IDKEX diary: August 18 Legs McFly, the Royal Renegades

As part of IDKE X, the International Drag King Community Extravaganza pre-event festivities, many of the performers and drag troupes have agreed to share their thoughts and stories about the upcoming event. Our third journal entry comes Legs McFly of the Columbus, OH Royal Renegades.

And now a diary entry from Legs McFly...
Getting ready for the beloved Dragdom show...
As an individual, I am rather new to IDKE. My first experience was in Vancouver , BC at IDKE9. As someone who only recently had uncovered my sexual orientation, and who was, and is still, learning how to express who I am, the entire conference was like nothing I could have imagined. It embodied a level of gender expression and intellectually challenging ideas that superceded all my expectations. I was deeply affected, as well as impressed by the creativity, the emotion, the artistry, the kinship, and the dedication involved in producing such an event. I was immediately hooked, and wanted very much to continue my involvement with the community.As an assistant show coordinator for Dragdom, I will be working with my fellow Renegades as well as other members of the community to produce one of IDKE's biggest and most-beloved events. Dragdom, which is held at Wall Street Night Club, has a different flavor than that of Showcase. The fact that performers cannot secure a spot in the line-up before the day of the show ensures a certain level of chaos and excitement, as well as a line out the door of anxious performers. Even after a potential performer signs up, making the line-up is not simply a matter of "first come, first served." Before one can make the cut, a group of IDKE board members will take into account various factors in order to promote a diverse and equitable sampling of performances and performers. For example, priority is given to those not already performing in Showcase, who are traveling a great distance, or who are part of an under-represented demographic.As a performer, I am a veteran of Wall St. shows. I have coordinated and performed in numerous events, and feel my experience at the venue and my relationships with the staff will facilitate a smooth execution of this event. I am very much looking forward Dragdom, and encountering the influx of personalities and passions on Friday, October 17th 2008.

IDKEX diary: August 8 Master of Safety, Taylor Mayde

As part of IDKE X, the International Drag King Community Extravaganza pre-event festivities, many of the performers and drag troupes have agreed to share their thoughts and stories about the upcoming event. Our second journal entry comes Taylor Mayde

Without further ado, a message from Taylor Mayde...

When I was leaving the house yesterday, my girlfriend sarcastically remarked, "I'm glad I trust you." I laughed as I walked out the door with a dildo and lube in one hand and my camcorder in the other. IDKE has always brought the subject of safety and responsibility to the table and this year, I decided to include 30-60 second "commercials" on safe sex, drunk driving and violence among the community. In no way did I want to be preachy or sound like my 6th grade health teacher (I heart you, Mrs. Bellis), so I asked a few drag queens and drag kings for their assistance. Still in the filming process, I'm looking forward to what Columbus' best entertainers have to offer on the various subjects. It was such a treat watching a drag queen place a condom on a dildo and inform the community that her boyfriend is a "shooter." -Taylor Mayde

IDKEX diary: July 21 Syd Deucer, The Milltown Kings

As part of IDKE X, the International Drag King Community Extravaganza, pre-event festivities, many of the performers and drag troupes have agreed to share their thoughts and stories about the upcoming event. Our first journal entry comes from a drag troupe known as the Miltown Kings, who's Myspace tagline is "Gender Dysphoria at it's Hottest!"

The Miltown Kings are Milwaukee's premiere drag oriented theatre troupe. This gang of gender benders consists of kings, queenz, femmes and everything in between. A Miltown Kings show can be (and usually is) a million different things. It is a completely unique form of performance art. The Kings perform both individually as well as in group acts. The acts range from sexy to funny to thought provoking. Audience members are witness to political statements, gender fluidity and challenges to societal norms. Occasionally a fan will find a King on their lap (especially in "The Splash Zone"). When the Kings perform they give physical form to the music. Being on the stage allows the performers to explore any person they ever wanted to be. Each King has a distinct persona; theres the bad ass, the hopeless romantic, the goof ball, the dirty old man...the possibilities are endless. It's no wonder The Miltown Kings are the hidden jewel of the Midwest.

