Juneau Drag performer and event emcee Gigi Monroe struts the runway in front of hundreds gathered at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Drag performer and event emcee Gigi Monroe struts the runway in front of hundreds gathered at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Southeast Alaska State Fair greets Juneau Drag with ‘incredible’ turnout

The debut show went on despite the group facing local scrutiny months prior to the event.

HAINES — Attendees of the Southeast Alaska State Fair who didn’t see “Barbie” on screen got a chance to see her live thanks to Juneau Drag’s Lamia Monroe who brought the doll to life via a drag performance Friday night.

Juneau Drag’s Lamia Monroe takes the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair with a doll-like performance in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Drag’s Lamia Monroe takes the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair with a doll-like performance in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

The queen’s set was one of many put on by the six Juneau Drag performers who traveled from the capital city to Haines for a debut performance in front of hundreds of attendees of all ages cheering and jumping during the two-hour headliner event.

It’s hard to think that despite the hundreds of people who attended the event, just months prior, there was talk of the show being called off before the queens even hit the stage.

When it announced Juneau Drag would be one of the many performances at the 54th annual fair, the Southeast Alaska State Fair board and the group faced an onslaught of local scrutiny in Haines via comments posted online and shared at Haines Borough Assembly meetings expressing opposition to the performance, citing it as inappropriate and “adult only.”

A young audience member hands a Juneau Drag performer a cash tip mid performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

A young audience member hands a Juneau Drag performer a cash tip mid performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Those comments did not sway the board or the group to call off the performance, but a decision was made to push back the start time of the performance to later in the evening “in consideration of the concerns we heard from some parents.”

“We’ve received hundreds of letters, visits, and calls from the community; some opposed to Juneau Drag performing at the Fair, and the majority in favor,” the board stated in early May. “We took a close look at the substantive issues people raised with hosting drag performance here, and have found those concerns do not warrant us removing Juneau Drag from our line up.”

The board took a stance to further defend drag as the same as any other art form hosted at the fair and called it as something that can be performed to be appropriate for all ages.

“Indeed, Drag as an all-ages performance is long established worldwide,” it stated. “Further, there is no evidence to support the idea that Drag performers are predators of children, we find the allegation of such offensive towards the performers we happily partner with and support, and we do not give such an argument any credence.”

Lituya Hart Monroe shows off her fit with a spin during a performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Lituya Hart Monroe shows off her fit with a spin during a performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

According to Gigi Monroe, the emcee and a performer, the number of people and support the show garnered Friday night took her off guard.

“I definitely didn’t expect this — it’s really just incredible, it’s very emotional and very heartwarming,” she said. “I knew that the Haines community was fantastic and really supportive, but this is just above and beyond, and I feel like everyone is so here with us and connected.”

Yasmine Mazon sings to the hundreds of audience members with a performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Yasmine Mazon sings to the hundreds of audience members with a performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Monroe said she hopes the connection felt during the performance expands into the Haines community, and inspires others to feel more comfortable and supported in being who they are.

“Coming out I was 17 and I needed stuff like this — I needed others — I needed a community to give me a round of applause letting me know that I was welcome,” Monroe said to the crowd. “If you need to feel appreciated and loved and seen — this is your moment.”

“I hope that it means something to the people who feel the most isolated and the most afraid that the show has the ability to reach people wherever they’re at, and give them a little bit of sparkle and a little bit of hope,” she said.

She thanked the crowd for the support during the period when the show faced scrutiny.

“I know that the board has to deal with some community feedback this year and I just feel like they didn’t have to go to bat for us, but they did and the community did, and now we get to reap the rewards and have a great show together,” she said.

Luke the Duke of Bell, a Juneau Drag performer, agreed and said he was taken aback at the “huge community” that showed up for the show in Haines. The show was his first time performing at the fair.

It was awesome — the energy never died down,” he said. “It was perfect.”

Juneau Drag’s Luke the Duke of Bell serenades hundreds of audience members with a country-music inspired drag performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Drag’s Luke the Duke of Bell serenades hundreds of audience members with a country-music inspired drag performance at the main stage of the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines on Friday evening for the performance group’s debut show at the fair. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

He hopes the show might inspire people to be more comfortable performing their own shows or hosting an amateur night in the future.

“The whole time I’ve been here I never had any negativity whatsoever, it’s hard for me to believe that there is a negative part here — I didn’t see that at all,” he said.

• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.

More in News

The Norwegian Bliss arrives in Juneau on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Ships in port for the week of May 11

This information comes from the Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska’s 2024 schedule.… Continue reading

Jörg Knorr, a solo travel journalist from Flensburg, Germany, smiles after taking a photo on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
German kayaker sets off to circumnavigate Admiralty Island

He made friends along the way in his mission to see Alaska.

A cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau on April 30, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
As foreign tourists stay away, US could lose $12.5 billion this year, tourism group says

Border detentions, confusion over visas deterring visitors, according to World Travel & Tourism Council.

Phase One of the HESCO barriers ends in the backyard of this residence on Rivercourt Way on Monday, May 12, 2025. The next extension, Phase One A, will install the barriers along the river adjacent to Dimond Park from the end of Rivercourt Way, interconnecting through a gap in the back fence. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Assembly approves extending HESCO barriers

After reviewing flood-fighting inundation maps, additional short-term mitigation deemed necessary.

House Majority Leader Chuck Kopp (R-Anchorage), right, presents an overview of a bill reviving pensions for public employees during a House floor session Monday, May 12, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
House passes bill reviving pensions for public employees, Senate expected to consider it next year

Supporters say it avoids pitfalls in previous system nixed in 2006 due to multibillion-dollar shortfall.

Members of the Alaska Senate watch the votes for and against Senate Bill 26 on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska senators vote to end daylight saving time, ask feds to put state on Pacific Standard Time

Alaska would be on the same time zone as Seattle for four months of the year is bill becomes law.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, May 11, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, May 10, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, May 9, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read