A Conversation with Drag Artist and Political Figure Marti G. Cummings Since the beginning of this year, at least 32 bills have been filed targeting drag performers. Tennessee…
Since the beginning of this year, at least 32 bills have been filed targeting drag performers. Tennessee became the first state to restrict public drag show performances. At the same time, Texas introduced at least four different bills to put venues that host drag performances in the same category as adult movie theaters and strip clubs.
In a world where RuPaul’s Drag Race has won twenty-four Emmy Awards and drag has become more mainstream than ever, what’s the push behind these blatantly anti-LGBTQIA+ bills? And what will their effect be on drag shows, theater, Pride parades, and beyond?
For this conversation as part of PowerToFly’s Pride All Year Long speaking series, we are joined by drag artist, political figure, and former NYC City Council candidate Marti G. Cummings (they/them) to discuss the state of drag bans, their negative effect on the LGBTQIA+ community — particularly trans and non-binary people — and what you can do to fight back, whether you are a member of the community or an ally.
In this chat, we’ll talk about:
Drag Artist, Activist & Community Board Member
Marti G. Cummings (They/Them) is an activist, community board member, gig worker, and drag artist who ran for city council in uptown manhattan in 2021. Marti has been working in NYC for 13 years after moving at age 17 to pursue a performing arts career. They know what it’s like to make it in New York, living paycheck to paycheck without insurance. For over a decade, Marti has been deeply involved in the community — advocating for LGBTQIA+ Young people through the Ali Forney Center and aiding New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.
Throughout the pandemic, Marti built upon that experience to plan PPE handouts, grocery deliveries, coat drives, and mutual aid efforts. During the 2016 election Cycle, Marti started organizing, and their political activism energized the community and brought people together to seek progressive change in the nation’s politics.
Marti currently sits on community board 9, serving the people of Upper Manhattan, and is an NYC Nightlife Advisory Board advisor.
PowerToFly connects talent, community groups, and industry leaders in one platform. Meet hiring managers, recruiters, and peers from anywhere — and with our virtual events and exclusive career content, hone your skills and grow your network all in one place.
Most AI initiatives don’t fail because of the technology. They fail because companies underestimate how much the right people, in the right roles, with the right implementation support around them, actually matter. In this session, leaders from across industries will share what separates organizations that scale AI…
Finding great AI talent isn’t just about technical skills anymore, and the companies figuring that out are moving faster than everyone else. They’re looking for people who already understand their industry and can bring real-world context. Join us to learn what smarter sourcing looks like these days and why…
Your AI model is only as good as the people shaping it. That means bringing in experts with varied backgrounds, industries, and lived experiences, because that breadth is what produces outputs that reflect the world your customers actually live in. In this deep dive, we’ll talk about what it takes to train, evaluate,…
