This Pride Month, Emmy-nominated filmmaker Justin Simien and his production company, Culture Machine, are lighting up more than just rainbows. In partnership with the Last Prisoner Project, the criminal justice nonprofit committed to cannabis reform, Simien is launching Loud & Proud:a spirited, high-energy digital docuseries spotlighting queer cannabis culture like you’ve never seen before.
Weed, Drag, and Revolution
Dropping weekly through June and July on social platforms, Loud & Proud blends short-form storytelling with long-overdue truth-telling. The series centers queer creatives, organizers, and community leaders who’ve used cannabis not just for wellness, but for survival. From the ballroom to the frontlines, weed has long been a quiet hero of queer resistance, and this series finally gives it a loud mic.
“Cannabis has found its way into my creative process and my self-care routines,” says Simien, best known for Dear White People. “There’s a political intersection between communities of color and queer communities that I’m really excited this team is uncovering.”
A Cast That’s Lit
If you’re tuning in for drag excellence, you’re in good hands (and heels). The lineup includes fan favorites like Laganja Estranja, Jorgeous, Sabbyiana, and more, who serve both looks and lived experience. Their stories reflect a broader reality: even as cannabis becomes big business, queer and trans people, especially those who are Black and Brown, are still targeted by outdated enforcement and criminalization.
“One of the reasons I love the queer community is we show up for one another,” says Jay Jackson, aka Laganja Estranja. “And I think the cannabis industry is seeing that now. Whether you’re white, Black, brown or anything in between, we have to show up as a community.”
This project isn’t just a love letter, it’s a rallying cry. With over 575 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the U.S. in 2025 alone, Loud & Proud doubles as a call to action. The series challenges both cannabis consumers and companies to commit to equity, clemency, and LGBTQ+ leadership in the industry.
Culture Machine, whose past work includes the award-winning Hollywood Black, is on a mission to amplify marginalized voices and shake up the status quo. Their efforts are resonating: since launching its socials in 2023, the company has seen over 600% organic growth and reaches 2.3 million users monthly.
By pairing grassroots storytelling with top-tier talent, Loud & Proud doesn’t just celebrate queer cannabis history, it insists on a future that’s even bolder.
Drag icon Laganja Estranja has been candid about her journey as a transgender woman, sharing her personal story and the hurdles she faced growing up.
As a prominent figure in the drag community, the RuPaul’s Drag Race star has found success in various facets of entertainment, but her journey to self-acceptance was not without its struggles. Speaking to Gayety at the GLAAD awards, Estranja opened up about how fear initially held her back from coming out and how the support of her parents, along with organizations like GLAAD, played a pivotal role in her personal and professional growth.
Estranja’s parents, who had already known their child was different from an early age, turned to GLAAD for guidance and support as they navigated how to best be supportive of their queer child. The star stated, “I grew up in Texas where it was hard to have proper access to anything queer,” Estranja revealed. “So my parents turned to GLAAD at a very young age when they realized that I was, let’s just say different, or as my dad would say, special.” She credits GLAAD with helping her parents create a safe space where they could better understand how to support her. “They really helped create a safe space for my parents to go and figure out how to be good parents to a queer child,” she added. This pivotal support laid the foundation for Estranja’s eventual acceptance of her trans identity and the confidence to transition publicly.
Laganja Estranja and VINCINT attend the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at The Beverly Hilton on March 27, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Estranja’s journey toward embracing her trans identity was not an easy one. Despite being a highly visible figure in the drag scene, she kept her identity as a transgender woman largely private for years.
Speaking to Attitude in the past, Estranja admitted to initially struggling with accepting her trans identity. “I didn’t want to accept that I was trans,” she recalled. “I was already such a queer, effeminate man who did drag… I kept my life very separate. I did my drag, and when the gig was over, I would get out of the clothes, out of the makeup, keep my beard, and really try to assimilate to society as a gay male.”
The turning point for Estranja came during the pandemic when she had the time to reflect on her life and identity. She shared that for a long time, she thought, “I’ll wait until my parents die. I can’t put them through this.” But something changed during the lockdown, and she realized that she wanted to be fully known and understood by her parents. “I wanted my parents to know me. I wanted them to see the brave, bold, beautiful child they had raised, who happens to be transgender,” she explained.
