RuPaul’s Drag Race star Valentina has officially come out as nonbinary, per her interview with Out magazine.
Valentina recently told the publication,
“I identify as nonbinary. I don’t completely feel like a man, I don’t completely feel like a woman. I feel like a goddess. I feel like I’m my own gender.”
Coming out as nonbinary or trans (or basically anything other than cisgender) can be particularly difficult in the drag community since there can be *a lot* of opinions about who should and shouldn’t do drag. RuPaul, aka Mother herself, has even said some unsavory things about trans drag queens in particular (for which he’s since apologized).
But Valentina is joining a growing group of nonbinary queens who are going public. Her peers include fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Jinx Monsoon and Aja. Additionally, Violet Chachki has come out as gender fluid and Courtney Act as genderqueer.
[Related: ‘Drag Race’ Peppermint: Stop Asking Trans Women to ‘Blend In’]
As for Valentina, the timing of the announcement makes perfect sense. The drag star is preparing for the debut of Fox’s live-version of RENT, in which Valentina will play Angel. Valentina said,
“I get to bring that aspect to my Angel character. and really have an idea of like, ‘Why is she so happy and so confident in her armor, in her drag?’”
No matter how Valentina identifies, I’m always going to love the shit out of her. Valentina is such a star and there’s nothing that can hold her down.
You can currently watch Valentina on Drag Race All Stars 4 on Fridays on VH1. RENT airs on Fox on January 27.
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Photo: Valentina / Facebook
