Meet Dill Rye the Gender Guy.
Dill Rye the Gender Guy is an internationally-ignored “sexy-ologist.” He’s got a PhD in Sandwich Studies from the Hairy Benjamin Institute of Electrolysis and he’s the New York Times Worst-Selling Author of “Our Pickles, Ourselves.” Dill may have more questions than answers, but his favorite thing is sharing what he knows about gender and sexuality with anyone who consents to listen.
Through Dill Rye the Gender Guy, I teach comprehensive safer-sex education, queer and trans history, and activist skills to college students. I’m the creator of an annual show “Sexy-ology: Drag King Sex Ed” which provides sexuality and health information that centers queer and trans communities, groups usually underserved by public health education.
Teaching Pleasure and Power: Drag King Pedagogy
The disruptive power of drag allows me to challenge social norms in a way that intrigues and engages audiences who might otherwise be resistant. It also lets me subvert power to create a more liberated space. As a white drag king who occupies both oppressive and oppressed social identities, I am committed to teaching both solidarity and accountability. I do so through clowning techniques. My persona Dill Rye the Gender Guy takes on the trappings of expertise – a white lab coat and an absent-minded professor affect – but he satirizes the idea of Western, masculine knowledge. As Dill, I am a buffoon who learns alongside the audience. This approach makes my drag uniquely empowering for college students who have typically been treated as irresponsible, immoral, and ignorant in their previous sex ed classes. In comparison to Dill, they already know so much! But another important lesson is taught by Dill’s willingness to expose his ignorance: Dill normalizes learning and taking accountability for his mistakes, a critical skill for anyone building solidarity across difference. I call this approach drag king pedagogy.
Want to Bring Dill Rye the Gender Guy and Sexy-ology to your campus? Contact me!
