WRITTEN & REPORTED BY MICHAEL MUSTO | Drag and trans folk have been particularly oppressed by Trump’s GOP, which somehow pegs any man in a dress as a child groomer, and a trans person as psychotically disturbed. But I happen to know these people and they’re actually really nice. None of them are in the Epstein Report!
The Trump attack is a vile (and hypocritical) smear campaign aimed at some of society’s most vulnerable members, and the impact it’s having is making me wonder what the ultimate effect will be. If things continue to get worse for queers in Trump’s America—and there’s yet more legislation to match the bigotry—will a cross section of edgy characters flee the country for good? Or would that give Trump and his minions exactly what they want? A recent Fire Island afternoon provided the perfect chance for me to ask a gaggle of drag queens what their plans are. I’d say about half plan to run for greener pastures, with heels on.
LUIS VILLABON, Drag Singer and Host: “It’s important for us to stay and fight. They want us to leave! If we run away, who’s gonna stay and protect this country?”
WILLAM, RuPaul’s Drag Race Star, Season Four: “Yes, I’d move to the UK or Australia. I’ll be traveling with the show Titanique [as Victor Garber/Luigi, the part Frankie Grande did], and it’s great to bring it to new countries.”
MEAGAN WHOOPEE: “I thought about it, but I also feel like it’s worth the fight to stick around.”
ANGELIQUE IMPERIOUS: “I would still keep fighting. Fighting for who I am. They don’t want you to be who you really are. And it’s not just about fighting for who I am, but for the people who taught me how to perfect my technique. This creation is nonexistent without that.”
TALLULLAH TALONS, Cis Gender Female Drag Queen: “Yes, I’ll follow my sister, who moved to Germany. People are looking to queers and drag queens—anyone different—as a scapegoat.”
PHILOMENA, Long-Running Drag Entertainer: “Yes, if I can afford it!”
KIKI BALL-CHANGE, Drag Comic: “When it’s too late, you say, ‘I’ve got to go!’ but you can’t. I don’t know. I feel like I’m fighting for true freedom. I feel like the right is against our freedom and in a way so are the establishment Democrats. I feel like they’re lost. They’re stuck in a past mindset.” “It’s not enough to write a harsh letter to Trump,” I interjected, smirking. “Or give a long speech,” added Kiki. “The establishment Dems are trying to look back to something, but they need to look forward and realize the playing field has changed.”
BOUDOIR LEFLEUR, High-Kicking Drag Dancer From House of Assassins: “I’d go to Canada. Just because it’s close. If I get approved, I’m going.” For a little more of Boudoir’s insights, I turned to her Facebook page, where she blisters against Trump and his followers: “Congrats, Maggots. You aren’t smart enough to understand laws that held checks and balances in order…and now, we aren’t America. This is not what the founding fathers wanted. And let’s be clear—they sucked too. Every DT supporter is a ‘Not-C’ now. Period.” Another Boudoir posting: “America is cooked. Well done burnt. It’s over.”
CASTRATA, Otherworldly Drag Singer: “My main input is for me to be here and fight hard. Besides, where would I go? I have no family out there. I have no family HERE,” she added, laughing.
Michael Musto is a columnist, pop cultural and political pundit, NYC nightlife chronicler, author, and the go-to gossip responsible for the long-running (1984-2013) Village Voice column, “La Dolce Musto.” His work appears on ChelseaCommunityNews.com as well as thedailybeast.com, and he is writing for the Village Voice (which debuted in April of 2021) and RAG Magazine (which debuted in October of 2025). Follow Musto on Instagram, via @michaelmusto.
MICHAEL MUSTO | Musto is a columnist, pop cultural and political pundit, NYC nightlife chronicler, author, and the go-to gossip responsible for the long-running (1984-2013) Village Voice column, “La Dolce Musto.” His work appears on ChelseaCommunityNews.com as well as thedailybeast.com, and he is writing for the Village Voice (which debuted in April of 2021) and RAG Magazine (which debuted in October of 2025). Follow Musto on Instagram, via @michaelmusto.
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