After noticing the lack of queer nightlife tours in New York City, Justin Dorsen came up with an idea to “marry [his] love of tourism and drag.” He wanted to celebrate the art of drag, while also ensuring it was accessible to everyone who wanted to join or be part of the community. Nearly eight years later, his idea is still making an impact on the city.
Since 2018, Dorsen’s business Drag Experiences has spread all across the country, with locations in NYC, Los Angeles, Chicago and Las Vegas. Drag Experiences hosts drag bar crawls, offering to give participants a night out with drag queens. They also offer makeovers for anybody who wants to join the community–even if it’s just for a night.
With Pride Month coming up this June, Drag Experiences is creating events to not only support the queer community, but give back. Last year, nearly 25% of corporate donors pulled back funding for pride events, in fear of retaliation from the current presidential administration. So, in retaliation, Drag Experiences is hoping to amplify the support given to the community, and gain some back.
This Pride Month, Drag Experiences is offering up to 100 executives, managers and team leaders the opportunity to have a full drag makeover, and they don’t even have to leave the office. Dorsen shared that the inspiration for this project was due to many clients pulling funding, budgets getting cut or needing to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to work with a company. Dorsen and his team want to show that drag is a celebration, and an art form.
“In today’s climate, we just needed something fun right?” Dorsen said. “It’s a way to celebrate individual identity and to cut loose and have fun. So, leaders at the top are getting into drag. It shows a positive example from the top to the bottom of the organization.”
Annie Vaxxer drag queen and makeup artist, makes over Jennifer Ward.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Annie Vaxxer drag queen and makeup artist, makes over Jennifer Ward.Photo by Jonathan Portee
Annie Vaxxer is a drag queen who is also a makeup artist for Drag Experiences. She shared how special the opportunity to bring drag and the queer community to people is, and it helps form connections. “I think a lot of the bigotry and hatred we see in the world right now, a lot of it has come from denial itself,” she said. “People who have suppressed their own expressions and sense of self, for whatever reason that may be. I think drag is all about accessing the higher self. Whatever the context is, whoever you’re sharing drag with, the goal is that it will help increase love and kindness in general. Whatever they experience in the time we spend together they will take with them into the world to make it a more positive and affirming place.”
Dorsen hopes that those who engage with the drag makeovers can see that drag is not a threat. With the current political climate leaning against drag, Dorsen hopes the visibility Drag Experiences brings to the community will make a difference. “When I see my guest experience drag for the first time, or the 100th time, I see the sparkle in their eyes,” he said. “But right now, I’m seeing increased pressure through legislation and rhetoric to silence those voices.”
Annie Vaxxer drag queen and makeup artist, makes over Jennifer Ward.Photo by Jonathan Portee 
Jennifer Ward after her Drag Experiences makeover.Photo by Jonathan Portee
Doing these makeovers has led Vaxxer to appreciate the intimate moments with others. One memory that stands out, is doing a makeover on somebody from the Crosstrail Community Church, who traveled to New York just for this makeover. “That was my first time working with someone so closely, and putting someone into drag that was doing it from a place of gender expression,” she shared. “That was a really special experience. I was expecting that all of these makeovers would be really light and kind of silly and this was all fun. This one touched me very deeply and I still think about it.”
Vaxxer also highlighted the importance of uplifting queer voices, because they are everywhere. She shares that although it might be easy to feel isolated and alone, there is a whole world waiting ahead.
“We’re using this as an opportunity to spotlight pride, but for us, pride is 365 days a year,” said Dorsen.
If you want to get a drag queen makeover, or want to participate in a bar crawl, check out the Drag Experience website.