A Recap on Desi Drag Night

Jun 11

On Thursday, June 5th, hundreds of people made their way to the DC bar and club, Sinners and Saints. Wearing jhumkas, graphic tees and tote bags, the line wrapped all the way around the block, and filled Adams Morgan with the sound of laughter and chatter. Everyone was waiting for a historic moment in DC; the first ever Desi drag night in the city.

To say the very least, the night was well worth the hours-long wait. Full to the brim, the venue itself was simmering with excitement even before the drag show began. And when it did begin, Abhijeet, DCameron May, and Rae Oblivion were effervescent as they danced and strutted down the hallway to iconic songs including Sheila Ki Jawaani. Dressed in beautiful lehengas and sparkly trousers, the drag queens and kings were glowing in the glittering fairy lights.

The cheering was infectious, the smiles were absolutely stunning, and the music –shoutout to DJ Shorno Babu and DJ Sonali– was incredible. The event was such a joyous celebration of culture, identity and people.

Desi drag night took place within a larger, and deeply important, context — not only was it set against the backdrop of WorldPride taking place in the nation’s capital, but our drag night sparkled and shined against a dark reality of Trump’s crackdown on immigration and mass deportations, as well as his attacks on LGBTQ+ communities.

Desi drag night represented a beacon of hope, light, joy, laughter, and all things fabulous in the face of fear, reminding both South Asian and queer communities to always be their brightest, most authentic selves.

Furthermore, the diverse and complex beauty of South Asian tradition was alive and blossoming at Sinners and Saints; existence is resistance, and our community showing up in droves sent a clear message: we’re proud and here to stay.

A huge shoutout to our co-sponsors, KhushDC, Muslims for Progressive Values, and the Caribbean Equality Project. Each of these organizations are doing crucial work to create a safer world for queer South Asians — be sure to support their mission and check them out!