<P> Drag queens are people, usually male, who dress in women's clothing and often act with exaggerated femininity and in feminine gender roles for the purpose of entertainment . Often, they exaggerate characteristics like make - up and eyelashes for dramatic, comedic or satirical effect . Drag is closely associated with gay men and gay culture . Drag queens vary widely by class and culture and dedication, from professionals who star in films to people who try drag very occasionally . </P> <P> There are many reasons people do drag, from self - expression to the performing and entertaining in the "high drag". Drag queen activities among stage and street performers may include lip - syncing performances, live singing, dancing, participating in events such as gay pride parades, drag pageants, or at venues such as cabarets and discotheques . </P> <P> The origin of the term is uncertain; the first recorded use of drag in reference to actors dressed in women's clothing is from 1870 . Drag queens are typically cisgender gay men, but there are drag queens of all different sexual orientations and genders, including trans women who perform as drag queens (sometimes termed trans queens), such as Monica Beverly Hillz and Agnes Moore, known by her stage name Peppermint, and cisgender women who do, sometimes termed faux queens . Drag queens' counterparts are drag kings, women who dress in exaggeratedly masculine clothing; men who dress like drag kings are sometimes termed faux kings . </P> <P> Another term for a drag queen is female impersonator . Although this is still used, it is sometimes regarded as inaccurate, because not all contemporary drag performers are attempting to pass as women . Female impersonation has been and continues to be illegal in some places, which inspired the drag queen José Sarria to hand out labels to his friends reading, "I am a boy", so he could not be accused of female impersonation . American drag queen RuPaul once said, "I do not impersonate females! How many women do you know who wear seven - inch heels, four - foot wigs, and skintight dresses?" He also said, "I don't dress like a woman; I dress like a drag queen!". </P>

Where did the term drag queen come from
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