Valentina to ‘Drag Out the Vote’ at Variety Show “Divas For Democracy: United We Slay”

Valentina’s prepared to drag out the vote

The 29-year-old Mexican American drag performer and former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant will team up with some of her fellow queens and Broadway celebrities to get out the vote for November’s presidential election.

Valentina

Valentina and divas from the drag world and icons of the stage will come together for Divas For Democracy: United We Slay, a one-night-only variety show extravaganza promoting voter participation and key issues relating to the LGBTQIA+ community in the upcoming 2020 election.

Presented by the nonprofit voter engagement organization Drag Out the Vote and hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Nina West and Entertainment Tonights Keltie KnightDivas for Democracy: United We Slay features scores of talent who’ll sing and lip-synch through dazzling performances of theater classics and pop songs.

Special segments will highlight LGBTQIA+ activists in a nonpartisan effort to shine a light on community participation in the political process, including celebrity appearances by Tony winner Cyndi LauperDrag Race panelist Michelle VisageHarvey Fierstein, James Monroe IglehartBianca Del RioShangelaCheyenne Jackson, Mila Jam, and Oscar-winning actress Allison Janney.

In addition to Valentina, other drag superstars slated to perform during the broadcast include AlaskaJinkx MonsoonJujubeePeppermintCynthia Lee FontaineShuga CainHoney Davenport, and Drag Out the Vote’s national co-chairs Brita Filter, Marti Gould Cummings, and Pixie Aventura.

Broadway figures set to appear include legendary three-time Tony-winning actress Chita Rivera, as well as Tony winners Stephanie J. Block, Lea Salonga, Nikki M. James, Beth Leavel and Annaleigh Ashford. Also joining the program are stage stars Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Jenn Collela, Chilina KennedyKeala Settle, Tamika Lawrence, L Morgan Lee, and Our Lady J.

The presentation will be directed by Josh Rhodes and Lee Wilkins, whose joint careers include work choreographing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CinderellaFirst DateIt Shoulda Been You, and Bright Star on Broadway. Tony winner Stephen Oremus will serve as music supervisor.

“One in five LGBTQIA+ people is not registered to vote, and 100 million people did not vote in the 2016 election. We must fix this,” said Drag Out the Vote founder Jackie Huba in a press statement. “We are excited to bring together the worlds of Broadway and drag to inspire voters to sashay their way to the polls or their mailboxes.”

Divas for Democracy: United We Slay airs October 18 at 8:00 p.m. ET exclusively on StageIt. Tickets — available on a “donate-what-you-can” basis — go on sale Thursday at 10:00 a.m. ET at divasfordemocracy.com.

Cynthia Lee Fontaine to Perform at Hurricane Relief Show for Puerto Rico “Queens United/ Reinas Unidas”

Cynthia Lee Fontaine is ready to lip sync for her tierra

The 36-year-old Puerto Rican drag performer and former RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, whose real name is Carlos Hernandez, is set to perform at a drag benefit to raise funds for Puerto Rico.

Cynthia Lee Fontaine

Last month, fellow Drag Race star Phi Phi O’Hara announced the Hurricane Maria relief show, titled Queens United/ Reinas Unidas. Along with Fontaine, who competed on seasons eight and nine of Drag Race, the show will feature more than 25 queens of Drag Race fame, and will take place November 6 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Other Latina drag performers set to perform include Jade Sotomayor, Naysha Lopez and Yara Sofia.

Billboard will host an exclusive live stream from the show on its Billboard Pride Facebook page.

All proceeds from the show — tickets, meets and greets and merch sales — will go to Somos Una Voz, a relief initiative started by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony. The foundation is rushing food, shelter, medicine, power and means of communication to Puerto Ricans in need after the island’s devastating natural disasters.

The full lineup includes: Acid Betty, Alexis Michelle, Bebe Zahara Benet, Bob the Drag Queen, Chad Michaels, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Ginger Minj, Jade Jolie, Jade Sotomayor, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Jessica Wild, Jiggly Caliente, Kandy Ho, Katya, Kimora Blac, Madame LaQueer, Manila Luzon, Mariah Paris Balenciaga, Max, Milk, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Katya, Mystique Summers, Naysha LopezOngina, Pandora Boxx, Phi Phi O’Hara, Phoenix, Trinity k. Bonet and Yara Sofia.

The show is sponsored by Flip Phone MSP, and O’Hara has launched a crowdfunding page as well.

Tickets are available for purchase here.