{"id":49454,"date":"2023-06-23T12:10:01","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T10:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/drag-cartel-on-a-mission-to-support-advocate-for-queer-community-20230623\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T21:04:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T19:04:35","slug":"drag-cartel-on-a-mission-to-support-advocate-for-queer-community-20230623","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/drag-cartel-on-a-mission-to-support-advocate-for-queer-community-20230623\/","title":{"rendered":"Drag Cartel on a mission to support, advocate for queer community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is much more to drag than meets the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than just costuming, make-up, music, performance, and wigs, drag is truly an art form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Nazeem Southgate, the founder of The Drag Cartel, had been thrust into the world of drag by his partner, Maxine Wild. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing her partner and being so invested in her drag, I got to learn the ins and outs of drag and it is actually a very specific art form. A lot of drag queens like to use that term. Drag is an art form, it is not just performing. It is an entire aesthetic, from the costume to delivering the performance. Being with her for all this time and seeing how everything works, I was invested in more of the background things,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not her formal manager, but rather more of an assistant to Wild during her gigs, last year Southgate made the switch to formally managing her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a drag performer, there are a lot of elements to it. There is the logistical side, getting ready for a gig and then there is also when people approach you to do a gig. A lot of the girls find it hard to negotiate for themselves,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While he may not have started his managing of Wild off with the intention of starting a drag-focused talent agency, looking into the need for this kind of business led to the official launch of The Drag Cartel in May.The idea was birthed at a gig with other queens last year when fellow queens reached out to have Southgate manage them as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was not thinking about it seriously then. But as I saw the need to get better exposure for them and what I was doing, it tied in with what we eventually created,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this is more than just a talent agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southgate and associate Ronvin Fransman say they are looking to create a support structure for all facets of the queer community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a huge need for support in the gay community, and no organisation is offering that. Eventually, the Drag Cartel wants to be that support,\u201d Fransman says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several Transsexual women who are part of the cartel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe minority of the queer community is Trans women,\u201d says Fransman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to be that support structure for the Trans community. We do not just want to focus on events, but also be a support structure, focusing on education as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

June is International Pride Month. Despite global strides toward inclusivity, locally, much is still needed to create awareness around queer rights, especially in the workplace, says Southgate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Wild \u2013 who is a transsexual woman \u2013 delivered a talk on inclusivity in the workplace at a company. The aim of this is to help businesses understand the queer community, through education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany queer individuals feel ostracised or are too afraid to show who they really are for fear of being judged or victimised. This is a message we really want to push,\u201d Southgate says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drag scene in South Africa has grown exponentially over the last few years.In the past, a drag performer would be seen at a club in passing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, audiences go to a club to see a drag performer. This culture has undoubtedly been influenced by the global sensation of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aesthetics and access to better costuming and wigs \u2013 for example, have also added to the overall experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn certain spaces, it is still very unknown, but in Cape Town, the drag culture is very established. The push toward the art of drag is evident. More people and companies are looking to have drag performers for entertainment,\u201d says Southgate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But within the marginalised queer community, more can always be done to promote inclusivity, Southgate and Fransman say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their upcoming event, Strike a Pose, taking place on Friday 30 June in Woodstock, aims to create a platform for the queens to perform, but will also be the launch of their intention to give back to local charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to support a local charity. We are saying that a percentage of all the queen\u2019s gigs for a period will go to a charity,\u201d says Fransman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aim of this is to again unite the queer community and show they care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen a fight is being fought as individuals it is much more difficult, but when we fight that fight as a group or in masses, it is much easier to win that fight,\u201d says Fransman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople think of the gay community as a group of people, but there are also subdivisions in the queer community. This is the gap we are trying to fill and create inclusive opportunities for us to stand together as a group and fight those fights.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fransman says more can be done to unite all queer groups in the LGBTQIA+ community to be less segregated.He referred to a recent incident where a community figurehead threatened to paint the rainbow street crossing in the Cape Town CBD black, following the City of Cape Town\u2019s installation of it in recognition of the queer community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnly a few people showed up. If we were united as a community, there should have been thousands showing up to stop this or protest this,\u201d says Fransman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While drag is mostly seen as women impersonation, Southgate says their agency is looking to bridge more gaps in the industry by even introducing live queer vocalists and performers and women impersonating men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their goal in building this organisation is to create an overarching support structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With easier access to the queer community, they are building off this to promote the queer rights agenda. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, they hope to also offer support to even those who need help coming out to their loved ones, those who need information and those looking for a group of like-minded individuals. An all-inclusive force for the progression of the queer community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southgate again reiterates that education will be the answer to not only inclusivity but also acceptance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEducation is a big thing. It is the basis of how we interact as humans. If I do not understand something, I cannot comprehend how to deal with it. For us to spread the word, we need to be placed in certain spaces to educate people,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of this happens with miscommunication around a fire and it ends up being stuff that is just not true. That is where the problem comes in,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their upcoming show, Strike a Pose<\/em>, will feature drag performers from the cartel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show will take place at 66\/68 Albert Road, Woodstock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be a pre-party meet and greet starting at 19:30, with the main show starting at 21:30. <\/p>\n\n\n\n