In this compelling episode of The Persistence, host Angélica Cordero explores the idea of life as a never-ending performance, where each of us plays multiple roles to meet expectations, navigate pressures, and make sense of our identities. With her signature wit and insight, Angélica draws a vibrant parallel between our everyday performances and the dazzling world of 1920s queer nightlife during the Pansy Craze. She shines a spotlight on trailblazing drag performers like Gladys Bentley, Gene Malin, and Karyl Norman—artists who weren’t just entertainers but cultural revolutionaries. In an era of prohibition and societal repression, these bold figures challenged gender norms, carved out space for queer self-expression, and redefined the stage as a site of resistance and joy. Though the movement was stifled during the Great Depression, its echoes continue to shape modern drag and queer visibility. Bridging past and present, Angélica offers a powerful meditation on authenticity, courage, and the enduring impact of those who dare to be seen.

This episode was written by and produced by Angélica Cordero, with a little help from ChatGPT.

Our theme song is Don’t Kid Yourself Baby by Fold, used with their blessings. Voices heard in this episode include New York City drag queen Fonda Koxx and Ruben Freeman. Podcast artwork for The Persistence features Mexican-American activist Jovita Idar and was created by Tamra Collins of Sunroot Studio.

Get into the groove with our Spotify playlist of episode title references!

Resources For Fellow Wascally Wabbits

Books

Between the Wars: America. 1919-1941 by David A. Shannon

Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 by David E. Kyvig

Legendary Children: The First Decade of RuPaul's Drag Race and the Last Century of Queer Life by Tom Fitzgerald and Lorenzo Marquez

Sex and the Constitution: Sex, Religion, and Law from America's Origins to the Twenty-First Century by Geoffrey R Stone

Slumming: Sexual and Racial Encounters in American Nightlife, 1885-1940 by Chad Heap

Links

Gladys Bentley Was a Gender Outlaw, article, Harper’s Bazaar Magazine

The Great Blues Singer Gladys Bentley Broke All the Rules, podcast, Smithsonian Magazine

How dressing in drag made me uncover myself by Eric Dorsa, video, TEDxSanAntonio

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