Transitioning and Seeking Support
Estranja’s journey continued with guidance from others in the drag community, particularly from fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Kylie Sonique Love, who has been open about her own experiences as a transgender woman. Estranja shared how meeting Sonique Love helped her navigate her own feelings. “When we first met on Mickey’s patio in West Hollywood, I came up to her and said, ‘I think I’m trans. What do I do?’ She gave me the advice just to take it step by step and to take it slow.” This supportive advice, coupled with her own self-reflection, helped Estranja move forward with her transition, which included gender-affirming surgery.
Last year, Estranja underwent breast augmentation and liposuction, procedures she described as “the greatest gift I’ve ever given myself.” However, Estranja is quick to point out that her transition has not been solely physical. “I think a lot of times, as trans women, we’re pushed to get a bunch of surgeries and do a big physical transformation,” she said. “But really, for me, my transition has been much more emotional and much more internal.”
Laganja Estranja’s New Ventures: Drag House Rules and God Save The Queens and More
In addition to her personal journey, Estranja is continuing to carve out new opportunities in the entertainment world. She stars in Drag House Rules, a unique reality competition series that premiered on OUTflix. The show features an eclectic cast, including other drag legends such as Jujubee, Manila Luzon, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, and Tammie Brown. Estranja highlighted what sets Drag House Rules apart from other competition shows. “We’ve never seen anything that is like a competition show but actually scripted, driven by a plot line and a creative story. It’s very unhinged,” she said. “It’s an iconic cast. I mean, you’ve got people from Dragula, you’ve got people from all different seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race. You’ve got some amazing guest features as well.”
Estranja’s involvement in the series is just one part of her ever-expanding career. She is also featured in the newly released film God Save the Queen, available on Amazon and Apple TV. The movie, which Estranja filmed in 2021, tells a story through different vignettes, all woven together at a therapy retreat. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Estranja found the experience to be fulfilling. “For me, it was so fun because I finally got to do what I love, which is act,” she explained. “It’s been a long-time passion of mine to diversify the content that I’m creating.”
A new satirical drag competition series is set to captivate fans of drag culture this week, and it’s not your typical reality show.
“Drag House Rules,” which premieres Friday, February 21, on OUTtv, is shaking up the genre with a blend of over-the-top drama, alliances, and unpredictable moments. The show brings together a star-studded cast of seven drag queens—six alumni from RuPaul’s Drag Race and one winner from The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula—to live under one roof and compete for a mysterious $100,000 prize package.
“Drag House Rules” takes what fans love about drag competitions and turns it on its head. According to the show’s synopsis, the queens will battle it out in a series of challenges that soon give way to chaos, secrets, and broken alliances. As the game progresses, the competition becomes increasingly unpredictable, with each contestant trying to outwit the others to stay on top.
The premise sounds familiar: drag queens competing for a grand prize. But the reality of the show may not be what it seems. Entertainment Weekly, which unveiled an exclusive preview of the series on Wednesday, February 19, suggests the show may be a scripted satire of drag reality TV rather than a traditional competition.
In fact, the preview includes playful hints that the series might not follow the typical reality format. The show’s creators appear to be poking fun at the genre, with quotes like “this ‘competition’ series might not be all that it seems” and “this peculiar ‘contest.’” Furthermore, John Mark Hostetler, the co-director of Trixie & Katya Live – The Last Show, is behind the direction of “Drag House Rules,” signaling that the show is likely a scripted comedy rather than a straightforward competition.
The trailer for the series supports this theory, showcasing the queens acting in exaggerated, over-the-top ways. In the preview, the queens are seen engaging in heated arguments, physical altercations, and coming up with new catchphrases—all while hosted by Tony Moore. The tone appears to be more playful and theatrical, embracing the campy, outrageous side of drag culture.
While the show may not deliver the same kind of nail-biting competition as RuPaul’s Drag Race, it is sure to appeal to fans who love drag and enjoy humor, satire, and unexpected twists. The series promises to deliver an entertaining mix of chaos, wit, and heart, all while giving drag fans a chance to see some of their favorite queens in a different light.
“Drag House Rules” joins a growing trend of drag-related shows pushing boundaries and exploring new formats, from reality competitions to scripted series. The show is designed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with each episode, offering a unique and humorous take on the popular drag competition genre.
With the premiere just days away, fans are eagerly anticipating the debut of “Drag House Rules.” If the exclusive preview is any indication, this show is going to be full of surprises, laughs, and plenty of dramatic moments to keep viewers talking long after the credits roll.
Don’t miss the premiere of Drag House Rules on OUTtv this Friday, February 21.
