Performative Femme Contest: Uplifting Our Queers on a Dime (and More to Come)
First Place Winner Willow revealing her latest tattoo (“DYKE”) at Performative Femme Contest
The Evergreen Echo
“If a femme shows up on time, is she really a femme?” floats out amongst the chatter of the 31 bus as it creaks toward Gas Works park, 20 minutes late. Aside from a few confused men, the bus is packed full of Queer women and gender-diverse gays on their way to the most sapphic event of the evening. There is laughter, there are compliments, there are jokes about running on Gay Time. And truly, the King County Metro system was getting us there right at gay o’clock.
In spite of the bus showing up late, the Performative Femme Contest began as we arrived, strategically awaiting the dozen or so aptly dressed attendees. Gowns, bows, iced matcha, frilly socks—a recipe for winning.
Contestants lined up as the sun began to set; pink frills, black mini skirts, corsets, heels, cheetah print, carabiners…each decked out in their own brand of femme. Surrounding them were cheers and applause as they strutted across the pavement. The damp chill could not put a stop to their performances.
Each femme featured their own unique prop or presentation. Some read Queer theory, some read Sappho, and some read two books at once. The queens who weren’t reading were reapplying their makeup, doing the splits, singing Chappell Roan, or giving flowers out to the crowd. To gain their favor, contestants would flirt with the audience through notes, suggestive gestures, handfed strawberries, and at one point a collar-and-leash lead.
The contest was judged by who got the loudest cheers. While walking a butch like a dog might gain applause, so did handmade pottery, and so did girls kissing.
An occasional femme wore a sash; one read “miss me, miss me, now you gotta kiss me,” while another read “protect the dolls.” The latter slogan originated in 1980s LGBTQ+ ballroom culture as a way to show support for transgender women, and has made a resurgence in recent years. Ballroom culture was all about encouraging self-expression and providing a supportive space to explore Queer identity. This was a theme that could be seen during the Performative Femme Contest, too.
Among the hundred or so attendees, the sense of community was evident. Despite 17% of the adult population of Seattle identifying as LGBTQ+, many struggle to find spaces meant for them. According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, adults identifying as LGBTQ+ have over twice the rate of depression and anxiety compared to non-LGBTQ+ identifying adults. These kinds of events are crucial to providing LGBTQ+ people the opportunity to express themselves and be amongst supportive peers.
This event was nothing if not supportive. Screams and cheers filled up Gas Works Park as a polycule kissed. There were oohs and ahhs when a femme showed off their collection of pink vibrators. An eruption of applause burst through the crowd in response to a contestant calling for the support of transgender people. Everyone seemed thrilled to be in community and catch a peek at what their peers were repping.
Willow, Colleen, and Alise; Colleen showing their light-up vulva.
The Evergreen Echo
