HBO's ‘We’re Here’ features Florida drag queen. See what Latrice Royale said about new season

It's critical to maximize your joint slay while making your voice heard on important topics.

The Emmy-winning series "We’re Here" is returning to HBO for a fourth season, with a familiar Florida face among its four new hosts.

The unscripted reality series follows renowned drag queens as they visit small-town America with a mission to spread love and connection through the art of drag. Hosts this season headed to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as in surrounding towns, where they took an in-depth look at recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Switching things up, this new season features RuPaul's Drag Race winners Sasha Velour, Jaida Essence Hall, and Priyanka as hosts, as well as Florida queen and fan favorite Latrice Royale, who lives in Fort Lauderdale.

Speaking with the USA TODAY Network-Florida, Royale talked about joining the show and what it was like filming in Oklahoma. But first, it all boils down to the title — "we're here," which Royale said means so many things.

"In this particular instance, because of the nature of the show, 'We're Here' means that we, as diverse community of people, are here, so let's embrace each other. Let's try to get understanding and let's move forward in harmony, that's what we're here about.

"I am just glad to be a part of a program that is doing such positive work and enriching people's lives and changing people's perspective, which is necessary."

Who is iconic drag queen Latrice Royale?

Timothy K. Wilcots, better known by the stage name Latrice Royale, is a drag performer who has appeared in multiple incarnations for the "RuPaul's Drag Race" franchise. Wilcots' Royale even earned the title of Miss Congeniality on Season 4.

As Royale, she has appeared in multiple shows and toured around the globe for her one-woman shows. She is returning to Las Vegas in 2024 for another 3-month residency at the Flamingo Hotel.

'This was supposed to happen:' Latrice talks joining show, working with fellow drag queens

Royale has been a fan of "We're Here" since day one, she shared. Over the last decade with her one-woman shows, she has also made it a priority to encourage fans to make a difference in their own communities and to use their voices.

"Basically, this work is my ministry to get the message out there, to help people, make sure they're loving themselves and be proud of who they are and to make positive change and to embrace things. And so, I felt like (We're Here) is just a perfect fit. This is what I've been doing. I've always stood up for what's right, I've always been a fighter for drag, I've always been a fighter for my community and so this is just an extension of that."

The Drag Race favorite made it clear — the show would be the right match for her. But it was especially perfect when she got the call asking if she'd be available.

Royale recalls the moment, right when she was currently in Vegas filming for Drag Race Live Untucked.

"When I got the call that they really wanted to get my voice and my story, my perspective into season four, I was elated. I was like 'Let's do it.' And … this is how you know universe is working for you because I go 'I'm gonna check the date and I'll get back with you.'

"Check the dates and I had some gigs before and after … literally the window was exactly in between and I was like, 'Oh, this is perfect. This is supposed to happen.'"

Royale joined the show in Episode 4, switching off with Jaida when the queens arrive in Oklahoma. According to the description, they meet attack survivor Christian, proud father and viral sensation Kris, two-spirited educator John, and Randy, who is openly gay and accepted in the staunchly anti-drag town of Bartlesville.

Royale said she has worked with queens Sasha Velour and Priyanka before but never like this. She said the three of them ended up having the right balance.

"Working with them in this way, it was so enlightening because Priyanka is so inquisitive … she wants to understand and she wants to ask questions and I love that because she asks the right questions. And then when the people start talking crazy, Sasha hits them with the facts. And then when the facts don't work, then I have to come into the rationality of it."

On balancing serious topics and situations with heartwarming moments while filming

Once filming, Royale admits she gets so focused on her mission that she forgets the cameras were there.

"I'm just glad they're there to pick it up because y'all see what we're seeing and what is out there, it's scary. It's terrifying to know that people believe these things. They're saying that out loud."

She said it was important to get these real and raw emotions from the opposition, especially for those who aren't aware or around it. She admits it was challenging to separate her feelings and emotions to gain a better perspective.

"I'm really trying to find out what's really making you so scared and why's that fear turning into hate. Why does it have to go to that next level?"

Going from uplifting members of the community to hearing hate speech directed at you is hard to stomach. Royale admits the situations were difficult at times but she was ready.

"I have already been mentally prepared to hear the most ridiculous things come out of their mouths and they didn't disappoint. It just confirmed what I already knew."

"That's the hard part, realizing that you're not going to change people's minds but you can invoke some thought process. You can make them go 'Hmm oh, you know what' but no one wants to do that. That's hard to do if you have to look at yourself and realize that you're this person when you don't think that you are and think that you're loving Christian and maybe realize that 'no, no, actually you're not.'"

Royale talks activism in home state of Florida, fighting for communities

While the show takes place in Oklahoma and Tennessee this season, Royale's home state has seen its fair share of LGBTQ-centric legislation. The show even tackled it in season three, filming in southern end of the state.

Just last year, the United States Supreme Court blocked a Florida law that sought out to limit drag shows after an Orlando drag bar sued the state, asserting the bill violated the First Amendment. A federal district court also sided with the bar and restaurant.

Royale said if there's one thing about Florida, it's that "we don't play." She added LGBTQ members may laugh and joke, but they do not play when it comes to their livelihood. Last year, Royale was a keynote speaker in the Drag Queen March in Tallahassee, where she saw drag queens from all over the state come to support.

"I spoke on the Capitol steps but this is what we do … we fight, we don't stand down, we stand up because we know the power of staying vigilant," Royale said. "I've been doing this my entire career, I don't know any other way to be. I just know that if you love something and if you believe in something firmly, you stand up for it. And that's what drag is for me."

Royale also stressed the need to support those living in state or in communities with anti-LGBTQ legislation or lack of resources. She spoke about the "bubble" many members find themselves in because it does not directly affect them.

"These are our people … just because you don't live there, it's affecting us. And if you don't believe it, you can see how the things that are coming out of these red states are affecting us nationwide, worldwide. It doesn't matter that you don't live there, it still will have an effect. It has a ripple effect and it's important that we, as a community, get a little bit more in touch with reality and get out of our own personal bubbles because it's an election year."

When and where can I watch 'We're Here'?

The fourth season will consist of six episodes airing on HBO and Max starting Friday, April 26 at 9 p.m. ET, with new episodes debuting weekly.

"I hope that you will see on this one work we have to do, or basically importance of the work that we do," Royale said about what she hopes fans get out of the show. "I hope that they will see all the love that we're trying to put out to this world and that, in spite of the hate, that glitter and rhinestones always prevail, baby!"

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Latrice Royale talks HBO show, Florida LGBTQ laws, and power of drag