KINGS

KINGS is an ongoing project that documents Drag Kings in the Portuguese drag scene, mainly in Lisbon and Porto. The Drag Kings portrayed in this project are:  Márcio de Gaya, Orlando, the Drag King, PatPat, Só Carlos and Xicão.

"I am no mother, I am no bride, I am king."

Florence and the Machine, King

KINGS is an ongoing project that documents Drag Kings in the Portuguese drag scene, mainly in Lisbon and Porto.

The drag community has been portrayed throughout the years, being Drag Queens the only representation that exists in people's minds. Even though there has always been women and non binary people doing performances as men - we can date the first known presentation of male impersonation during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in Chinese Opera -, KINGS haven't had much space or voice.

In Portugal, Drag Kings aren't of public knowledge, it's still a (very) niche act. While still fighting for space, KINGS present themselves as kings and queers, with political acts, fighting against toxic masculinity, gender roles and binarism. There are many layers of sexism represented in their acts and in the space they (don't) have. And this is the main goal of KINGS: to reduce asymmetries in representation and space, so they at least, for now, can be and felt seen.

This project is only possible thanks to the collectives Kings of Kiteria and Queerasfuck.

The Drag Kings portrayed in this project are:  Márcio de Gaya, Orlando, the Drag King, PatPat, Só Carlos, Xicão.