USA: Drag queen RuPaul crashed New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary scene clearing up a possible case of mistaken identity for voters who might not have been paying close attention

Record ID: 346459

  • Title: USA: Drag queen RuPaul crashed New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary scene clearing up a possible case of mistaken identity for voters who might not have been paying close attention
  • Date: 8th January 2012
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 7, 2012) (REUTERS) DRAG QUEEN RUPAUL INSIDE ARROW DINER SAYING TO PATRON: "I'm RuPaul, pleasure to meet you. Not Ron Paul." RUPAUL'S CAMERA CREW FILMING DINER PATRONS WATCHING AND TAKING PHOTOS OF RUPAUL RUPAUL ASKING PATRONS TO VOTE IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY RUPAUL'S CAMERA CREW VARIOUS OF RUPAUL TALKING TO DINER CUSTOMERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DINER CUSTOMER TELLING RUPAUL "You should run because seeing you and Santorum in a political debate together would be hilarious." RUPAUL POSING FOR PHOTO WITH DINER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CAROL SHEEHAN, RED ARROW DINER OWNER, SAYING: "I was actually, we were all like: why isn't he dressed? But he, I like him, he was cool." (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAREN ELLIS, DINER CUSTOMER, SAYING: "RuPaul being down here was definitely a boost for the folks that are not in the typical faction. Santorum who mouths off about homosexuality leads to polygamy and all this other BS and heading backwards when we need to be going forward. And him coming down and saying that no, the right thing to do is to go out and change things is the best thing he could have done." DINER OWNER CAROL SHEEHAN TAKING PHOTO OF RUPAUL WITH EMPLOYEE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DRAG QUEEN RUPAUL SAYING: "This is not a cheap publicity stunt. I flew here first class on American." VARIOUS OF RUPAUL SITTING AND TALKING TO DINERS RUPAUL POSING FOR PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DRAG QUEEN RUPAUL SAYING: "You know I'm really not a political person by nature. But I do believe that every time a man puts on a pussycat wig and a pair of cha cha heels, he's making a political statement. And really, this country is all about freedom. Live free or die, that's what I say." VARIOUS OF RUPAUL WITH DINERS EXTERIOR OF DINER RUPAUL SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS OUTSIDE VARIOUS OF RUPAUL FANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIAMOND!, RUPAUL FAN, SAYING: "He's coming here to show his support for us, and it means a lot to a lot of people." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TAI HELTEY, RUPAUL FAN, SAYING: "Absolutely, I think he'd make a great candidate. He's all about love. He has the slogan 'if you can't love yourself, how can you love somebody else' and I think that's what the world needs right now." (SOUNDBITE) (English) JENNIFER SAPP, RUPAUL FAN, SAYING: "RuPaul be better than any political candidate, most definitely." RUPAUL SURROUNDED BY FANS SAYING "You better vote!"
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAENMVSGKMWU6XE9B35SFUAETP1
  • Story Text: Drag queen RuPaul crashed New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary scene on Saturday (January 7) clearing up a possible case of mistaken identity for voters who might not have been paying close attention.
    "I'm RuPaul, pleasure to meet you. Not Ron Paul," he told customers at the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester.
    Most would not mistake the notorious celebrity - singer, actor, reality TV star and the first drag queen supermodel - for Ron Paul, the 76-year-old Congressman and former obstetrician, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination.
    Several members of the local gay and lesbian community, as well as adoring fans of all stripes, came out for the occasion.
    RuPaul was not in drag on Saturday, but instead looked spry in a stylish teal double-breasted suit and black fisherman's cap.
    Diner owner Carol Sheehan said she was disappointed that RuPaul wasn't dressed in drag.
    "I was actually, we were all like: why isn't he dressed?"
    But for his fans at the diner, whether he was in drag or not didn't matter.
    Many in the crowd were aware of comments made on Thursday (January 5) in New Hampshire by Republican contender Rick Santorum, which appeared to compare same-sex marriage to polygamy.
    Manchester resident Karen Ellis said, "RuPaul being down here was definitely a boost for the folks that are not in the typical faction. Santorum who mouths off about homosexuality leads to polygamy and all this other BS and heading backwards when we need to be going forward. And him coming down and saying that no, the right thing to do is to go out and change things is the best thing he could have done."
    RuPaul vigorously denied that he was merely trying to promote his cable television show, "RuPaul's Drag U," a reality series featuring RuPaul and a team of drag queen "professors," the new season of which starts Jan 30 on Logo.
    "I want you to know that this is not a cheap publicity stunt," said RuPaul. "I flew here first class!"
    RuPaul fan Diamond! said seeing Paul was inspirational.
    "He's coming here to show his support for us, and it means a lot to a lot of people."
    Others like Tai Hetley said they thought he should they would like to see Paul enter the political arena.
    "I think he'd make a great candidate. He's all about love. He has the slogan if you can't love yourself, how can you love somebody else and I think that's what the world needs right now."
    As RuPaul left many of the crowd were heading off for early-morning mimosas at a nearby bar, and preparing for an gay pride rally and march on Saturday afternoon.
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