Linda Simpson's The Drag Explosion

Presented by DL: Los Angeles and ONE Archives in conjunction with MOTHA’s Transgender Hirstory in 99 Objects: Legends and Mythologies

The Drag Explosion is an evolving multi-media “slideshow extravaganza” created by New York performer and nightlife personality Linda Simpson. From the underground East Village club scene and the birth of Wigstock in the late 1980s, to the AIDS activism and mainstream drag explosion of the early 1990s heralded by Supermodel of the World RuPaul, Simpson’s snapshots document the flamboyant performances and offstage advocacy of the era’s drag community. Simpson’s subjects include RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Tabboo!, Tom Rubnitz, Billy Beyond, Willi Ninja, Page, Hapi Phace, John Kelly, Deee-Lite, Lypsinka and, of course, Ms. Simpson herself. For this performance, the first iteration of The Drag Explosion to be presented outside of New York, Simpson will provide live narration to accompany her photos and host a post-performance Q&A.

Simpson’s performance is held in conjunction with Transgender Hirstory in 99 Objects: Legends and Mythologies, organized by the Museum of Transgender Hirstory & Art, or MOTHA, at ONE Archives.

Support for Linda Simpson’s The Drag Explosion is provided by the City of West Hollywood through its Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission. Additional support is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.