Reminiscence and Resilience in the Voices of Older LGBTQ+ Drag Performers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69802/7gnazm16Keywords:
life story, chosen family, drag performers, queer theory, aging LGBTQ+Abstract
This qualitative study explores the life stories of 21 LGBTQ+ drag performers in the United States aged 50 and older. Through semi-structured interviews grounded in life story methodology and supported by timeline mapping, the study investigates how participants make meaning of drag performance, gender identity, and chosen kinship over time. Drawing on grounded theory, timeline mapping, and feminist and queer theoretical frameworks, the research uncovers themes of resilience, performative identity, familial acceptance and rejection, and intergenerational transmission of values. Participants described drag as a powerful site of self-affirmation and protective expression, often referred to as “armor.” Their narratives also revealed shifting relationships with gender performance and identity integration across the lifespan. The findings shed light on how drag performers navigate aging within a youth-focused culture while continuing to make significant contributions to LGBTQ+ history, activism, and community care. The study contributes to gerontological and queer scholarship by centering the voices of older LGBTQ+ drag performers and suggesting new directions for intergenerational and intersectional research.
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