With LGBTQ+ rights under fire across the U.S. and worldwide, RuPaul is championing a fierce fight back with her mantra: “You better werk!” Since launching the Drag Defense Fund in April 2023, RuPaul and her television franchise have raised over $2 million in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Drag Race producer World of Wonder, and MTV. In the past year, over 500 bills were introduced aiming to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, including drag performance bans in states like Tennessee and Kentucky. These measures have sparked both boycotts and bold performances defying state officials. In September, the ACLU sued Blount County District Attorney Ryan Desmond in Tennessee after he threatened to shut down a scheduled Blount County Pride event featuring drag artists. Despite a federal ruling deeming the state’s drag ban unconstitutional, Desmond persisted. A federal judge sided with organizers, barring Desmond and local law enforcement from interfering, allowing the event to proceed without incident. Donations to the Drag Defense Fund are driven by a QR code featured at the end of RuPaul’s Drag Race episodes and its All Stars spin-off, encouraging fans to contribute to the cause.
Home Happening Out Television Network RuPaul’s Drag Defense Fund Raises $2 Million for LGBTQ+ Rights
