Drag queens do democracy and sports: 'America Needs A Queen' streaming Feb. 3
Tue. February 1, 2022 12:57 PM by Ross Forman
chy’enne valentino
photo credit // provided
“It’s going to be fun; I’m really excited for it,” says Chy’enne Valentino
A bevy of beauties, including Chicago’s own Chy’enne Valentino, are uniting Thursday, February 3rd for a drive to register progressive voters in key battleground states.
“America Needs A Queen” is a live-streamed fundraiser that will air on Zoom and Twitch, with renowned drag queens set to spring, skate and sashay for the gold. Yep, it will be an Olympic gem: politics, sports and drag queens.
What can go wrong?!
“I think it will be a great event and am honored that they asked me to participate,” Valentino said. “It will be a great way to show diversity, a melting pot of people encouraging others to register to vote (because) all votes matter.”
The first-of-its-kind event will raise funds for Field Team 6’s efforts to register voters. Organizers are hoping to raise $100,000, “which would translate to roughly 200,000 new Democratic voters,” said Field Team 6 organizer Cory Alpert. “That could easily be enough to keep Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate.”
America Needs a Queen will feature some of the premier drag talent, including stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Queen of the Universe, Legendary, and more. The cast includes: Detox, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 5) and Drag Race All Stars (season 2); Alaska, runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 5) and winner of Drag Race All Stars (season 2); Milk, from RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 6) and Drag Race All Stars (season 3); Joey Jay, from RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 13); Brita Filter, of RuPaul's Drag Race (season 12); Chy’enne Valentino, from Queen of the Universe; Torie Balmain and Cali Balmain, winners of HBO’s Legendary; and Salina EsTitties, from AJ and the Queen.
“It’s going to be fun; I’m really excited for it,” said Valentino. Queens will not be together for the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valentino is the lone Chicago representative and is “excited to represent the city,” she said. Valentino will sing the Star-Spangled Banner on America Needs a Queen – in its original form and in a fun, parody form, she said.
And then it’s time for some sporting fun, er, sports shenanigans.
“A lot of (the queens) are very athletic, so I’m excited to see what they can do. Many are tennis players,” said Valentino, who watches sports at times.
She formerly played baseball and volleyball and competed on the track & field team while in school.
Valentino grew up in Maywood and elsewhere around the area. She attended multiple area high schools, including Walter Lutheran and Proviso East.
Valentino now lives in DuPage County.
Her favorite sport to play is volleyball, her favorite sport to watch is basketball, and Michael Jordan is her all-time favorite athlete.
Valentino does not play any sports through the predominantly-LGBT Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, “but I do have friends who play (CMSA) softball and I’ve thought about joining,” she said.
Tickets to the live stream are available online.
“America Needs A Queen” is a live-streamed fundraiser that will air on Zoom and Twitch, with renowned drag queens set to spring, skate and sashay for the gold. Yep, it will be an Olympic gem: politics, sports and drag queens.
What can go wrong?!
“I think it will be a great event and am honored that they asked me to participate,” Valentino said. “It will be a great way to show diversity, a melting pot of people encouraging others to register to vote (because) all votes matter.”
The first-of-its-kind event will raise funds for Field Team 6’s efforts to register voters. Organizers are hoping to raise $100,000, “which would translate to roughly 200,000 new Democratic voters,” said Field Team 6 organizer Cory Alpert. “That could easily be enough to keep Democratic majorities in both the House and the Senate.”
America Needs a Queen will feature some of the premier drag talent, including stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Queen of the Universe, Legendary, and more. The cast includes: Detox, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 5) and Drag Race All Stars (season 2); Alaska, runner-up of RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 5) and winner of Drag Race All Stars (season 2); Milk, from RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 6) and Drag Race All Stars (season 3); Joey Jay, from RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 13); Brita Filter, of RuPaul's Drag Race (season 12); Chy’enne Valentino, from Queen of the Universe; Torie Balmain and Cali Balmain, winners of HBO’s Legendary; and Salina EsTitties, from AJ and the Queen.
“It’s going to be fun; I’m really excited for it,” said Valentino. Queens will not be together for the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valentino is the lone Chicago representative and is “excited to represent the city,” she said. Valentino will sing the Star-Spangled Banner on America Needs a Queen – in its original form and in a fun, parody form, she said.
And then it’s time for some sporting fun, er, sports shenanigans.
“A lot of (the queens) are very athletic, so I’m excited to see what they can do. Many are tennis players,” said Valentino, who watches sports at times.
She formerly played baseball and volleyball and competed on the track & field team while in school.
Valentino grew up in Maywood and elsewhere around the area. She attended multiple area high schools, including Walter Lutheran and Proviso East.
Valentino now lives in DuPage County.
Her favorite sport to play is volleyball, her favorite sport to watch is basketball, and Michael Jordan is her all-time favorite athlete.
Valentino does not play any sports through the predominantly-LGBT Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association, “but I do have friends who play (CMSA) softball and I’ve thought about joining,” she said.
Tickets to the live stream are available online.