Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. was spotted in the audience of Bartschland Follies Friday night at the McKittrick Hotel in NYC. Produced by nightlife legend Susanne Bartsch, the cabaret-style show features drag queens, drag kings and burlesque dancers.
Drag king Murray Hill was in Friday night’s show and told NBC News,
“None of us in the cast were feeling too patriotic this July 4th weekend, but her presence alone gave us all a much needed dose of hope. She reignited the fire that’s burning in all of us. She stayed and watched the entire show starring New York’s finest misfits, nightlife creatures, rebel rousers, queer icons. She then got on stage and said, ‘Be who you are. You are beautiful. You are accepted.’ Mic drop.”
Joey Arias shared video of AOC on stage and said in the caption,
“I was gagging! She’s amazing. The place went wild! Chanting her name!”
This isn’t the first time AOC has been public about her obsession with drag. In January of 2018, she took to tweet her jealousy that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was to be a guest judge on an upcoming episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 3.
“I’ve been a huge fan for years.”
Then in May 2019, she took to social media to mourn when RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11 contestant Nina West was eliminated.
“No spoilers, but to the queen that went home this week, just know how important you are to the bigger picture, and I’m so proud of you and your fundamental kindness and goodness.
I’m really looking forward to watching you grow. You’re amazing, and I’m sad, but I’m excited for you.”
Murray Hill told NBC News,
“She’s genuine, authentic, fearless and outspoken. She’s the real deal.”
(Photos, McKittrick Hotel; via NBC News)
