Dust has three mothers, one with whom they vacationed on 麻豆传媒映画Island days before performing with their other two at East Vancouver鈥檚 weekly drag show, which will have a Mother鈥檚 Day theme this Sunday.
David Cutting, as Dust's biological mother would say, first started performing as two years ago, once their drag mother adopted them after their third request.
鈥淒ust came to my shows, we got along really great, and when she mentioned that she wanted to do drag, she kept dropping hints like 鈥業 won鈥檛 do it until you teach me how to do makeup,鈥� says Shanda Leer, a self-taught queen. 鈥淚 just kept saying 鈥榃ell, figure it out 鈥� no one鈥檚 here to hold your hand.鈥欌��
Today, the definition of drag mom is different for everybody, says Dust, but back in the day it referred to the queen who put another queen in drag for the first time and helped them land their first performance gigs.
, a prominent 麻豆传媒映画queen who鈥檚 been performing 鈥渟ince the Dead Sea was just getting sick,鈥� is Dust鈥檚 other drag mother.
鈥淎s of late, I think it鈥檚 more about a younger queen saying 鈥業鈥檇 like to be in your drag family, would you take me under your wing?鈥� So I think it鈥檚 evolved over the years,鈥� Carlotta Gurl says. Their mother has never been to a drag show, but watches Carlotta perform through online videos from her small town in Newfoundland.
Dust says motherhood is more of a mentorship/friendship to them, with Carlotta Gurl serving as an active mentor through hosting several shows weekly, while Shanda Leer鈥檚 retirement from drag nearly eclipsed with Dust鈥檚 and their friendship.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really heartwarming because a drag mom is someone you can always fall back on, just like your regular mom, for emotional support and validation when you need it,鈥� Dust says.
Dust founded , a weekly show hosted at The Penny, back in February in hopes of getting their family (Dust has five drag children themselves) together consistently.
鈥淭here were a few shows happening monthly, but I wanted to create a space for people to watch drag and feel a sense of community weekly.鈥�
Realizing that this week's show fell on Mother鈥檚 Day, Dust asked Shanda Leer if they would come out of their drag sabbatical to perform with the family.
鈥淚 have a drag granddaughter now, and I think she鈥檚 great, but like, that鈥檚 insane,鈥� says Shanda Leer, who agreed to perform because 鈥淚t seemed like a nice way to spend a Sunday.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 an old tradition that I think is a bit diluted now in that I think people just want to say they have a drag daughter or a drag mother,鈥� says Shanda Leer, who at the same time says they have no problem with a viable art form in the mainstream.
As a self-proclaimed 鈥渦ninvolved mother,鈥� Shanda Leer is happy to co-parent with Carlotta Gurl who they consider a sister due to their shared upbringing in the Maritimes and close friendship.
Shana Leer鈥檚 also a huge supporter of the of 麻豆传媒映画that Carlotta and Dust are a part of. Partial proceeds from each Commercial Drag show are donated to DMS.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lovely family to be a part of as well,鈥� says Carlotta Gurl of the society that raises money for different charities all around the Lower Mainland.
The registered charity is entering its 47th year in Vancouver, making it the oldest international court system in Canada. Jose Julio Sarria, the original Empress, founded the International Court System in 1965, which at the time was a way for San Francisco鈥檚 queer community to fundraise for other members in need.
Dust has a role in the monarchy under the gender neutral title of Princet Royale. The original community of DMS 麻豆传媒映画was predominantly gay, but Dust says it鈥檚 transformed into a queer community, inclusive of . As of last year, they added the option of a reigning Emprex to their monarchy.
鈥淭he message is really beautiful 鈥� people in the community supporting other people. But God bless queers: you鈥檝e got to add some pageantry to it,鈥� laughs Shanda Leer.
And while the three queens know where the money from Sunday鈥檚 show is going, as of our interview one day prior, the structure of the lineup was less clear.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be a family-oriented show, a lot of songs about Moms, sharing memories and talking about what family means to us,鈥� says Dust, who shared Carlotta鈥檚 understanding that there would be a group number involving them and Shanda Leer.
鈥�We haven't talked about doing any group numbers because I really dislike those,鈥� Shanda Leer told the Courier over the phone.
But whatever is in store on Sunday, Dust says the small venue will allow for it to be a vulnerable and authentic show.
鈥淢y goal with drag has always been to heal the world,鈥� says Dust. 鈥淚鈥檝e chosen very sensitive, loving drag kids and my drag moms are people that I really look up to.鈥�
