Fresh Talk: Gender & Performance

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 6 to 8:30 pm, the National Museum of Women in the Arts is hosting Fresh Talk: Gender & Performance, a discussion around the bold and creative world of drag, where artistry and activism collide. The program spotlights four exceptional drag performers, Citrine the Queen (she/her in drag), Evry Pleasure (she/her in drag; he/him out of drag), Sweet Pickles (she/they in drag) and King Molasses (they/them in and out of drag), who use their craft to challenge societal norms, foster inclusive communities and redefine artistic expression.

Through a conversation moderated by Tyler Cargill, the performers share their perspectives on drag’s transformative power to disrupt conventional ideas of gender and identity. They also discuss the role of drag in building connections and creating spaces of belonging, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. The event highlights drag as a multifaceted art form that weaves together elements of fashion, makeup, performance and storytelling, showcasing its power to inspire and connect.

Following the discussion, attendees are invited to a salon-style cocktail hour to continue the conversation.

The event takes place within 2025’s combined World Pride and Capital Pride in Washington, D.C. The museum will also offer a Tour: Celebrating Pride on Saturday, June 21 from 12 noon to 1 pm, which invites visitors to explore the creative contributions of LGBTQIA+ artists in NMWA’s collection. Free with admission, registration required.

About the Speakers

Citrine the Queen is a Washington, DC based drag queen, nominated makeup artist, theatre producer, and model known for her conceptual and creative fashions. After debuting in 2018, Citrine continues to regularly host and perform at a variety of events all throughout the DMV. Currently, she serves as show director for all drag shows at the historic JRs Bar in Dupont Circle and as Executive Producer for the theatre group Highball Productions DC who bring to life live drag parodies of popular musicals.

Evry Pleasure is a Puerto Rican plus-size diva making waves in Washington, DC’s drag scene. Known for blending glamour, dance, and comedy, Evry was voted DC’s Best Drag Queen in 2023. Passionate about uplifting fellow performers and fostering a sense of community, Evry hosts the award-winning all-Latinx drag show Con Acento and the celebrated all-BIPOC showcase Brown Sugar, while regularly performing and hosting at venues across the DMV. Evry’s style is a fusion of Puerto Rican culture and DC’s performance flair, creating a unique, larger-than-life persona.

Sweet Pickles is a drag artist, event host, and content creator based in Richmond, Virginia. For the past seven years, she has been working as a full-time artist, performing on stages all across the DMV. Known as the Technicolored Troll Doll, her drag is heavily inspired by the colorful toys and media of her childhood. Her love of whimsy led her to the creation of her handmade yarn and ribbon wigs, which have become a signature part of her aesthetic. Some of her favorite moments of her drag career thus far include getting to host Youth Pride at Virginia PrideFest for the past three years, performing on the Anthem stage alongside Kesha during her Only Love tour, and opening up for Chappell Roan on three separate shows during her Midwest Princess tour. When she is not performing for a live audience, she is actively engaging with her online audience, creating drag-centric content for all of her social media platforms.

King Molasses is an award-winning drag king and performing artist based in Washington, DC. They consecutively reigned as DC’s Best Drag King from 2022 through 2025 and were voted Best Gender Non-Conforming Artist 2024-2025 by the DC Drag Awards. They have been featured on Bravo, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, and NPR. A DMV native from Prince George’s County, Maryland, Molasses debuted in 2018 and has since become a fixture in the district’s performing arts scene. Their work has been commissioned in venues nationwide, including the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian, and Sasha Velour’s acclaimed NYC drag revue, NightGowns. Their drag is a call to mindfulness, black surrealism, and heritage-based movements that dare to create images of self-liberation.

Tyler Cargill is a dynamic genderfluid educator, anthropologist, and advocate with over 18 years of experience specializing in fostering cultural understanding and engagement. Passionate about building bridges and creating opportunities across diverse communities, he has led transformative training programs, developed innovative outreach strategies, and built meaningful partnerships to advance human rights and promote a sense of belonging in both private and public sectors. A dedicated advocate for gender and queer rights, Tyler harnesses the power of art, fashion, and policy to address the complexities of intersectional human rights. Their work is driven by a commitment to ensuring that marginalized voices are not only heard but celebrated in every sphere.

Event Sponsors
The Women, Arts, and Social Change public programs initiative is made possible through leadership gifts from Denise Littlefield Sobel and the Davis/Dauray Family Fund with additional support provided by Anne N. Edwards, the Revada Foundation of the Logan Family, and the Susan and Jim Swartz Public Programs Fund.

Tickets and Reservations
Registration required.
General admission: $25
Students, seniors, DC residents: $22
Members: $20
Reserve Your Spot

When
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
6 to 8 :30 pm ET

Where
Performance Hall, 5th floor
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005