When he was thinking of a name for his drag persona, Thomas created a list.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thinking of some queer icons and some not queer icons,” he said. “This one just resonated because he is a Tejano star. And in the ’90s he was this really big heartthrob that everybody wanted to be or be with.\u201d<\/p>\n
And three years ago, Thomas became Drag King Bobby Pudrido.<\/p>\n
He thought it would be fun to impersonate a masculine figure from the Latino community and perform for an audience attracted to that type of energy. He also wanted to bring his culture into his drag. <\/p>\n
Pudrido’s name has new recognition these days: Tejano singer Pulido decided to retire from music and go into politics. He’s running for Congress in South Texas\u2019 District 15 against incumbent Republican Monica De La Cruz.<\/p>\n
Both in an out of drag, Pudrido is also politically vocal. He advocates for trans rights and against the drag ban<\/a> that went into effect statewide in March. The law prohibits drag performances in public properties or in front of children. Venues that host these performances can be fined up to $10,000.<\/p>\n Bobby Pudrido puts on makeup in his home. <\/p>\n \u201cAs a drag artist, one of the things we need to do is get booked so we can pay our bills,\u201d Pudrido said. <\/p>\n Even though it’s unclear whether the ban affects some venues, he said, he thinks certain business owners won’t book drag performers because of the risk of being fined.<\/p>\n But as a working-class artist, he doesn\u2019t have the luxury to dwell on it. <\/p>\n “You have to go to work, because you need to pay your bills,” he said.<\/p>\n The law has taken an emotional toll on him, too.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way it chips away at a queer person to hear any type of anti-queer legislation pass is something that is really big for me,\u201c he said. “We are constantly \u2014 just as human beings \u2014 trying to maintain our mental health. “<\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t mean his love for performing has been diminished. In fact, quite the opposite is true.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has fueled me,\u201d Pudrido said. \u201cRight now I’m in the angry phase where I want to be louder.\u201d<\/p>\n As a performer and producer, the drag king has put on shows in the Austin area and recently traveled back to his hometown in Laredo<\/a> for a show.<\/p>\n Bobby Pudrido has become an advocate for trans rights and against the ban that prohibits drag performances on public property or in front of children.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard for drag kings to get booked sometimes, so we are still far away from the perfect ideal world for [them],” he said. “But the fact that I have a platform at all is huge.”<\/p>\n Pudrido’s passion for performing comes from his drag ancestors, \u201cwho started the art form as a way of being political and of being against the systems that were oppressing queer people.\u201d<\/p>\n Drag King Bobby Prudido is currently producing his second queer quincea\u00f1era, \u201cCon Mucho Amor,” with an anticipated show date in the fall.<\/p>\n ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778668099_707_.jpeg\"\/)
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