From 'Garbage Plates' to glam, celebrating Rochester, NY's drag scene
| 09/24/24
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
KESA
Not many people can give thanks to drag queens & kings for building their careers. It launched my professional journey and helped create the woman I am today.
New York, Los Angeles, and other larger cities may have their fair share of drag. But there's something different about the artists in Rochester, NY.
Tucked away at the tips of the Finger Lakes region, on the shores of Lake Ontario, Rochester has a vibe between the concrete jungle of New York and the folksy atmosphere of a New England town. The city is known for where suffragette Susan B. Anthony called home, abolitionist Frederick Douglass founded his Morning Star, and George Eastman launched his Kodak empire, among others. Not to mention the city's most delectable dish, the "Garbage Plate." Still, few outsiders know of its drag culture.
Rochester has also birthed drag stars like RuPaul's Drag Race's Pandora Boxx, Darienne Lake, Mrs. Kasha Davis, and Sapphira Cristal. Miss Gay Rochester is the city's blue-ribboned drag beauty pageant, one of the nation's longest-running competitions since 1971, with winners venturing to beauty competitions like Miss Continental. The performers and performances range from the cinched and ballads to the unpadded and punk.
Over the past three editions of Flower City Queens, a calendar celebrating the beauty and diversity of the region's drag artists, it has been an absolute honor and privilege to capture the beauty and grace of these fab performers.
Though my priorities have shifted, I'm forever indebted to the art of drag for bringing me into the woman I am today.
KESA
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
KESA
KESA
Lush Light Photography
KESA
KESA
KESA
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
KESA
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
KESA
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
Lush Light Photography
KESA
Lush Light Photography
KESA
KESA
Arranged for Out.com by Nikki Aye, Digital Photo Editor
Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière is the former Creative Director of Flower City Queens, celebrating the individuality, diversity, and history of drag in the Greater Rochester region.
Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.
Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière is the Community Editor at equalpride, publisher of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, Plus, and Pride.com. A Haitian-American trans woman, she tirelessly champions voices from the LGBTQ+ community, creating a vibrant community engagement approach that infuses each story with a dynamic and innovative perspective. Like and follow her on social: @ageofadelina.
Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière is the Community Editor at equalpride, publisher of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, Plus, and Pride.com. A Haitian-American trans woman, she tirelessly champions voices from the LGBTQ+ community, creating a vibrant community engagement approach that infuses each story with a dynamic and innovative perspective. Like and follow her on social: @ageofadelina.