And now a message from the Miltown Kings...

The Miltown Kings are planning on attending IDKE X and we're patiently waiting for October this year. We know that IDKE brings out the most creative and innovative performances from troupes that hail from all over the world and we took our time coming up with the act and song that best suited us. Now that the song's been chosen, three-a-week practices and sharing all the responsibilities of planning this trip has given our group a real sense of accomplishment and has strengthened our bond as troup mates and friends.

Most of our members have been to IDKE before, however we have some performers who'll be going for the first time (including myself) and we couldn't be more excited. For us, IDKE is a reunion of our eclectic performing community and a tribute to how far our art form has come. We can hardly wait to see all of the troupes and the great performances that will keep us looking forward to IDKE XI! By October, The Miltown Kings will be Ohio bound and ready for the best weekend of Drag all year! Syd Deucer The Miltown Kingshttp://www.myspace.com/miltownkings

Stay tuned for the next IDKE X diary entry, coming soon...

The 10th Anniversary of IDKE

C’mon ride the train back to Columbus on October 16-19th, 2008 for the Tenth Annual International Drag KingCommunity Extravaganza. Fast Friday Productions and Columbus, Ohio welcomes the return of gender play, performance, theory and art after six long-awaited years. Fueled in Minnesota-MN(5), Chicago-IL (6), Winnipeg-Manitoba (7), Austin-TX (8), and Vancouver-BC (9), the IDKE.X journey back promises to delight your international tastes in drag king community culture.

IDKE is a first-of-its-kind event in that it is a collaborative, non-competitive gathering of drag king community performers, their fans, and the people who study, photograph and film them. 1 It was originally started by a group of Ohio State University Women’s Studies Graduate Students who assembled an “insider’s view on FTM drag as a subculture and craved to network beyond the Midwestern boundaries of Columbus, Ohio, circa 1998.”1 From its grassroots beginnings, IDKE has grown from 100 attendees to the thousands expected in Columbus this year.


IDKE.X features a two-day conference, Art and Film Festival, Transman Health Fair, Merchant Fair, and International Drag Performances featuring performers from New Zealand, France, Rome, Canada and throughout the United States…All brought together to enjoy, learn, and indulge in our gender-loving culture.

The two day conference will be hosted at Stonewall Columbus Center on High and the Frank Hale Multicultural Center at the Ohio State University. With the additions of a Transman Health Fair and a Job Fair this year, the IDKE Conference exhibits what we have learned about our historical “presence” as gender-queer beings; gender performance beyond the scope of the stage; gender-queer theory; mass popular culture and critical race theories; gender-queer community viability; the function of familial relations both past and present; Kingcommunity health & wellness, etc…

The Art Festival will include collections from IDKE artists displayed in the Columbus Short North Businesses—as well as the debut of a new art anthology, the History of Drag Kings, exhibiting past IDKE memorabilia. The IDKE.X Film Fest presents films from Drag subculture in the US, France, Canada and more. Featuring a collection of Film Shorts on Friday, the Film Fest will take place at AXIS from Thursday through Saturday.

And in the spirit of our ever-evolving Gender World, IDKE culminates in a variety of Stage events to delight every fancy--known or unknown. In its 10th year Friday’s Dragdom, once the greenhorn stage where new performers or new alias’ amused and surprised audience members, will be held at Wall Street which formerly housed the grand weekend performance event, the Saturday Night IDKE Showcase. The IDKE.X Showcase will bring together the world’s best drag performances on Columbus’ finest stage, the Lifestyles Community Pavilion at Promowest. Nominated as the finest new Concert venue by Pollster Magazine in 2001, the LC Pavilion will host a night of Drag talent the likes of which you have never seen…acts that will leave you breathless for more, and a dance After Party with 2000+ international & national gender-queer, queer friendly, and queer curious party-goers.

If that isn’t enough, on Friday swing by East Village Video Bar & Cafe for Viva’s Red Light District Burlesque Show “Dames who Love their Kings” the hot and steamy loveliness of Viva Valezz and some of the most wow woW wOW VABOOM in Burlesque this century. These Dames are smokin'!!

Realizing the youth also need their own space to show their talents, IDKE will also host a YOUTH SPEAKEASY in coordination with Stonewall Columbus. The Youth Speakeasy turns the mic over to the new generation of performers. We welcome musicians, singers, spoken word artists and performers from ages 4 to 18 to their very own stage production.

IDKE ends on Sunday with the Brunch which will be hosted at Columbus’ newest lounge and danceclub, LIQUID. Come enjoy the wonderful LIQUID brunch fare & reminisce with new friends and old before they depart--while getting one last gender boost of theatrical acts, spoken word, and live music.
IDKE.X is all you can ask for, and all the things you couldn’t bring yourself to speak of. Don’t miss the train. www.idkex.com


From The History of the First International Drag King Extravaganza
By Donna Jean Troka, in consultation with Julie Applegate, Sile Singleton and Shani Scott

IDKEX: International Drag King Community Extravaganza

Girls dressed in drag can be, well, hot! The confidence, the swagger and the studliness that comes with a bunch of boi's singing and dancing in a drag troupe, is not only entertaining but it's pretty damn sexy. Lesbiatopia has recently teamed up with IDKEX, the 10th Annual Internetional Drag King Community Extravaganza.

They will be providing Lesbiatopia exclusive personal stories about the event from drag kings, volunteers and coodinators anplus full coverage/photos of some of their most exciting events! Lesbiatopia could not be more thrilled and we hope you will like this, too. Read one for more information.

IDKEX was founded by Julie Applegate (Jake), Shani Scott (Maxwell), Sile Singleton (Luster/Lustivious de la Virgion) and Donna Troka (dj love), in conjunction with H.I.S. Kings, Fast Friday Productions, the Kings Court, and many other Columbus community members.


IDKEX will take place October 16 - 19, 2008 in Columbus, OH.

Pack your bags and come aboard an amazing 4 days and 3 nights gender-bending trip. Imagine a place where you, your family, friends and a host if positive beings can be who you are, how you are, and what you are 24/7. Add a two day conference, Art and Film Festival, Health Fair, Job Fair, Merchant Fair, Awesome Venues and...

Where are you going, you ask?
Well smack dab in the Midwest, Columbus Ohio , of course for the 10th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DRAG KING COMMUNITY EXTRAVEGANZA ROUND TRIP HOME:CULTURAL DEPOTS AND QUEER DESTINATIONS.

Oh ma gawd is Fast Friday Productions (FFP) ever excited to be producing IDKEX Columbus!!! We are blessed to have some amazing Partners. The incredible GLBTIAQQ....community here have come out in force to volunteer and help coordinate an immense amount of networking to assure 100% PURE FUN and safety for all of you!!

The city is truly buzzing with anticipation for all of your arrivals. Welcome, 'HOME'!

The History of the First International Drag King Extravaganza


The First International Drag King Extravaganza (IDKE) took place on October 15-17, 1999 in Columbus, Ohio.

IDKE is a first-of-its-kind event in that is is a collaborative, non-competitive gathering of drag kings, their fans, and the people who studied, photographed and filmed them.

In October 2003, IDKE 5 realized its true potential as a traveling annual conference with its move to Minneapolis, Minnesota, IDKE 6 in 2004 took place in Chicago, Illinois, IDKE 7 took place in Winnipeg, Canada in 2005, IDKE 8 took place in Austin, Texas in 2006 and to round out IDKE's tour of North America, IDKE 9 took place in Vancouver, Canada in 2007.

Without a doubt, IDKE has grown to be a huge national and international event. Participants come from across the United States, throughout Canada, as well as Australia, Japan and England. Its beginnings though, were much simpler...for more check out the home of the IDKE Board.

Stay-tuned for more on the drag front...