Drag as Protest, Performance Art, and Qualitative Research Method

• In Event: Sashay, You Stay: Uplifting Drag Pedagogies in the Era of Drag Bans

Abstract

This study explores how HBO's show We’re Here serves as a model for place-based qualitative research, particularly in rural, conservative U.S. communities. Through its drag-centered lens, We’re Here sheds light on the lives of LGBTQIA+ people and their families, providing a nuanced view of the cultural and political contexts in which they live. Focusing on the first three episodes of Season 4, filmed in Tennessee amid anti-drag legislation, the paper examines how the show humanizes queer communities and presents an adaptable research approach for studying transphobic and homophobic policies. The study also reflects on the author's positionality as a Black queer researcher from rural South Georgia, offering insights into conducting humanizing research in similar marginalized contexts.

Author

• Shaun R. Harper, University of Southern California