When Kit Muir moved to Collingwood a year and a half ago for a job, they were worried about moving from the big city to a small town.
As Muir identifies as non-binary, they were uneasy about opposition they might face to their identity in a much more rural community than they were used to.
But the rainbow crosswalk on Simcoe St. shone bright for Muir as a symbol of love and acceptance.
Riding a wave of positivity following their performances at Collingwood Pride this past weekend, two Collingwood-based drag performers – known on-stage as Christopher Cummings and Daphne Greed – sat down with CollingwoodToday to talk about gender, identity, performance, and the culture of LGBTQ+ acceptance in Collingwood.
“I’ll be honest. I was hesitant. I was excited about the job, but I’d lived in a big city for 28 years of my life. How was it going to be in a small town?” Muir said. “(My mom and I) thought I should edit myself. Get a new hairstyle, take out my piercings or cover my tattoos – just tone it down.”
A few days before Muir started their job, their mom came to help them move in and explore the town together.
“We walked down Simcoe St. past the library and noticed the rainbow crosswalk. My mom said this was my safe space.”
“Even though I had preconceived notions of what a small town might be like, the more I was out being my authentic self, people here truly did embrace me. I very much feel at home here.”
Muir was born and raised in Toronto, specifically in the area of North York. They performed in the Toronto drag scene for a few years, while studying holistics in their off-time.
During the day, Muir currently runs their own holistic practice that focuses on meditation, oracle card readings and crystal healings. They also work part-time at The Maker’s Outpost and Sessions Cannabis.
“Those part-time jobs give me time to focus on my holistic business and drag career,” said Muir.
Muir came out as non-binary about eight years ago. Muir performs as Christopher Cummings and uses they/them pronouns both in and out of drag.
They say it can be difficult to talk about the concept of non-binary identities, as there isn’t a lot of open language on the subject, compared to the language that exists to discuss gender as a binary concept.
“When I came out as non-binary, I really wanted to tap into my masculine side. Growing up, I was a tomboy. Throughout high school I felt pressure to be more feminine,” said Muir. “Deep down, I knew out of the womb that I was a non-binary individual. I just didn’t have the language for it until later on in life.”
Playing with the gender binary is something Muir embraces both in regular life and while performing.
“We’re used to seeing drag queens and calling them she/her while they’re in drag and using other pronouns – usually he/him – out of drag throughout most of history,” said Muir. “When I started doing research about why drag queens are so prevalent, there’s a big tie to the fact that drag kings – kind of, sort of, not intentionally – represent the one thing that a lot of queer people are trying to pull away from, which is the patriarchy and misogyny.”
“For me, as a drag performer, I’m fluid in the way I present myself. Even if I might have a six-pack silicone suit and a moustache, I’ll throw in a lash every now and then, or some lipstick. For me, all those things are not necessarily in the binary of gender,” said Muir.
“Even though I call myself Christopher Cummings, the essence of me is still Kit.”
Muir says their journey to being out and non-binary has been a long one with their family, but notes that their entire family has come a long way and fully loves and accepts them. Muir’s mother and grandmother were in the audience during their performance on the main stage at Collingwood Pride festivities on July 14.
“It feels amazing. I’m the outlier. I’m the one-out-of-10 queer kid who has a supportive family. I feel really lucky to be able to say that,” they said, their voice breaking with emotion.
For younger people who might be questioning their own gender identity, Muir says it’s important that they look for safe spaces they can turn to.
“If home isn’t a safe space for you, where else can you find a safe space?” they said, noting the library is one example of a safe option. “I’m a Leo so I’m very upfront and outgoing. I was lucky, because my personality (helped me) to get to know people very quickly. If that’s not the case (for you)... still cultivate that community.”
“Community support – that’s the most important part. Having support has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life.”
‘I kept it a complete secret’
Madelyn Taylor, a 16-year-old Collingwood Collegiate Institute student, has been doing drag since she was 12. When performing, Taylor goes by the name Daphne Greed.
Although, she wasn’t always open about it.
“I told no one (at first). I kept it a complete secret. I wasn’t embarrassed, but no one my age was doing anything like that,” she said. “I kept it from everyone except my mom for the first three years.”
Taylor says she was first exposed to drag on Twitter, noting icons such as Priyanka, a Toronto drag queen who appeared on Canada’s Drag Race.
“I loved make-up growing up. I was also a competitive dancer since I was three years old. These two things marry each other through drag. It was magic for me,” she said.
While Taylor found herself drawn to the artistry of drag, as a cis female, she wondered if she’d be welcome in the drag space.
“I didn’t see it a lot. I was like, can I do this?” said Taylor. “I’d seen transgender women doing drag ... I thought, they’re women doing drag, and I’m a woman.”
Taylor first saw representation in the performance of Victoria Scone, a contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2021, who was the first cis female to compete on the series.
“That was really monumental for me. I thought, this is really something we can all do. It was great to see,” said Taylor.
Taylor was born and raised in Collingwood and is new to the local drag scene. Her first show took place this year at the Collingwood Brewery, with her performance on the Collingwood Pride main stage on July 14 as her first major appearance.
“It was my first time in a really public venue with a big stage. I get nerves, because (having) nerves means you care, but my home is the stage,” she said. “I feel inspired. I met so many drag queens I didn’t know were local to Collingwood.”
Taylor notes representation matters, and the evolution of Collingwood Pride has helped her feel more included in her hometown community.
“I didn’t see anyone like me. It’s such a small town. At last year’s Collingwood Pride – I did not expect (to see) how many people really cared about this. I see more and more of it now all year, not just during Pride,” said Taylor.
“If I had seen that when I was younger, I wouldn’t have kept it a secret for so long.”
When asked about how she sees her drag evolving over time, Taylor says she’d like to work on incorporating more of her dance background into her drag performances.
“Like, drag Broadway. I’m a dancer at heart. I want to do drag contemporary. I want to do drag tap. I want to break the boundaries of what drag is,” she said.
