Are drag stars supporting SAG-AFTRA strike? Jinkx Monsoon encourages fellow artists not to perform during strike: 'We have to stand in solidarity'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jinkx Monsoon, the winner of 'RuPaul’s Drag Race', has come out in support of SAG-AFTRA members who are on strike and advised her fellow drag performers and other queer artists not to traverse the picket line if studios approach them. The season 5 winner made the remarks in a video clip that was shared to Instagram on Sunday, July 16, 2023, addressing them as her "fellow drag entertainers, fellow queer artists, fellow queer entertainers, content creators, influencers, whoever you are."
The 160,000 members of the American actors' union SAG-AFTRA stated on July 13 that they would be going on strike, preceding any acting endeavors for the immediate future. Per the union's guidelines, promotions for highly anticipated movies and television shows like 'Wicked' and 'Stranger Things' must cease. Following the announcement of the strike, the cast of Christopher Nolan's blockbuster 'Oppenheimer' skipped the London premiere last week, as per PinkNews.
'You will be considered a scab'
Broadway star and two-time 'Drag Race' winner Jinkx Monsoon eloquently outlined why the entertainment industry continues to be difficult for LGBTQ+ performers while also outlining why they shouldn't cross the picket line. Jinkx acknowledged that declining engagements as an LGBTQ+ singer can be "scary", but the 35-year-old SAG-AFTRA member urged performers to remain assertive. "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," she said.
Jinkx made the point that scabs are barred from future SAG-AFTRA membership in addition to affecting worker solidarity. Since some jobs require SAG-AFTRA membership, Jinkx emphasized that "taking a job right now could prevent you from getting work in the future." Someone who chooses to break an industry strike by accepting work is referred to as a "scab" in a negative way.
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Jinkx further added, "Taking a job right now, even though it might be a good opportunity, it might be a good paycheck, you will be undermining the efforts we are trying to make to get better circumstances for all actors, including queer artists, drag artists and marginalized entertainers. If actors are feeling exploited and extorted right now, imagine how queer entertainers and drag artists in this industry feel and if we want that change, if we want better circumstances in the future, we have to stand in solidarity now."
Jinkx asked queer performers to consider the ramifications of working during the strike and warned that SAG-AFTRA will bar future union membership for any who do so. She urged all queer artists to join the strike in a gesture of "solidarity," adding that "Hollywood thinks drag artists are interchangeable with each other. Let us not prove them right. Support one another in this strike."
Following some backlash for shooting the video in a dressing room, the drag diva clarified that live entertainers are not on strike, only screen actors, thus live comics, singers, and stage actors can carry on as usual.
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'Drag queens and queer artists certainly are NOT interchangeable'
Hollywood celebs and Jinkx's fellow drag performers hailed her for the encouragement and the clarification, with 'American Horror Story's Cheyenne Jackson commenting, "Reason 4,582 why I love you. Drag queens and queer artists certainly are NOT interchangeable and it’s powerful to hear that spoken aloud." Mrs Kasha Davis, a contestant on 'All Stars 8', commented, "Helpful info, thanks." Puerto Rican drag performer Cynthia Lee Fontaine commented, "Thank you amor."
Other fans and followers hailed Jinkx for lending her support to the strike. One fan commented, "Thank you for supplying this information. I know in the past the studios have lied to non union performers, even posturing scab work as a " foot in the door" when the strike ends."
A second fan exclaimed, "Hand up 🙋♀️ for the “marginalized entertainers” thanks for remembering us. I hope the strike is over soon for all. Solidarity!" A third follower chimed in, "Very articulate, as always, Qween Monsoon. I learned a number of things from this! Thank you!" Another one typed, "👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️ I hope those executives get a clue that you can't treat people poorly without consequences."