Drag Kings

A drag king is an individual who is female-bodied yet dresses and acts in manners that are traditionally associated with males, generally for the purpose of entertainment. Performance is a key component. Drag kings differ from cross dressers in that the male persona and clothing are generally adopted as part of an act, and are not used as fetishes. Less wide spread than drag queen acts, drag kings have recently become more popular, and there are now drag king contests in a number of countries.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term drag king first appeared in print in 1972, meaning a “woman masquerading as a man.” Since then, however, the term has generally been reserved for women performing as men, rather than ...