A few years ago drag was definitely looked down upon. It was seen by many as old-fashioned and playing into feminised stereotypes of what hereosexual people expected gay men to be. However, thanks to the likes of Drag Race there’s been a reassessment, with many now seeing it as bold, transgressive and sticking a middle finger up to cultural norms (although some in the trans community still have issues with it).
One of San Francisco’s most famous drag performers is Peaches Christ, who’s been on stage for more than two decades, and has developed a strong following. Now there’s a short but very interesting documentary about her, which distils six-hours of footage down to under four minutes, to give us a quick view of where the character came from and what it means. Better Known As Peaches Christ has been screening at film festivals and has now been released online.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘Two decades after Joshua Grannell gave birth to his bold, brazen, busty alter-ego, Peaches Christ has become a beloved cult icon. This lush, intimate portrait offers a rare candid glimpse into the pre-show transformation of San Francisco’s most sought-after drag queen. Both man and queen get personal as they discuss transgression, catharsis, and how by becoming someone else, Joshua learned to love himself.’
Take a look at Better Known As Peaches Christ below. If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here. [Read more…]