Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez paid tribute to trans women in the Drag Race Untucked lounge. (WOW)
Drag Race guest judge Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used her historic stint on the show to give an emotional speech about drag queens and trans heroes.
Ocasio-Cortez joined the season 12 queens in the Untucked lounge, where she paid tribute to them and all those who came before them.
“People think Congress and government is about leading people, but ultimately a lot of our politics is about following the public will,” she said.
“The people who change what the public think are artists and drag queens,” she continued, before underlining the contributions of those who took part in the Stonewall uprising, which was led by trans women of colour such Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
“And let’s not forget who threw that first brick at Stonewall.”
“The people who change what people think are artists and drag queens, and let’s not forget who threw that first brick at Stonewall.” ✊🌈💓 – @AOC #DragRace #Untucked pic.twitter.com/vrfFFzZP9j
— RuPaul’s Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) April 11, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez said that actions such as these are what led to milestones such as the passing of the Equality Act in the House of Representatives, and the introduction of equal marriage.
“You’re patriots,” she added.
“I’m so proud of you all. I’m so proud to live in this country with you… and with all of us as family.”
Drag Race queen thanks AOC for defending immigrants.
Earlier, Ocasio-Cortez had shared a tender moment with Jackie Cox on the main stage.
The New York queen, who was born in Canada to an Iranian mother, thanked the Democrat for working “in solidarity with congresswoman [Rashida] Tlaib and congresswoman [Ilhan] Omar” to defend the rights of immigrants.
“My mom emigrated here from Iran and people would tell her to go home and to go back where she came from,” Jackie said.
“When I was young I hid this part of my heritage for so long. She is an American citizen now and seeing you stand up for people like my mom gives me so much hope.”
Ocasio-Cortez said she was “so thankful” that Cox’s mother “is here and part of our country”.
Left-leaning Drag Race fans were overjoyed with AOC’s appearance on the show, which marked the first time a congress person has served as a guest judge (house speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise werk room appearance during All Stars 3, but didn’t sit behind the judges’ table).
AOC saying “hairography” pic.twitter.com/9ARYn5zgoC
— Paul McCallion (@OrangePaulp) April 11, 2020
AOC turning out to be a great judge in one of the best episodes in years? #ThankYouBernie
— Steve Morris (@stevemorris__) April 11, 2020
my mom and i sobbing during AOC’s untucked moment …. i cannot wait to vote for her one day and see her inaugurated as the first woman president! manifesting! pic.twitter.com/R7LU2g1V2c
— kyleigh (@kykysimsim) April 11, 2020
Watching AOC interact with the queens on Drag Race pic.twitter.com/5V8xCRyX2l
— Will Kellogg (@Will_Kellogg) April 11, 2020
With her acknowledgment of trans people not going unmissed.
THEY SAID AOC YOURE NOT ALLOWED TO SAY TRANS PLZ SAY PERSON WHO THREW THE FIRST STONE INSTEAD THANK YOU
— ✨Ari Gato✨ (Darren) (@the_ari_gato) April 11, 2020
While the episode aired, Ocasio-Cortez hosted an Instagram Live viewing party. During the show’s advert breaks, she was joined by drag queens and LGBT+ leaders, including the trans Latinx activist Cecilia Gentili.
.@AOC with activist @CeciliaGentili – a trans Latinx actvist, former refugee and sex worker talking about her experience been incarcerated in a men’s facility in Riker’s island and about extraordinary legacy of #LorenaBorjas in Queens- who died last week of #Covid19. Part 1/ pic.twitter.com/Woy1StCmKK
— Samy Nemir-Olivares (@Samynemir) April 11, 2020