{"id":247603,"date":"2026-05-29T12:11:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/247603\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T12:11:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T12:11:11","slug":"rupauls-drag-race-queens-headline-lexington-pride-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/247603\/","title":{"rendered":"RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race queens headline Lexington Pride festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three drag queens from \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race,\u201d including two from Kentucky, will take the stage this weekend during Lexington Pride<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lexi Love, of Covington, Scarlet Envy, of Louisville, and Mystique Summers, who represents Chicago but lives in Dallas, all say they\u2019re looking forward to performing at the Lexington event Saturday.<\/p>\n

Lexi Love: \u2018Celebrating my transness\u2019 and queer pageantry<\/p>\n

Love \u2013 who often blends fashion, dance and roller skating \u2013 lives in Covington but represented Louisville as a finalist on Season 17 of Drag Race. She and Envy will headline and host meet-and-greets<\/a> at Lexington Pride Saturday.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be one of the largest stages Love has performed on, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole thing is about celebrating my transness \u2026 and I haven\u2019t really gotten the opportunity to, on a gigantic stage or a pride stage like this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

During Pride festivals in 2025, she had a small wardrobe and little time to prepare.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had one suitcase packed for the whole country that I just had to continue to reuse, and now I finally get to dedicate time and energy and idea to a number,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Lexi Lexi Love, a finalist on \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d Season 17, poses in sparkly teal hair. Ryan Kell <\/p>\n

Minutes before Love hopped in an interview for a Netflix reality show casting Wednesday afternoon, she described what makes Central Kentucky the \u201cepicenter for old school pageantry, just like old school drag.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPageantry \u2026 used to be our currency,\u201d she said. \u201cThey used to be our \u2018Drag Race,\u2019 was all of the national pageants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pageants are queer spaces where contestants compete for prestigious crowns and titles based on attire and other categories. National Entertainer of the Year<\/a> is one of the most respected national pageants, which started in 1991 in Louisville.<\/p>\n

These competitions help Kentucky drag queens branch out of pop culture and reality TV drag trends, according to Love.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe show has so much influence on drag being a completely different way,\u201d Love said.<\/p>\n

This weekend, \u201cyou can expect a surprise,\u201d Love said.<\/p>\n

Scarlet Envy moves back to Kentucky<\/p>\n

This show isn\u2019t too far from home for Envy.<\/p>\n

After living in New York for around 16 years, she recently moved back to Kentucky. Envy, who goes by Jacob James Grady when not in drag, was born in Lexington and now lives in Louisville to be closer to family.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a very good amount of gay bars for a city of Louisville\u2019s size,\u201d Envy said. \u201cI feel like there\u2019s a great scene there, and I always feel super comfortable coming back. So I\u2019m excited to explore more of (Kentucky). \u2026 It feels very full circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Scarlet Scarlet Envy poses in a tiara and diamond jewelry. The drag queen starred on television shows including \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d Season 11, \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race All Stars\u201d Season 6, \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race: UK vs. the World,\u201d and \u201cDrag House Rules.\u201d Shaun Vadella <\/p>\n

She shouted out LGBTQ+ inclusive spots in Louisville, including drag brunch at Le Moo<\/a>, Play<\/a>, Chill Bar Highlands<\/a>, Big Bar<\/a> and the permanently-closed Tryangles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Envy has been booked and busy, from her start on \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d Season 11, to \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race All Stars\u201d Season 6, \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race: UK vs. the World\u201d and now \u201cDrag House Rules\u201d \u2013 a scripted parody about behind-the-scenes drama of reality TV.<\/p>\n

The 34-year-old said she comes from \u201ca place of privilege,\u201d with much of her time spent performing in queer safe spaces across the world. But she recalled a scary moment when a man showed up to a small town event with a machine gun.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just kind of had it propped up on his shoulder, and he just continued to circle the little park \u2026,\u201d Envy said. \u201cI think he was just there to intimidate people, and obviously the local authorities were also kind of aware. \u2026 Those people feel empowered to have a presence there.\u201d<\/p>\n

