Probably like many of you, I pride myself as an independent thinker. Or rather, I want to believe that I come to a rational decision in search of the truth. I hope that truth does objectively exist, but one needs to peel away the layers of misinformation, opinion, and ignorance to arrive at it.
This is why it shocks some people when they find out that one of my sources of opinion is none other than one of our grandest Grande Dames of the South, the inimitable Lady Bunny. Yes, that bouffant wigged drag queen, who began her career in the queer Atlanta of the 1980s alongside RuPaul, has never shied away from stating her opinion on a topic. But through her Instagram feed (@official_lady_bunny) she projects a strong voice of uncomfortable truths that can make traditional Democrats squirm. She isn’t afraid to break from the pro-corporatist propagandists of MSNBC, to push for action in the face of a timid Democratic party, or to call out the lies from various personalities on the Left.
For context, she is a progressive with an independent streak, which is where I would probably clock myself. One recent post following Biden’s State of the Union address she gave a rare bit of praise to the president for confronting the Republicans about their zeal for cutting Social Security and Medicare. But she pointed out that it wasn’t that long ago that Biden (and Obama) had offered to trim back benefits. Lady Bunny also notes that mainstream journalists won’t bring up the fact that the easiest remedy for a perceived shortfall in Social Security funding could be easily fixed by lifting the income cap, so everyone pays into the system instead of only those wage earners who make less than $160,000.
While I disagree with her on some issues (she’s adamantly against expanding our aid and support for Ukraine in their battle for survival against Russia), she gives surprisingly thought-provoking analysis on contemporary issues between funny posts with her scatological humor (“Happy Super Bowel” cake art) and casting shade at fellow drag queens (her dear friend, Bianca Del Rio, a frequent target).
In today’s media landscape where most people get their “news” from just reading a headline that pops up on either their Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok feed, I suppose it was inevitable that one of the more valuable sources of “the Tea” would be a sixty-year-old bawdry drag queen who unabashedly speaks truth to power. She’ll call out supposed straight allies who pivot for a paycheck from Middle Eastern despots such as Qatar or Dubai (Beyoncé) and eviscerate the either ignorance or outright lies of Democrats who should know better when they mislead the public by omitting facts (Kal Penn, Rachel Maddow, among others).
Which isn’t to say that Lady Bunny is my only source of news and opinion. I actually subscribe (read: PAY) for the weekend print version of Le Monde (I live in Paris after all), the digital version of the “failing” New York Times (which frequently disappoints, but it is sadly the best there is in the U.S.), New York Magazine (which has excellent political reporting), as well as the online magazine Slate.com. Plus, there are a sprinkling of regional and specialty publications such as Georgia Voice, FITSNews in South Carolina (are you following the Murdaugh murders trial? My word!), and some good opinion leaders on Twitter.
So, if you are looking for something a bit spicy but also easily digestible, put down that Taco Bell burrito and follow Lady Bunny on Instagram. They both inevitably lead to poop references, but only one of them will make you think.