‘Bullied, beaten up, killed’: Armenia's drag queens risk it all for the stage

‘Bullied, beaten up, killed’: Armenia's drag queens risk it all for the stage

Armenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have transformed in recent years, in part due to the war in Ukraine. While a queer club in Yerevan was firebombed in 2012, the capital is now home to a thriving underground drag scene. But despite these events attracting hundreds, police raids and family rejection are still commonplace.

‘Bullied, beaten up, killed’: Armenia’s drag queens risk it all for the stage

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center. Hundreds of people gathered at a club in the heart of the Armenian capital Yerevan for an underground drag show in mid-June. Due to security concerns, details about the Pride Month event spread through word of mouth or private Instagram stories. Previous bars have closed their doors because of repeated police raids, and a queer club was firebombed in 2012. “Drag is more political in Armenia becaus…