This month, we’re rolling out the red carpet (and possibly some feather boas) for What A Drag, our latest HAVEN hero.
This fabulous event has been generously supporting HAVEN, and honestly? We’re obsessed. They bring joy, glitter, and community vibes that can’t be beat. Jo Sisemore has the full scoop on this glorious spectacle.
Celebrating Expression, Community, and Diversity
By Jo Sisemore
At the heart of the Central Valley’s LGBTQIA+ community are two powerful forces working together as one: shOUT, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting, supporting, and advocating for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, and What A Drag, the signature fundraising drag showcase produced by shOUT. Together, they demonstrate how art, visibility, and purpose can create lasting community impact.
What A Drag is more than a night of sequins and applause—it is a celebration of identity, courage, and self-expression.
Each season features drag queens, drag kings, and gender-expansive performers whose artistry reflects the diversity and resilience of the queer community. Designed to be welcoming and accessible, the show is intentionally geared toward audiences unfamiliar with drag or who hold misconceptions about the art form. By blending entertainment with education and storytelling, What A Drag introduces drag as the creative, expressive, and deeply rooted art form it truly is, with a long history in LGBTQIA+ culture.
A defining feature of What A Drag is the Novice Drag Performers. Each year, individuals who have never performed drag before are invited to participate as novice performers. These novices represent local nonprofit organizations and are paired with experienced drag professionals who mentor them throughout the process. From learning drag performance fundamentals to developing a character, costume, and stage presence, novices go through the full creative journey. With guidance and support, they ultimately perform on the main stage—often for the first time—making the experience both transformative and empowering.
Community impact is central to the show’s mission. Each season of What A Drag highlights four local nonprofit organizations, which receive funds raised from that year’s production and gain increased visibility for their work. Over the past three years, What A Drag has raised more than $40,000 for local nonprofits such as HAVEN, Drum Love, The PLACE, Cal-PRIDE, The Rainbow Chorus, CASA, just to name a few. These organizations are represented directly on stage, with novice performers serving as ambassadors for their causes and helping share their missions with the community.
As the producing organization behind What A Drag, shOUT ensures the show remains rooted in advocacy, education, and inclusion. Proceeds from the event support shOUT’s year-round programs and outreach, helping create safer, louder, and more visible spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the Central Valley.
As What A Drag continues to grow and shOUT expands its reach, their work stands as a powerful reminder: when art and advocacy come together, communities thrive. By promoting the art of drag, supporting local nonprofits, and welcoming new audiences into affirming spaces, What A Drag and shOUT are building a future where everyone has the chance to be seen, heard, and celebrated.