928 Drag Queen Before After Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images - Getty Images

By A Mystery Man Writer

Austin, TX drag queen Cheri Lake who performs under the name 'Brigitte Bandit' stands among other drag queens before performing at the Elysium nightclub on April 07, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Cheri Lake, also known as Brigitte Bandit, was born and raised in Northwest Austin. At the age of 26, Lake joined the drag community in Austin, Texas after finding a sense of belonging and family amongst its members. She later embraced and adopted the name ‘Brigitte Bandit’ after gaining inspiration from her mother who was a single parent and entertainer. In recent months, Bandit has taken on a position of advocacy and leadership as Texas legislators have sought to impose heavy restrictions on drag performances, deeming all such events as sexual in nature. Bandit, now 30, was assigned female at birth and identifies as a nonbinary performer within an industry predominantly dominated by cisgender men. When not performing, Bandit spends her time mostly alone - navigating hurt, healing and finding new creative ideas for future performances. Brigitte continues her fight in advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ and drag communities in Texas, while confronting the tension and misconceptions revolving around being a nonbinary drag performer. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty