“Poof the magic drag queen” is taking over the internet

The famous “dragapella group,” The Kinsey Sicks, is no stranger to making magic. Founded nearly 30 years ago by friends seeking an outrageous creative outlet to challenge gender norms and advocate for LGTBQ+ rights at the height of the AIDS crisis, they’ve traveled the world with their political parody show.

But as the smear campaign against drag and transgender people has intensified over the past two years, the group has lost bookings, been trolled online, and felt the emotional toll. Still, they’re fighting back in a unique way that only they could muster: a magic drag queen.

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“Poof the Magic Drag Queen” has quickly become one of the group’s most popular songs. A parody of Peter, Paul, and Mary’s “Puff the Magic Dragon,” the simplistic video lets the lyrics do the talking – and unlike the dragon’s depressing end, Poof triumphs in the end.

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With thousands of views across social media platforms, the internet is gushing about the song.

“So beautifully done, very musical and such poignant lyrics! I also like that it’s political and timely yet not about a political party and the core message is timeless,” one fan commented on YouTube.

“This gives me hope that the future will be rainbow-colored,” another added.

Comments on Facebook, however, originally weren’t as kind and were likely spurred by the right’s moral performance theater.

Lois Tema The Kinsey Sicks

“The vitriolic attacks on drag and the queer community in public political forums is chilling and infuriating. That these attacks and laws are utterly baseless and blatantly hypocritical absolutely drives me mad,” Nathan Marken, who plays Winnie, told LGBTQ Nation, noting the emotional toll it can take on the performers but also inspires them to continue. “The hate and disregard for who we are as people was downright soul-draining and makes me want to just shut everything out.”

“That we literally bring joy to folks and encourage people to be their better selves – whether it’s in heels and a pantsuit or combat boots and lipstick – gives me the resolve to continue singing and be the outrageous clown I am while making jokes at conservative’s expense.”

Jeff Manabat, who performs as Trixie and arranged the song’s 4-part harmony, added, “Hopefully it reminds everyone that not only are drag queens and other LGBTQ+ people your fellow humans, but also that – contrary to the demonizing rhetoric from the opposition – it’s people like us that make this world a better place.”

“We’ve created something that’s far more beautiful than our bullies are ugly,” Benjamin Schatz, who wrote the lyrics and is one of the group’s co-founders, said. “Because that’s what queer folks have long done — taken our attackers’ ugliness and transformed it into humor,  joy, love and beauty.” Schatz performs as Rachel.

“It feels terrible and terrifying that people like us and others in the LGBTQ community are being targeted by the far right. But sadly it’s not surprising. My quick survey of American history shows that conservatives targeting a politically un-powerful but visible and culturally significant group of people is a regular – and unfortunately effective – occurrence. When I first became politically aware in the ’80s, I could already see Republicans use the gay community back then as their target, then in the ’90s it was poor black women, then the ’00s it was Muslims, and the ’10s immigrants,” Manabat pointed out. “Banning drag performances, limiting legal immigration, demonizing the poor or sick or anything non-Christian does nothing to help our country’s real problems, but it sure is effective in motivating conservative voters and their money.”

“And unfortunately, the fear-mongering has a real effect on our bottom line. It’s true that drag entertainment is much more mainstream than ever before, but that hasn’t assuaged some of the fears from presenters, producers, and other venue operators that working with folks like us would be an invitation to controversial – and possibly illegal – activity. In fact, we were in early talks with someone who wanted to present us in Tennessee, but when the drag ban first came out in that state, it silenced those talks immediately. Thankfully that draconian law has since been ruled unconstitutional, but that potential booking for us has not come back.” Then add to that we’re a drag group with a proudly political bent, it’s clear the way we do business is on the line.”

“More importantly, it’s not just our livelihood that’s at stake, it’s also our lives,” he continued. “It’s clear that we are figuratively and literally expendable to them. We have no choice but to fight back in any way we can. For some in the community it’s through the courts, or working with or donating to organizations or politicians who can push back. For our group, it’s through our music.”

“I’m hopeful that we’re not just preaching to the choir, but that we’re also reaching people on the other side whose minds and hearts are open to change. We need allies from every side to fight this battle, and if there’s a chance that our music can win some of them over, that they’ll finally see that we’re just fellow humans trying to live and laugh and love and make this world a better place, then we’ll keep on doing it. Our collective future needs people like us, and we’re not going anywhere.”

Lois Tema