Drag Queens Facing Demolition: Inside The Fear The Performers Face

The intersection of 4th and Colorado is set to be torn down for residential development.

After a successful weekend hosting an award-winning drag show, a day off was supposed to be a reward. However, 23-year-old David Bocanegra's relaxing Monday evening was cut short when a news headline popped up on his phone from his castmates. With his phone buzzing uncontrollably, all he could do was set it down and worry about the future of his career. 

With the impending housing crisis in Austin, many local businesses and communities of underrepresented groups have been razed to accommodate the growth. Coconut Club, Neon Grotto, and Oilcan Harry's have all been targeted by real estate developer Hanover Co. and with support from the city, the sudden threat to these queer safe spaces shocked employees and patrons of the beloved clubs. 

"I think the city is not seeing the positive changes we bring," Bocanegra said. "I know we have support from the Austin community but not from the government. Plus, allowing changes like this to happen means so many BIPOC, non-binary, and trans people will be affected, and it seems that is not a concern for the people in charge."

Later that week before his show as his drag persona Arinna Dior Heys, Bocanegra sat in the dressing room, recalling his first time in drag. On a whim before attending his first pride parade in 2018, one of his best friends decided to put him in drag, which began his passion for performing.

"It was a tragic display; I was marching down the street in heels that were way too small for my feet, a cheap wig that desperately needed to be brushed out, and a bright pink dress from Goodwill. But it was the beginning of something that would change my life."

Now adorned in a beautiful beaded gown with a flawlessly beat face to match, Bocanegra swallowed his fear, went out to do what he loved and hoped make enough tips to start saving for the uncertain future. 

The initial public report only suggested that these clubs were a potential development site. A few weeks later, though, the demolition plans became more concrete, and a push for historic designation came from the community but was quickly shot down. However, in a small victory, Hanover Co. agreed to preserve Oilcan Harry's and help them relocate during construction.  

"I wish there would have been a way for us to fight this. Because when we went to advocate for our home clubs in the courtroom, it felt already set in stone," Bocanegra said. "I feel like they took away a huge part of a community without giving us a chance to say anything about it."

Austin's queer community is not the first minority group to be under attack due to the city's growth. The city's Black community was the first to take a significant hit, going from 8.5% of the total Austin population in 2010 to 7.8% in 2020, even as the overall population continues to grow. The lack of affordable housing is driving this change, and the displacement of minority workers is being exasperated by the luxury apartment that Hanover Co. is building to take over the 4th St clubs.

"From what I've heard, it's also causing a lot of people to move away," Bocanegra said. "A lot of queer entertainers in the city are planning on moving out because work is going to be scarce, and the cost of living continues to rise."

While the heart of these queer nightlife communities was reeling with fear and shock, performers like Christopher Barbosa — drag name Justice MX — looked to preservation and government organizations to help support them in their fight. 

"When looking for support, we turned to places like the Austin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, The Downtown Austin Alliance, and Preservation Austin. However, it felt like our pleas were ignored," Barbosa said. "They claim to be advocates, but I never see them at our events in our spaces, which is ironic because they love to show up to our pride parades for photos, but I don't know if they are actually trying to advocate on our behalf."

In a statement from The Downtown Austin Alliance regarding their stance on the issue, they seemed to be supportive of the queer community in Austin, just not the queer nightlife community. They did not pose much support for the clubs themselves but redirected their attention to other queer spaces within Austin, almost conceding this effort as a lost cause before the fight even began.

"We understand the need to balance a housing shortage and affordability issues with preserving and fostering small businesses. Regarding the proposed demolition, we are pleased that Oilcan Harry's will be able to remain downtown while continuing to operate in a way that is sustainable for the business while also adding 400 housing units. In addition, we are expanding our efforts in things like a weekly market that celebrates inclusivity and diversity as Austin's first and only intersectional BIPOC, queer, Latinx, and local creatives-centered Mercado."

After a short and unsuccessful fight, Bocanegra is trying to figure out the next steps for his career, as there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the future.

"I moved to Austin from The Rio Grande Valley to do drag, and now that Coconut Club is set to be torn down, all the success I have had as a performer here could be erased in a few months." 

Although this fight was unsuccessful, Bocanegra hopes this does not discourage the LGBTQ+ community. This fight has been a huge area of discourse in the US for decades, and he hopes the city can learn from other successful queer designations and eventually solidify these spaces for Austin. 

"My dream is to have all this pain turn into a positive for the community by having a space in the future that is solely for us and does not feel like an afterthought. That way, we can feel like we truly belong as a part of this community."