The RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the most famous competitions which seeks to find and crown the most outstanding competitor as "America's next drag superstar'. This American reality competition series started in 2009 with the commencement of its first season produced by the World of Wonder for Logo TV. The series is fascinating and eye-catching as it entails thrilling scenes as performers try to beat the mini and the maxi challenges in the quest to win the drag superstar title. Ideally, the show encompasses the art of fashion diversity, is a platform for stand-up comedy and a learning podium for those interested in drag culture. Even with its entertaining attributes, the RuPaul Drag Race has been an effective platform that airs and explicitly reveals issues facing the LGBT community which include, distinct discrimination, social acceptance, injustices, uncouth stereotypes, and personal struggles.
As exhibited by the various personal stories and confessions in the RuPaul Drag Race, acceptance from family members and the community is one of the significant challenges faced in the LGBT community. Research indicates that over 40 percent of the homeless youth in the United States belong to the LGBT (Curry, 2017) . The main reason why most of them are in the streets is that they have been rejected by their close family members. Rock M Sakura is among the finalists in the 12 th season if the Drag Race. Sakura is a drag queen hailing from San Francisco. During one of the preparations moments, Sakura broke down and narrated how her mother was addicted to drugs, and one day she stated that Sakura was one of the reasons why she had the addiction (Nolfi, 2020) . The conformity to the LGBT community is not welcomed and viewed positively by all members of the family and community. However, with the Drag Race competition, RuPaul creates an environment of love and unity among the LGBT community and shows viewers the essence of appreciating this culture.
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Additionally, the show has given various depictions of discrimination, as cited by some performers in the reality show. Ideally, most people who do not identify as male or female when it comes to sexual orientation have been framed with a negative image in most societies, including institutions. Sometimes the hate towards LGBT members who are most prone to the same escalates to the point where they receive death threats. Some of the horrifying stories have been directed towards homophobia. While in college, Nina West, who was a contestant in the 11 th season of the Drag Race, narrates of traumatizing encounters after openly revealing that he was gay (VH1, 2019) . He explains how one point someone broke into her room as one of the greatest threats she experienced. Back in school, she received all sorts of insults, and it reached a point where she felt that her life was really in danger. In her narration, Nina gives an encounter of Mathew Shepherd, who opened up to belonging to the LGBT community (VH1, 2019) . He was beaten up and killed. Such stories ignite the subject of vast discrimination of this culture and seek to advocate for their recognition and respect rather than being treated in inhuman ways.
Bullying is also one of the greatest challenges that members of the LGBT face from different perspectives, especially from their engagements with different sexual orientation groups. In the current community setting, beliefs, notions, and ideologies have circumnavigated the negative image of either being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The mention of these identities has been argued to stir anger among those who do not conform to their course. One of the seasons nine drag queens identified as Peppermint narrated a thrilling experience back in high school after he was beaten severely for identifying as a gay student. However, he extends his story by citing that even with the remorsefulness among the specifics, he saw love amongst many who acknowledged his identity (Logo, 2017) . In 2015, a study revealed that 1 out of 5 hate crimes committed solely emanate from sexual orientation differences. In addition to that, another 2 percent of these crimes are accrued to gender identities (Hate Crime Statistics, 2015) . The RuPaul Drag race effectively passes on this information and concerns with the advocacy that LGBT should be recognized and treated fairly, just like other members of the society. It shows high appreciation and consideration for such issues.
The reality competition series aids in shedding light on the various legal injustices experienced by the members of the LGBT community. Notably, members who conform to the identity of this sexual orientation group face significant challenges, especially in areas concerning their rights and freedom. Research has denoted that they have a higher tendency of discrimination in prison and the legal system. Research indicates that American prisons have twice the number of LGBT as those who have not been convicted (National Center for Transgender Equality, 2014) . Bob was a contestant in the 8 th season of the series. In 2010 Bob and some of his friends decided to come up with something that would seek to air the inequalities they were facing as an LGBT community. They came up with philosophy identified as the drag queen weddings for equality. On a peaceful demonstration in the streets, Bob was arrested by the police and jailed (Logo, 2016) . Bob had been doing the demonstrations at Time square every weekend. Arguably peaceful demonstrations are permissible to the members of the public as long as they do not make significant obstructions of the broad public's operations. The arrest of Bob from his story is an indication of inequality preferences faced by the LGBT community and the fundamentality of addressing it.
