Pickle Drag Queen was officially crowned (more like sashed) as the City of West Hollywood’s inaugural Drag Laureate at an installation ceremony on International Drag Day, Sunday, July 16, 2023. Community members gathered at the main lawn of the West Hollywood Park for speeches, music and treats to welcome the first official drag queen to represent the City of West Hollywood.
Pickle Drag Queen becomes for West Hollywood Drag Laureate – WEHO TIMESWest Hollywood has functioned as a center of social progress and counterculture for decades,” said council member Lauren Meister, who was the first to speak. “This city has a rich history in the drag scene. As far back as in the 1930s, this area has been a haven for LGBTQ people, and drag queens have marched the streets long before the city was established. When I introduced the idea for drag laureate program in October 2020 with my colleague former council member John Duran, the goal was to raise awareness about drag culture and promote the many contributions made by drag artists to West Hollywood. Drag culture has contributed significantly to the local economy in the City of West Hollywood. Local businesses such as Hamburger Mary’s, Micky’s, The Abbey, Rocco’s and beaches are popular venues for visitors and locals to enjoy drag culture and drag shows. Through performance and events, drag queens and kings have become ambassadors for LGBTQ community.”
Pickle Drag Queen becomes for West Hollywood Drag Laureate – WEHO TIMES“Drag culture has been under attack,” said West Hollywood Mayor Sepi Shyne. “…drag culture is the foundation of queer culture and drag culture is a dynamic demonstration of the city’s vibrant arts and culture community. Drag queens and kings are artists showcasing their talent through lip synching, dancing, comedy and other artistic expressions. The city is proud to celebrate individuality and self-expression.”
Mayor Shyne presented Pickle with a proclamation and Mayor Pro Tem John Erickson did the honors of pinning the sash on the city’s new Drag Laureate.
Pickle Drag Queen becomes for West Hollywood Drag Laureate – WEHO TIMES
On this International Drag Day, I celebrate a personal accomplishment–yes. But more importantly, we celebrate a triumph for the drag community as a whole–I almost said that like the lady from The Crown, ‘As a whole…’ Drag is represented in so many ways across so many means of expression. And more and more, we are getting the privilege of witnessing young people flock to an artistic craft that celebrates individuality, humor, joy, and love. There are many things I’d like to say, and many things I hope to accomplish over the next two years. But if I had to summarize, I would say that my goal is to empower more and more drag artists in the City of West Hollywood to spread their wings. This is the moment that the world is watching drag free itself from the shadows. As drag artists, this is the moment to challenge ourselves, to test the limits of our creativity, to put on a show.”
Pickle Drag Queen becomes for West Hollywood Drag Laureate – WEHO TIMES
Pickle Drag Queen becomes for West Hollywood Drag Laureate – WEHO TIMES
Pickle performed a song and gave the audience her brand of humor at the event to a live band. Snacks included iced slushies and cokie-shaped pickles.
“I feel really loved right now and a part of something special,” Pickle told WEHO TIMES. “I’m having a lot of fun. I had a hand in putting the event together. We wanted it to be open, in the daylight, we wanted it to be accessible and I’m really happy with the way it came together.”
Pickle has been performing in drag professionally for eight years and has collaborated with many people and organizations to bring drag into people’s lives. Pickle is dedicated to expanding drag as a medium both for herself and for the community. For more information about Pickle, visit www.pickledragqueen.com.
While I share many of this performers’ issue priorities, I tend to agree that this program is not a sensible use of public money. But much more is spent on much less in this town. What’s troubling, however, is not that a drag queen is involved, in fact this performer seems level headed and quite competent. Rather, it’s that the program explicitly platforms particular political goals, and used tax money to subsidize a de facto political lobbyist.
Next you’re going to tell me beauty pagaent queens wanting “world peace” is a political goal as well! Oh, the horror!
Hey WeHo artist, considering your persistent commentary on my character and my viewpoints, let’s have a neighborly discussion. Assuming we don’t know eachother, since ur using an alias, but feel free to reach out to me [email protected]. Perhaps we can find some common ground and better understand eachother.
I have no desire to communicate with you outside of a public forum. You seem unhinged, dangerous and erratic.
your presumptions are unfortunate, but you might familiarize yourself with the movement and values I stand for. Check us out at FreeWeho.com
Back to the issue: Interesting point, most would agree it inappropriate to use tax money to fund a beauty pageant, though. Incidentally, remember that a beauty queen’s innocuous “world peace” is not uncommonly code for military intervention or regime change abroad 🙂
The guy looks bizarre. Shameful way to portray our city.
This is drag. In West Hollywood. This is part of our culture. If you don’t like queer culture you don’t have to live here.
Pickle is a GREAT representative for West Hollywood.
Drag has been a part of Weho culture since the city’s inception. We should always celebrate the art form.
Let’s think of more ways to waste taxpayer money and ignore real issues such as crime.
Oh , this is party town, you know that nobody cares about crime or real issues at hand ….everyone lives here and come to the party drink and get high and everything is swept right under the rug!’
our “leaders” certainly don’t care
Oh of course not ! there right up there as you can see it sitting in the chairs having a good time Wjile being paid and drinking and getting high at all the city events that are liquor sponsored
I hate this way of thinking. As if we can’t have a drag laureate and work on crime at the same time.
Its just a way to make your point about disliking the culture of the place you live while ignoring reason and logic. The amount of money spent on this is trivial at the municipal level. Besides. Have you looked at a cost benefit analysis? If not you probably don’t know what you are talking about.