Queen Venezuela’, whose sixth version can be held this Friday, June 28, purposely of Worldwide LGTBI Satisfaction Day.

The target, he added, is to “make seen” drag, and he hopes that, sooner or later, assist for these occasions will develop.
Carlos Seijas Meneses


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2024-06-29 23:09:26

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