Exclusive Photos & Interviews: Drag Race All Stars 10 cast gather at NYC’s Stonewall Inn – “drag is an act of defiance”

This morning in New York City, the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 10—Acid Betty, Aja, Alyssa Hunter, Bosco, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Daya Betty, DeJa Skye, Denali, Ginger Minj, Irene the Alien, Jorgeous, Kerri Colby, Lydia B. Kollins, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Nicole Paige Brooks, Olivia Lux, Phoenix, and Tina Burner—were joined by New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher at the historic Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street ahead of the new season premiere of All Stars on Friday, May 9th on Paramount+.

The 18 returning queens and Bottcher were led in a discussion about LGBTQ+ rights at a time of intense political pushback against our community moderated by LGBTQ+ activist, CEO & Founder of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative, and Co-owner of The Stonewall Inn bar, Stacy Lentz.

“Drag is a political act”, Bottcher commented to The Queer Review following the panel discussion. “It’s not a political act because we want it to be a political act, they’re making it a political act by attacking our community and attempting to demonize our community. Drag is an act of defiance and it has been since the beginning. It’s more important now than ever that our drag artists be lifted up and elevated and supported. That also means ensuring that the corporate world is stepping up and supporting our drag artists. What they’re doing is spreading joy, spreading entertainment and art.”

Bottcher continued by contemplating the significance of the Stonewall Inn itself and striking a positive note about the fight ahead. “Where we’re standing right now, a global civil rights movement was ignited with an act of defiance against a routine police raid. The kind of police raid that happened all the time against the bars here, and I just can’t help but reflect on how much progress we’ve made as a community despite the challenges we face. I think if you could tell the people who were rising up that night that we would be here today with one of the top-rated television programs ever, featuring drag artists and with openly gay city council member they would be amazed. We’ve made tremendous progress and we’re going to continue making that progress.”

Lentz shared her thoughts on this year’s upcoming Pride season with The Queer Review. “It is going to feel different because of everything that’s going on politically. I think we need to be prepared to really show up and protest, and not just celebrate, and really be incredible allies and advocates for the trans and nonbinary community that’s under attack. We need to use our cis privilege to make sure that we’re out there giving them a voice, but making sure that we’re protecting them at all costs and keeping that fight for equality, that started right here at the Stonewall Inn, alive and kicking.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 10 premieres with two all-new episodes on Friday, May 9th on Paramount+. Explore The Queer Review’s exclusive photography by Steven Menendez and exclusive interviews by James Kleinmann from the Stonewall Inn event below: