Mathew Henderson is an Active Duty Officer in the United States Army and is currently serving in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He's also a huge fan of drag. Despite being deployed in Afghanistan, Mathew still looks forward to and finds time to watch each week's new episode of RuPaul's Drag Race. One day while watching the show, he realized how applicable life lessons from the show were to his military career.
Mathew reached out to Drag Official to share some lessons he learned from RuPaul with the world. and we couldn't be happier! Mathew told Drag Official that when he first entered the military under "Don't Ask Don't Tell", he was worried about having to edit a big part of his identity, but now feels supported by those around him!
Mathew reached out to Drag Official to share some lessons he learned from RuPaul with the world. and we couldn't be happier! Mathew told Drag Official that when he first entered the military under "Don't Ask Don't Tell", he was worried about having to edit a big part of his identity, but now feels supported by those around him!
My life is such a strange juxtaposition of masculine and feminine and I'm proud to say that I've opened the minds of at least a few of my coworkers. Being comfortable with who I am opened a door for some conservative military personnel to ask questions and raise awareness.
Thank you for your service Mathew, and thank you for these inspiring lessons...
5. Versatility and an open mind are essential if you want to be successful.
No queen in the herstory of RuPaul’s Drag Race has ever won by being one-note or by staying in her niche. If you’re open to learning and adapting along your journey, you're more likely to be successful.
My first official duty assignment as a Military Police Officer in the Army was with a Transportation Unit playing the role of the Military Intelligence guy. Talk about fish out of water. Being versatile and open to learning led to a very successful tour with that unit and I still apply the lessons I’ve learned from that first year in the Army today.
4. “Unless they paying your bills, pay them bitches no mind.”
Okay, Can we all just agree that RuPaul’s new album Born Naked is her best yet? Her collaborations are what dreams are made of and as always, her lyrics are catchy and inspirational.
I have a reputation as that officer who “calls a spade a spade.” It’s a double edged sword to carry that title, but I always remind myself that people are always going to be critical of what you’re trying to accomplish. By applying the lessons from “Sissy That Walk,” I’m able to filter out the haters from the constructive criticism and move forward as a better person.
No queen in the herstory of RuPaul’s Drag Race has ever won by being one-note or by staying in her niche. If you’re open to learning and adapting along your journey, you're more likely to be successful.
My first official duty assignment as a Military Police Officer in the Army was with a Transportation Unit playing the role of the Military Intelligence guy. Talk about fish out of water. Being versatile and open to learning led to a very successful tour with that unit and I still apply the lessons I’ve learned from that first year in the Army today.
4. “Unless they paying your bills, pay them bitches no mind.”
Okay, Can we all just agree that RuPaul’s new album Born Naked is her best yet? Her collaborations are what dreams are made of and as always, her lyrics are catchy and inspirational.
I have a reputation as that officer who “calls a spade a spade.” It’s a double edged sword to carry that title, but I always remind myself that people are always going to be critical of what you’re trying to accomplish. By applying the lessons from “Sissy That Walk,” I’m able to filter out the haters from the constructive criticism and move forward as a better person.
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3. Having a “drag mother” means having support- someone to call you out, and someone to teach you lessons that others have had to learn before you.
RuPaul is the ultimate drag mother, but almost every queen out there I know of has a drag mother of some sort. Sure, there’s something to be said about drag mothers and teaching their daughters how to paint, tuck, and pad, but the more important role they play is that of a mentor. Bianca Del Rio was a mentor to Adore and Trinity in season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race and she taught them both more than just cinching and padding. She taught them about helping others, how to embrace the challenges presented to them, and how to land a joke.
It’s no secret that junior officers are leaving the military in droves and one of the most cited reasons for leaving is a lack of leadership or poor decision making by those appointed over them. I can’t help but wonder if what these officers were missing was the military equivalent of a drag mother (read: professional mentor). For me, there have been more rough days than good days in the military, but reaching out to my mentor always helps to put me back on a positive track. If you don’t have a drag mother, mentor, or superior to guide you through your professional process you’re going to have a harder go at things and more than likely come out bitter on the other end of it.
