Drag queen Vanilla Vee calls her first Staunton Pride 'fabulous'

STAUNTON — Vanilla Vee began performing drag in the summer of 2022. She had the opportunity to perform at Virginia Pride in Richmond, her hometown, that year and, ever since, her career has exploded.

"I've been up and down the DMV area," Vee said. "Performing in DC, Maryland, here now."

Here was Gypsy Hill Park, site of Staunton Pride Saturday, Oct. 7. Hundreds of people showed up to take part in the five-hour festival focused around the bandstand area. Various performers took part on the stage, which kicked off with Dragon Wagon, a hard rock and punk band based in Staunton. There were also plenty of merchandise booths, food trucks, a beer garden, and a health and wellness hub.

Proceeds from the LGBTQ celebration event were to be donated to the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center.

Vee was part of her high school marching band's color guard, so she's always been a performer. (Vee uses she/her pronouns in drag and he/him out of drag).

"Now that I'm in my adult life, I really wanted to express myself in an art form that could make my community happy and other people happy," Vee said. "I went to drag shows and wanted to see if could dabble in that. And here I am."

Vee's chosen form of entertainment had made headlines in recent years as some extremist groups have launched protests against drag.

GLADD, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, released a study this past spring showing 161 incidents of anti-LGBTQ protests and threats targeting drag events since early 2022. The organization said there was "a sharp uptick beginning in Pride season 2022 and continuing through the midterm election cycle."

In March this year, an Indianapolis bookstore received a bomb threat targeting a monthly event featuring drag performers. That same month, GLADD tracked seven other similar threats in Ohio, Kentucky, Arizona, New York and Michigan.

Legislation targeting drag performers has been filed this year in at least 17 states.

"It hurts my heart," Vee said of these attacks. "At the end of the day, we all bleed red. We are all, in some way, shape or form connected. So when I hear that these things are happening in the world, it just saddens me."

Vee realizes that those attacking drag shows and performers see her and others in a negative light.

"When all we want to do is come out, perform for everyone, make everyone happy," she said. "Our craft is not something that should be under attack right now. And it's disappointing. It really is."

Vee's own family, at least some members, haven't been accepting since Vee came out gay and the family hasn't embraced Vee's decision to perform drag. That hasn't been easy, but Vee said she just focuses on those who do support her.

Coming to Staunton Saturday — her first visit to the city — and seeing so many people just enjoying themselves and loving who they are was thrilling.

"I think it's fabulous," Vee said. "The fact that this small, tight knit community will come together as one and celebrate something that we all have in common is super special."

This is probably Vee's seventh show this month. On Saturday alone, she finished up in Staunton and was about to head back to Richmond to perform that night.

Vee has found success not just by her talent, but by the help of others. Richmond has a big drag community and she has leaned on the community for assistance in helping grow in her art.

"It's been a whirlwind of emotions," Vee said of her drag career. "It's been a blast."

As for those who still have doubts about drag performers, Vee encouraged them to go experience a show themselves.

"You cannot base assumptions on what you haven't experienced," Vee said. "Meet the queens, go out, have a good time. That would be a perfect opportunity to try to understand it."

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Drag queen Vanilla Vee calls her first Staunton Pride 'fabulous'