Stereotypical attributes have also been used to frame those who conform to LGBT with the wrong image. One of the most prevalent and common stereotypes is that if one chooses to identify with this community, then they are lost souls. In other words, most communities confer to the idea that LBGT people cannot fit in the typical living patterns. In connection to that, people even deduce them to be reckless in their conduct and mannerism. However, such deductions only seek to densify the negative image that people have over LGBT. For example, low chances of success of overly defined as a differential factor towards the LGBT community. Jackie Cox, one of the drag queens in the 12 th season, argued that her mum was strictly against the choices he was making in life while growing up. In his narration, Jackie outlines that his mother had certain expectations of achievements like him becoming a doctor. However, his identity with LGBT compelled him to pursue different dreams, and if his mother came to learn about it, she would be devastated for the rest of her life (Nolfi, 2020) . Even though Jackie has accomplished much already by indulging in Drag fashion, the society would still recognize this as real achievements because of the stereotypical approaches that continue to circulate.
Arguably, just like people belonging to other gender orientations, those from the LGBT community also undergo unpleasing life experiences that need attention. The uncouth notion that LGBMT members are a segregated group that does not share the ideology of humanity is erosive. As seen in the series, different members confess their past unpleasing encounters, some of which are traumatizing. Ideally, some like Katya, who was a contestant during the 7 th season of RuPaul Drug Race, ended up asking for help due to fear of relapsing to using crystal meth. Such cases may need more professional and medical help, which should not be denied on the bases of the vicious notions and assumptions about the LBGT people. In connection to that, they have a right to access basic amenities are they lead very healthy lives just like those who identify as heterosexuals.
In a nutshell, the RuPaul Drug Race is a cultivating series that embarks on showcasing different talents and fashion diverseness. However, throughout its course, the series has acted as an effective platform of revealing and giving a sharper view of the issue that may be surrounding the LGBT community, which include discrimination in various setups, challenges with acceptance from family and the community as well as injustices in different arenas. In addition to that, the habit of bullying LGBT members still prevalent in the current era, as well as the spread of certain negative-ascribed stereotypes. In essence, it is also good to note that the LGBT community thrives under the same form of humanity just like other people and thus have a right to access social amenities when dealing with personal challenges like a sickness. Generally, the series serves both entertainment purposes and acts outs as a practical tool to enlighten the work about the issues surrounding the LBGT fraternity.
References
Curry, C. (2017). 9 Battles the LGBTQ Community in The US Is Still Fighting. Retrieved 10 April 2020, from https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/9-battles-the-lgbt-community-in-the-us-is-still-fi/
Hate Crime Statistics. (2015). Retrieved 10 April 2020, from https://ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2015/topic-pages/victims_final
Logo. (2016). RuPaul's Drag Race (Season 8 Ep. 7) | Story Time: Bob Got Arrested | Logo [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vutxvIBfqmQ
Logo. (2017). Peppermint Discusses Bullying in High School | RuPaul's Drag Race Season 9 | Now on VH1! [Video].
Nolfi, J. (2020). Justice for Rock M. Sakura robbed queen of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' Retrieved 10 April 2020, from https://ew.com/tv/rock-m-sakura-elimination-interview-rupauls-drag-race/
Nolfi, J. (2020). Jackie Cox tearfully reveals a painful past with her mom in 'RuPaul's Drag Race' clip. Retrieved 10 April 2020, from https://ew.com/tv/jackie-cox-cries-mother-rupauls-drag-race-clip/
National Center for Transgender Equality. (2014). Standing with LGBT Prisoners: An Advocate's Guide to Ending Abuse and Combating Imprisonment. Retrieved 10 April 2020, from https://transequality.org/issues/resources/standing-lgbt-prisoners-advocate-s-guide-ending-abuse-and-combating-imprisonment
VH1. (2019). Nina West Opens Up About Being Targeted in College | RuPaul's Drag Race [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sejl-HZr4g
