#pumpkin'

[sillybeanies]

hey that's me!

[representativecharacters]

Character: Waylon Russel

From: Pumpkin’ (Dumpln’-verse)

Representation:  Gay Femme, Drag Queen, Fat

Their Importance: Waylon is the protagonist of the third Dumplin’ book, another breezy feel-good tale of Clover City. The story unfolds after his audition tape for a drag queen competition is leaked, leading to him being nominated for prom queen as a joke. Waylon decides to take his nomination seriously to stick it to the bigots in his community.

He is completely open about his sexuality and gender expression and is mostly free of angst about being an outsider in his small community. Waylon explicitly describes himself as femme and notes various points in the story that gay men who don’t fit a narrow band of acceptable gender-conforming and conventionally attractive aesthetic are frequently erased and are at a particular risk of bigotry even within gay communities. While there are many stereotypical camp gay characters out there there’s a few major femme characters who get to have character focus and depth.

One of the more prominent themes is the liberating potential of drag especially to various marginalised groups. Waylon is initially uninterested in the prom nominations until he begins to flesh out his drag persona, realising that it’s a way to boost confidence by creating a new persona and celebrate unconventional features. Several other drag queens are featured, and Waylon talks about how drag has been commodified in the mainstream.

Body positive stories with male protagonists aren’t that common. Given that body image issues are particularly common in gay men makes this story particularly great to see.  

Thanks to anon for the write-up!

[artwizardjamesmason]

People were wondering what the pumpkin was going to look like so I drew it.

[dmmegsie]

Baman Piderman - Drink Da Tee (Ep 20) (by MondoMedia)

I love Baman and Piderman... XD

[confession-of-a-king]