Representation and Connectedness
Dani Glass
As I watched the finale of RuPaul's Drag race this season, I was really pulling for Sasha Colby. There wasn't anyone who didn't deserve the crown, but for a number of reasons I couldn't not root for her. To be honest, I hadn't heard of her prior to watching season 15, but it was clear that she had been well-known and well-respected in the drag community for a long time. What was also clear was the way the other contestants respected and looked up to her - in regards to her drag, her activism, and her role as a drag mother. And while I admittedly didn't understand any of this history prior to watching the show, I could see what she meant to the community. And I could feel how she lived up to her reputation, in all ways. She was competitive, to be sure, but her warmth, kindness, and gentle nature came through even in the most competitive moments. She maintained a general sense of level-headedness even in a reality show teeming with disagreements and drama.
Throughout the season, Sasha referenced her heritage as a native Hawaiian and talked about her experience growing up in Hawaii. In the finale, Ru asked, “I’ve heard you use the term Mahu. What does that mean?” Sasha responded, “Mahu, in Hawaiian, it’s the third gender in Hawaiian culture. People in the community trusted queer people, and mahus, to handle their kids because what is more divine than knowing both feminine and masculine energy?” In that moment, the first thing that went through my head was, “I’m so thankful I know what that means.” And I owe that to the book Kapaemahu, which describes mahu as “An individual with a blend of male and female mind, heart, and spirit.” The minute the episode ended, I got out my copy of Kapaemahu and showed it to my partner, who was there watching with me. We read it together, her for the first time and me refamiliarizing myself with the story. We read the author's note and I found other resources online to gain an even deeper understanding. Without PLP, I may never have come across the book, and I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate that moment of visibility. While I am not part of the Native Hawaiian community and I would never profess to understand intimately what it means to be mahu, I at least have a frame of reference, and I am so thankful for it. When we read books or see any other form of representation that teaches us about a community outside of our own experience, we become more prepared to encounter it in the world.
Representation for young children provides - at the least - understanding of other people, and - at most - a sense of belonging, community, and acceptance. High quality representation can only have positive effects. I can't say that my moment of understanding as Sasha referenced a part of her identity changed either of our lives (especially since she doesn't know who I am!) but it did contribute to a tiny bit of connectedness in the queer community. Reading stories other than our own connects us to one another in myriad ways, even if the people involved live on separate sides of the country - or world - and will never personally know one another. Understanding identities and experiences outside of our own can only do good, because it helps us honor and appreciate each other.
