Gayety

Tag: We’re Here

  • Elliot Page Producing Powerful Doc on ‘Drag Race’ Star Peppermint

    Elliot Page Producing Powerful Doc on ‘Drag Race’ Star Peppermint

    Elliot Page and his production company, Pageboy Productions, have signed on as executive producers of A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint, a new feature documentary spotlighting trans icon and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” alum Peppermint. The 80-minute film is set to premiere June 26 at Frameline49, San Francisco’s landmark LGBTQ+ film festival.

    Directed by Oriel Pe’er, the documentary offers a deep and personal look at Peppermint’s rise to stardom and activism. Known for breaking barriers in the drag and trans communities, Peppermint made television history as the first openly trans woman to compete on Drag Race and later made her mark on Broadway, becoming the first out trans woman to originate a principal role in a musical with Head Over Heels.

    A Personal Story with a Broader Message

    The film takes viewers beyond the stage lights, chronicling Peppermint’s early years navigating the New York nightlife scene and surviving through sex work and late-night gigs to fund her transition. Unreleased footage and candid interviews reveal the challenges she faced before her life-changing run on Drag Race Season 9.

    Peppermint shared her excitement about the film’s long-awaited debut, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “This film has been nearly a decade in the making. Trans issues are in the zeitgeist, yet our full humanity is so often left out of the conversation. This film aims to offer something more honest and personal.”

     

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    Pageboy Productions Steps In

    Page, who came out as trans in 2020 and has since become a leading advocate for trans representation in media, described the project as “powerful, urgent and deeply human.”

    “Her artistry, courage, and advocacy have changed the landscape for trans performers and inspired so many of us,” Page said. “This documentary captures the full complexity of her experience in a way that feels both intimate and universal.”

    Founded in 2021, Pageboy Productions has backed several projects centering trans and queer voices, including upcoming films, series, and documentaries. Page’s latest turn behind the scenes follows his producing and co-writing role in Close to You, a 2023 drama he also starred in.

    A Cast of Champions

    Page isn’t the only Drag Race royalty supporting the project. Fellow queen Bob the Drag Queen, best known for We’re Here and The Traitors, is also on board as a producer through his company Purse First Studios. The film will also feature appearances from queer trailblazers including Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black), Michaela Jaé Rodriguez (Pose), and Drag Race legends Sasha Velour and Shea Couleé.

    The film’s title, A Deeper Love, is a nod to both Peppermint’s resilience and her commitment to uplifting her community through performance and activism.

    Why Peppermint’s Story Matters

    Peppermint made her debut on Drag Race Season 9 in 2017 and became the first contestant to compete as openly trans from the start. She quickly won the hearts of fans and judges, landing in the finale alongside Sasha Velour, Shea Couleé, and Trinity the Tuck. While she has yet to claim a Drag Race crown, she remains a fan favorite and an essential voice in conversations about trans visibility and equity.

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    ♬ Music – Madonna

    Since her time on the show, Peppermint has released music, advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, and built a legacy as one of the most influential trans performers working today. This documentary aims to cement that legacy, and bring her full, unfiltered story to the screen.

    A Festival Debut with Heart

    A Deeper Love: The Story of Miss Peppermint premieres June 26 at Frameline49. With names like Elliot Page and Bob the Drag Queen attached, and with a story as rich and real as Peppermint’s, the film is already generating buzz in both queer and mainstream media circles.

    As Page summed it up: “Pageboy is honored to bring her story to audiences everywhere.”

  • Bob the Drag Queen Isn’t Returning to Drag Race and He’s More Than Fine With It

    Bob the Drag Queen Isn’t Returning to Drag Race and He’s More Than Fine With It

    Sad news for Drag Race fans hoping to see Bob the Drag Queen back on RuPaul’s Drag Race—it seems the season eight winner has officially hung up his competition heels for good. In the latest episode of Boyfriend Material, hosted by Harry Jowsey, Bob made it clear that he has no plans to return to the Drag Race runway as a contestant.

    When Jowsey asked if he would consider going back to RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bob responded, “I think I’m good,” adding, “I won already. Also, going to All Stars is, no shade, but that’s for losers. Go back to when you lost and I won.”

    Though Bob joked about the All Stars season, he did acknowledge the Drag Race franchise’s All-Winners season in 2022, which he was notably absent from. “In their defense, I was busy and probably would’ve said no anyway, but it is true that I wasn’t invited,” Bob shared, giving a cheeky nod to his exclusion.

    Since snatching the crown in season eight, Bob has become one of the most successful queens in Drag Race herstory. Far beyond the confines of the Drag Race stage, he’s been busy racking up impressive credits. Bob became a regular cast member on the Emmy-winning HBO series We’re Here, starred in the third season of The Traitors, and continues to earn praise for his podcast Sibling Rivalry, where he teams up with fellow Drag Race winner Monét X Change.

    Bob’s other accolades include serving as Madonna‘s emcee for her Celebration Tour, starring in a number of comedy specials, and recently releasing his debut novel, Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert. His resume also boasts notable appearances in A Black Lady Sketch Show, Tales of the City, Lucifer, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, Legendary, Trixie Motel, The Simpsons, Hell’s Kitchen, and Doctor Odyssey—just to name a few.

    In his interview with Jowsey, Bob also opened up about his time on Madonna’s tour, calling it a “fun, grueling, and thrilling” experience. He also reflected on his surprisingly early exit from The Traitors, and even gave a glimpse into his polyamorous relationship, describing it as “like a diagram with ribbon and yarn” and “like investigating a murder.”

    For those hoping to see Bob back in the Drag Race workroom, it looks like they’ll need to settle for his many other TV and stage appearances. You can watch the full interview below for more insight into Bob’s colorful life and career.