Yerevan has always been considered a city of strict traditions, but in recent years, something unexpected has happened here: drug culture, which has long been huddled in secret NGO offices, has begun to fill clubs and become part of the city's agenda. This was influenced by both the "velvet revolution" and the mass migration of Russians after the start of the war in Ukraine. Doberman Media tells how Armenian drag queens are fighting for the right to express themselves in one of the most homophobic countries in Europe, why renting a house has become a security issue for them, and how the images of "queens" are used in political struggle.
"Mother of Armenian drag" and heels on tape
The history of modern Armenian drag began not with the glitter of spotlights, but with improvisation in closed spaces. Leo, who is now called the "mother of Armenian drag," recalls his first performance as pure chaos: he had no costumes or professional makeup, and his heels had to be wrapped around his feet with tape. At that time, around 2017, drag artists were considered "freaks" even within the LGBT community. The performances took place mainly at events sponsored by human rights organizations such as Pink Armenia, and were often censored by the organizers themselves.
For a long time, the main starting point for the queer community was 2012, when radicals blew up a DIY bar in Yerevan. This event drove culture into the shadows for a decade. However, after the "velvet revolution" of 2018, hopes for democratization arose in society. Although Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has publicly acknowledged the role of women in the protests, there has been little real change in gender policy: women have remained in a clear minority in the Cabinet, and LGBT rights issues continue to be ignored by the authorities.
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The Relocation Effect: How Russians Changed Yerevan Clubs
The real tectonic shift took place in 2022. After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent mobilization, tens of thousands of Russians poured into Armenia. Among them were many queer refugees fleeing repressive Russian legislation.
This changed the Yerevan scene in two ways: A new audience and professionals have appeared And the perception of the "alien" has changed.
If earlier drag shows gathered several dozen people in the basements of NGOs, now hundreds of spectators come to the Drag Ball, and in clubs like Poligraf, artists of the new wave perform: Lady Die, Gigi Aries, Frigid Bardo.
Also, the arrival of Russians with tattoos, dyed hair and piercings has accustomed local residents to diversity. As Leo notes, if an Armenian wears women's clothes, it is a "shame", but if a foreigner does it, society is more tolerant of it.
In Yerevan, there is even a semblance of international continuity: Russian drag artist Molly, who fled the Russian Federation after raids and accusations of "extremism", founded her own drag house in Armenia, becoming the "mother" for a new generation of local performers.
Double standards and "funny women"
Armenian society demonstrates a striking dualism. Male comedians (such as former Yerevan mayor Hayk Marutyan or Garik Papoyan) have been popular on local television for decades, dressing up as women for laughs. This is considered normal and funny. But as soon as dressing up becomes part of a queer identity or political statement, the reaction turns to aggression.
Дрэг-квин Гарик (известный как Карабина), ставший героем документального фильма «Красавица и адвокат», рассказывает, как сложно совмещать жизнь в патриархальном обществе с искусством дрэга. Даже несмотря на враждебность (93% населения настроены к ЛГБТ негативно), он пытается «строить мосты», создавая конвенциональную семью с женщиной-адвокатом, при этом продолжая выступать.
Survival Economy: Rent as a Sentence
The growth in the popularity of drag has a reverse, tragic side. Due to the influx of migrants, the cost of renting housing in Yerevan has skyrocketed - one-bedroom apartments have risen in price from 150 to 500 dollars. For young queer Armenians, often working in low-paying jobs, this was a disaster.
Many have been forced to return to families where they are not accepted. According to Pink Armenia, this led to a sharp increase in cases of domestic violence: if in 2023 22 cases were recorded, then in 2024 there were already 38. Queer people are locked up at home, tortured and deprived of means of communication.
Political weapons and fear of the police
Drag culture in Armenia remains deeply politicized against its will. During the election campaigns, the opposition used neural networks to create fake images of Nikol Pashinyan next to drag queens in order to discredit his "pro-European" course in the eyes of conservatives.
The risk of physical violence has not disappeared either. One of the recent pride shows in Yerevan ended with an emergency evacuation, when an ambulance and the police were called to the scene after the artist fainted. After the event, one of the queens was chased by a man with a knife, shouting homophobic insults. The police, activists say, are often insensitive or aggressive during raids.
What's next?
Despite the threats, Yerevan drag continues to evolve. From a "freak show" it turns into a form of contemporary art that comprehends national identity, using images from Parajanov's cinema and Armenian literature.
"We can no longer just be afraid and sit in the closet," says Leo. "We must be brave and live our truth."
For Armenia, stuck between the Soviet past and aspirations to join the EU, drag culture has become a litmus test: is the country ready to accept individual freedom as a real value, and not just as a slogan from Republic Square?
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