“The Best of DC”
Washington Blade Drag King
Readers & Editors Agree: Ken Las Vegas
Kendra Gracie Kuliga, who performs as Ken Las Vegas, is one of the most well known drag kings on the East Coast. She began “kinging” in 1996 and is the founder of the DC Kings.
Kuliga developed a local reputation in part as producer and promoter of a drag king show at Club Chaos, at 17th and Q streets, NW. The shows are held there on the first Wednesday of every month.
In an interview with the Blade in May, she said that in the past drag kings focused more on lip synching and trying to be like men. Today, they pay a lot more attention to their costumes and stage acts, in addition to their appearance.
On the DC Kings’ Web site, Kuliga says it’s important for DC King members to support each other. “We are only interested in putting on a good show and seeing how we grow as individuals and as a group,” she says. “I have found in the five years of doing this that we have to be 100 percent there for each other to make this work. We have become stronger with each show because of this support and I hope all new kings can offer this important element to the group.”
There’s also a Code of Ethics at the site. DC King members are encouraged to create a supportive environment through a policy of respect for each other. They are urged not to “judge each other’s personal worth through applause level, tips received, or otherwise.”
www.dckings.com