This weekend, she said, it\u2019s important to remember \u201cwhy we\u2019re gathering, especially in times like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sweeping anti-transgender legislation<\/a> remains in effect in Kentucky. Trans minors are prohibited<\/a> from accessing puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy; the use of public school bathrooms is only allowed based on one\u2019s gender assigned at birth<\/a>; and Medicaid funds don\u2019t cover gender-affirming medical care<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s not just about the people who come dressed up, it\u2019s about the entire, the community as a whole,\u201d Envy said. \u201cI like to brag about Lexington and Louisville as being these oases for queer people, and the community that I have called home for so long, because people don\u2019t expect that when they don\u2019t know anything about Kentucky.\u201d<\/p>\n

How this Chicago queen navigates anti-drag law<\/p>\n

Summers, one of the earliest competitors on RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race, will perform at a pre-Pride party at The Bar Complex<\/a> at 10:30 p.m. Friday. She said it\u2019ll be a refreshing change flying in from her home in Dallas, Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cDallas is like the mecca of drag for me \u2026,\u201d Summers, 42, said. \u201cIt\u2019s very diverse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mystique Mystique Summers, competitor on \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d Season 2, poses in a structured blue bedazzled top. Davide Laffe <\/p>\n

Dallas is one of the few places that feel pretty safe for LGBTQ+ people in Texas, she said. However, after a years-long legal battle, a 2023 law went into effect in February that restricts drag performances. Texas Senate Bill 12<\/a> can target drag performances on public property and in front of children, leading to $10,000 fines for business owners who host events that violate the law. Performers who violate the law also can be charged with a misdemeanor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just chill at the house just because with all the crazy laws and everything that\u2019s going on, it\u2019s hard to find places to perform,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d rather keep my peace instead of going out trying to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Summers said she now streams<\/a> herself playing video games, and books performances when she feels inspired.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll book a show if I have friends that\u2019s coming to town \u2026 or if I get a new outfit, then I\u2019m like, okay let me show this off,\u201d Summers said Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The 42-year-old competed but did not make it past the first bracket of \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race All Stars\u201d Season 11, which is currently airing. However, she might get raffled back into the competition. Summers first competed in the Drag Race franchise in one of its earliest seasons, before queens knew how massive the show would become \u2013 winning Emmy Awards and more.<\/p>\n

While large crowds usually show up for stars from Ru Paul\u2019s shows, Summers emphasized a need to support the local queens.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat audience members should know is that us drag racers, we just got lucky,\u201d she said. \u201cThe local girls will always be there, but if you do not support them, they\u2019re not going to be there. \u2026 If the bar closes, you\u2019re gonna be like, \u2018Oh we have nowhere to view drag.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The show will feature local Kentucky and Ohio queens including Mitzi Hampton as well as the bar\u2019s resident cast known as Johnny\u2019s Angels, which includes Mya Pinion, Braya, Rayona Dawn, Alana Reign and Kisha Summers \u2013 who is Summers\u2019 drag daughter.<\/p>\n

Summers plans to lip sync to a handful of numbers, which will be a toss-up until Friday. She usually performs genres that differ from the rest of a cast, and are based on the audience and her own vibes that day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m Mystique, I\u2019m just mysterious. The whole thing about this lifestyle is about standing out,\u201d she said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to see 20 million Taylor Swifts in a row, like no ma\u2019am.\u201d The meet-and-greet for Love and Envy<\/a> is at 5 p.m. Saturday; tickets cost $40. The show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday. The day-long festival is free and runs from 12-10 p.m. Saturday on Oliver Lewis Way.<\/p>\n

Summers will perform at The Bar Complex<\/a> at 10:30 p.m. Friday; general admission tickets cost $18.92, and front row tickets cost $30.23.<\/p>\n