San Francisco Mayor Announces First 'Drag Laureate' Program

SAN FRANCISCO -- Mayor London Breed on June 2 announced the creation of a new Drag Laureate program included in her proposed two-year budget.

The program would provide a drag performer with a platform and $35,000 stipend to participate and host community events, and serve as an ambassador for San Francisco to the LGBTQ, arts, nightlife and entertainment communities.

In the coming months, city agencies, including the Human Rights Commission, Library, Entertainment Commission, and Arts Commission, are to create a working group made up of city staff and community members to establish the program’s design, with the goal of naming the first ever San Francisco Drag Laureate in the Fall of 2022.

The working group is to develop the criteria and eligibility, as well as the requirements of the position during the selection process. To help support the chosen artist’s work and community engagement, the San Francisco Public Library will provide the chosen artist with a $35,000 yearly stipend, which was included in Mayor Breed’s proposed budget.

“San Francisco’s commitment to inclusivity and the arts are the foundation for who we are as a city,” Breed said. “Drag artists have helped pave the way for LGBTQ rights and representation across our city, and we must invest in programs that continue their legacies and create opportunities for the next generation of drag performers to thrive.”

The idea for a drag laureate program stemmed from San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy, a community-driven effort to honor the legacy, nurture the well-being, promote economic opportunity, and ensure the longevity of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. Then Supervisor Scott Wiener sponsored the ordinance to create the LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Task Force. The taskforce identified the needs and concerns of the LGBTQ+ community, articulated critical goals to address these needs, and presented a set of recommended actions to be undertaken by the City and local organizations.

“Drag is central to San Francisco’s rich history of self-expression, counterculture, and queer activism,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “Though drag is a now celebrated mainstream art form, we can’t lose sight of our iconic queens who for decades contributed so much to our city’s cultural vibrancy even when it was unsafe to do so. Today, we’re committing to uplifting our next generation of drag queens, ensuring they continue to live and work in the city they call home, and inspiring others to live authentically and proudly.”