San Francisco’s Union Square will see a gaggle of drag queens trade their heels for ice skates next week for the annual Drag Queens on Ice showcase of talent, looks, and humor.
2023 has seen over 500 ant-LGBTQIA+ bills introduced in the United States — many of them organized around gauzy language that leads to dangerous, open-ended interpretations. Most recently, a small town in Tennessee sneakily passed a county bill into law that… verbatim… made homosexuality illegal and criminalized any same-sex affection shown in public; thankfully, officials from Murfreesboro — a small town mentioned prior — have since quietly removed language banning “homosexuality” in the controversial ordinance, but critics of the bill remain skeptical of its encroachments on the First Amendment.
It feels like the past few years have been a game of musical chairs between legislative successes and damnations in regards to queer rights. This time, too, has highlighted the importance of cities like San Francisco that exist as bastions for queerness and inclusivity.
Next week, that all-welcoming acceptance, as well as immense levels of creativity and physical balance, will be on display at the annual Drag Queens on Ice show at SF’s Union Square on Thursday, December 7th.
Much like years past, Drag Queens on Ice, which starts promptly at 7:30 p.m., will feature acts from San Francisco’s most beloved drag performers, including Dusty Porn, Helixer, Jota Mercury, Jubilee, and many more. The venerable and legendary personality Donna Sachet and Pride Radio’s Christie James will host the festivities.
For those keen on shoring up their ice skating abilities, guests can also skate alongside the drag performers for specific ticket prices; the $30 special ticket price includes access to prime viewing for the performances, and ticket holders will receive a commemorative Drag Queens On Ice gift. (TBD on what that might be, but we’re sure it’ll be cute, fun, fresh, and festive, regardless.)
Last year, Jubilee — San Francisco’s foremost Appalachian-inspired, Dolly Parton-loving drag queen, who recently debuted a new weekly drag show, Hooked, that fills Moby Dick on Tuesday nights — cosplayed as a larger-than-life gingerbread human. Let’s see if this year serves up a similar saccharin look.
// Hours for the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in SF’s Union Square are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily through January 15, 2024th, with special extended hours from December 18th through 29th (8:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.) on weekdays; the rink will close at 9:30 p.m. on December 31, 2023; for more information on Drag Queens on Ice, including how to secure tickets for the upcoming show, visit unionsquareicerink.com.
