Dragging Academe Out of the Closet

Abstract

Gay men who are feminine in their gender expression, or gay “sissy boys,” are paradoxically loved and loathed in American culture. Drag queens, a Queer subculture where gay sissy boys don costumish clothing and makeup, transgress gender, and entertain masses, are similarly adored and despised. This Queer chic phenomenon coupled with the reality of Queer oppression creates a challenging, yet exciting window of pedagogical opportunity for Queer faculty in higher education. Using an autobiographical lens, editorials, and drag colloquialisms, the author's unique academic perspective as a gay sissy boy and drag queen will exemplify and analyze 1) how gay sissy boy outrageousness and authenticity can be disarming, alluring, and empowering for students and 2) how drag can illuminate student learning and growth in spite of themselves and their masks. Couched in critical theory, social reconstructionism, and existentialism, the author presents the “DIVA Pedagogy” model to highlight how Queer camp culture can activate student engagement about diversity, social justice, and activism.