Jinkx Monsoon Breaks Down How SAG Strike Impacts Drag & Queer Artists
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The Queen of All Queens has spoken!
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 winner Jinkx Monsoon took to social media to address the current strike from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in Hollywood.
In a video, the Queen of All Queens detailed the importance of queer entertainers and drag artists supporting the strike, sticking together, and showing solidarity to the actors and writers who are advocating for better conditions in their careers – even if you’re not directly affiliated with SAG or the WGA.
“I want to talk to all my fellow drag entertainers and queer artists, content creators, and influencers,” Monsoon started. “I am a member of SAG, so I have a vested interest in the actors and the writers’ strike right now. But I am also a drag artist and queer entertainer who’s worked in this industry for 10 years now. And I know firsthand that drag artists, queer entertainers… we are not fully taken seriously yet. Especially drag artists. Lots of times we’re treated like a novelty. We’re treated like we’re interchangeable with each other.”
She continued, “I know as a drag artist and queer entertainer that you never know when your next gig is coming and we live off our gigs, so it’s scary to turn down work. But if a company approaches you right now to promote new work, to act in new work, to write for new work, and you take that job, you will be considered a ‘scab.’ What that means is that SAG will no longer consider you eligible to ever join the actors union. This could affect your career in the long run when this strike is over. Taking a job right now could prevent you from getting work in the future.”
Monsoon further commented on how important it is for LGBTQ+ performers to stand strong right now in order to prove how valuable our community is to Hollywood studios.
After uploading that first video about the SAG and WGA strike, a few commenters attempted to criticize Monsoon for supporting the strike but still going on the road with her current Everything at Stake Tour.
Alas, it should be noted that the current strike is happening among actors who work for film and television – hence why their union is named Screen Actors Guild. This strike does not apply to live entertainment that has absolutely no connection to any major studio, film or TV show, which is Monsoon’s case.
“There seems to be some confusion in the comments,” the two-time Drag Race winner explained. “I’m just going to comment in response so there’s no more confusion. The Screen Actors Guild is on strike. That means no new work in TV, film, voice-over, etc. It also means no promotion of new work. It does not apply to live entertainment.”
