King of Hearts: Drag Kings in the American South

Drag kings, including cis women, trans men, and non-binary individuals, are thriving in Southern Bible Belt states like Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina, challenging gender norms and creating a unique community with Southern flair. This study, based on observations and interviews with sixty Southern drag kings, explores their history, communal bonds, and controversies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2021
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

While drag subcultures have garnered significant mainstream media attention in recent years, the primary focus has largely been on female impersonators. However, equally vibrant and dynamic is the community of drag kings, comprising cis women, trans men, and non-binary individuals who perform exaggerated masculine personas onstage under such names as Adonis Black, Papi Chulo, and Oliver Clothesoff.

King of Hearts explores the thriving world of drag king performers in an unexpected setting: Southern Bible Belt states such as Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. Drawing from observations and interviews with sixty Southern drag kings, this study unveils how they are challenging regional gender norms while creating a unique community with its distinct Southern charm. Reflecting the region's racial diversity, the book profiles not only white drag kings but also those who identify as African American, multiracial, and Hispanic.

Queer scholar Baker A. Rogers, who has also performed as drag king Macon Love, takes readers on an insider's tour of Southern drag king culture, delving into its history, the communal bonds that unite it, and the controversies that have divided it. King of Hearts offers a groundbreaking perspective on a subculture that subverts gender norms while also providing a vital lifeline for non-gender-conforming Southerners.

Weight: 335g
Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978820548