If you’ve never heard of RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World Tour, think of it as part concert, part theatrical spectacle, and 100% celebration of self-expression, diversity and fierce talent.
This globally touring live show brings together some of the most iconic queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race – the Emmy Award-winning reality series that has transformed drag culture from underground art to mainstream phenomenon.
But Werq the World is more than sequins, sass, frequent wig-changes, costume reveals and show-stopping performances. It’s a moving tribute to what it means to live boldly, love freely, and accept people for who they are.
And in a world that often feels heavy with division and judgment, that message couldn’t be more timely.
The Power of Unconditional Positive Regard
A term from therapy – unconditional positive regard – describes what it means to love and accept people not because of how they look, who they love, or what they believe, but simply because they are human.
This is the heartbeat of Werq the World. It’s not just a celebration of drag culture; it’s a celebration of humanity in all its beautiful, complicated diversity.
Watching, as I did last night during the UK arm of the tour at the London Palladium, super-talented performers like Sasha Velour, Vanessa Vanjie, Derrick Barry, Jaida Essence Hall, Marina Summers, and Roxxxy Andrews is more than entertainment and a fun night out.
It’s a demonstration of courage, vulnerability, and radical self-expression. It’s a call to every single one of us to stop shrinking from who we are – and to stop making others feel they must do the same.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
Listening instead of condemning. Asking instead of assuming. Embracing the fact that we are all trying to make it through life the best way we can.
The need for compassion and understanding has never been more urgent, particularly during the era of Trump. His presidency and authoritarian-leaning views often amplified division, encouraged exclusion, and emboldened rhetoric that marginalised already vulnerable communities.
His questionable actions and behaviours do not affect just the US but the rest of the world too.
We live in a time of rising hate crimes, increasing loneliness, mental health crises, and global uncertainty. Fear and judgment divide us, but empathy and acceptance can bring us together.
When we practise unconditional positive regard, we create space for people to breathe, be seen, and feel safe. It’s not about agreeing with everyone – it’s about caring anyway.
Listening instead of condemning. Asking instead of assuming. Embracing the fact that we are all trying to make it through life the best way we can.
Drag as Resistance and Reminder
Drag says: “I see you, I hear you, I love you – exactly as you are.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World Tour isn’t afraid to make bold statements. One of the tour’s most talked-about campaigns was a billboard in New York’s Times Square featuring the Founding Fathers in wigs and heels, proudly declaring: “Drag is a First Amendment Right.”
This 2023 campaign was not just clever – it was poignant. Drag is, and always has been, a form of free artistic expression. But it’s also a form of protest, a way of taking up space in a world that often tells people to shrink themselves.
Drag says: “I see you, I hear you, I love you – exactly as you are.” And that’s a message we could all use a little more of.
A Lesson for All of Us
You don’t have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community to take something away from Werq the World. Its message is universal: Be yourself. Accept others. Lead with love.
We all have the power to choose kindness over cruelty, curiosity over judgment, and connection over isolation. Imagine what our world could look like if we extended unconditional positive regard not just to our friends and family, but to strangers, coworkers, neighbours – even those we don’t understand.
That’s the real magic of Werq the World. It’s a glittery, joyful, unapologetic invitation to do better. Not just for ourselves – but for each other.
Liked this post? You might also like these posts about men’s mental health, mental health resources, and The Men’s Head Space Manual.