RuPaul is the ultimate drag mother, but almost every queen out there I know of has a drag mother of some sort. Sure, there’s something to be said about drag mothers and teaching their daughters how to paint, tuck, and pad, but the more important role they play is that of a mentor. Bianca Del Rio was a mentor to Adore and Trinity in season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race and she taught them both more than just cinching and padding. She taught them about helping others, how to embrace the challenges presented to them, and how to land a joke.
It’s no secret that junior officers are leaving the military in droves and one of the most cited reasons for leaving is a lack of leadership or poor decision making by those appointed over them. I can’t help but wonder if what these officers were missing was the military equivalent of a drag mother (read: professional mentor). For me, there have been more rough days than good days in the military, but reaching out to my mentor always helps to put me back on a positive track. If you don’t have a drag mother, mentor, or superior to guide you through your professional process you’re going to have a harder go at things and more than likely come out bitter on the other end of it.
2. Take a second look in the mirror before you hit the stage.
Don’t give the judges a reason to doubt you because of a sloppy wig, meaty tuck, or an un-edited outfit (I’m looking at you Josyln Fox). Presentation is everything in the world of drag. It doesn’t matter if you’re a camp queen, fishy queen, or playing the gender non-conformity game. Whatever you’re doing, when you hit the stage you should be polished and presentable. Queens with messy weaves always have a harder go when facing the judges (or the crowds).
In the military we say “you look like a soup sandwich” if your uniform is sloppy or you’re just out of regulations. It’s difficult for your superiors to take you seriously when you look like a mess and your subordinates will think you’re incompetent if you’re serving up sloppiness. Take a second look in the mirror before entering the workplace; you don’t want your uniform to be clocked during a high profile meeting or presentation.
Don’t give the judges a reason to doubt you because of a sloppy wig, meaty tuck, or an un-edited outfit (I’m looking at you Josyln Fox). Presentation is everything in the world of drag. It doesn’t matter if you’re a camp queen, fishy queen, or playing the gender non-conformity game. Whatever you’re doing, when you hit the stage you should be polished and presentable. Queens with messy weaves always have a harder go when facing the judges (or the crowds).
In the military we say “you look like a soup sandwich” if your uniform is sloppy or you’re just out of regulations. It’s difficult for your superiors to take you seriously when you look like a mess and your subordinates will think you’re incompetent if you’re serving up sloppiness. Take a second look in the mirror before entering the workplace; you don’t want your uniform to be clocked during a high profile meeting or presentation.
1. “You Betta' Work!”
RuPaul says this all the time, and while it’s a fun catchphrase, it’s really the best piece of advice a queen could get. Underneath all that camp and sass Ru is telling her girls to deliver results. We can all think of a queen who was more talk than walk and no one wants to be that queen.
I’ve actually used something similar to this every time I’ve provided initial guidance for my subordinates. “Don’t sing your own gospel. Work hard and get results and other people will surely sing it for you.” Okay, it’s a little more professional, but it still has the same intent and meaning. The reliable person isn’t the one who tells you how hard they work, it’s the one who delivers results and lets others talk about their achievements.
RuPaul says this all the time, and while it’s a fun catchphrase, it’s really the best piece of advice a queen could get. Underneath all that camp and sass Ru is telling her girls to deliver results. We can all think of a queen who was more talk than walk and no one wants to be that queen.
I’ve actually used something similar to this every time I’ve provided initial guidance for my subordinates. “Don’t sing your own gospel. Work hard and get results and other people will surely sing it for you.” Okay, it’s a little more professional, but it still has the same intent and meaning. The reliable person isn’t the one who tells you how hard they work, it’s the one who delivers results and lets others talk about their achievements.
Happy 4th of July. Thanks again Mathew!
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