Among Dragons and Drag Queens is always fully booked at Skellefteå library.
With less than a month to go until this year’s Skellefteå Pride, I’d like to propose a theory: Skellefteå is hungry for more drag queens.
Allow me to explain, but first, let’s rewind a bit.
It’s 2023, and RFSL Skellefteå (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights) is in the midst of planning Skellefteå Pride 2024. I don’t quite remember how or when the idea of hosting a drag show at Mandel restaurant came about, but someone floated the idea, and the restaurant embraced it. They were enthusiastic but a bit nervous. They had never organized anything like this before and weren’t sure how it would be received.
I must admit, I was nervous too. Pride Week was in full swing, and, as we on the RFSL board were finishing our dinner at Mandel on the night of the show, the atmosphere among the other guests was pleasant but quite reserved.
When a group of striking drag queens took the stage and introduced themselves as the drag show group Tuck ’O Hej, I still had no idea how the evening would unfold. While I had seen Skellefteå become a more open city over the years, there were traces of small-town mentality that still lingered.
But I think everyone who was at Mandel that Friday evening a year ago would agree—it was a resounding success. The people of Skellefteå got swept up in the energy, and no one could get enough of these vibrant drag queens. For many, it became the highlight of Pride Week.
Then there’s the recurring event 'Among Dragons and Drag Queens' at Skellefteå’s library, a programme where a drag queen reads stories to children. Since its inception, the event has consistently been fully booked, with a long waiting list. Perhaps it’s because parents want to show their children that there are people who dare to break free from gender norms. Perhaps it’s simply the appeal of something different, with glitter and glamour. Or perhaps it’s true—Skellefteå is hungry for drag queens.
Norran's editorial columnist Linnéa Wikman in Skellefteå's Pride parade.
I think this might be right, suggesting drag queens might represent something more profound. Perhaps Skellefteå isn't merely craving drag performances, but yearning for a more inclusive society that celebrates cultural diversity and seeks entertainment beyond watching Skellefteå AIK playing hockey.
Against the backdrop of the Sweden Democrats' vocal opposition to drag performers nationwide, the preservation of drag show culture feels increasingly significant for Skellefteå Pride 2025. The event's resilience becomes a statement of community values.
As testament to this spirit, the drag show group Tuck 'O Hej will return to Mandel, while the beloved 'Among Dragons and Drag Queens' event will once again bring vibrant entertainment to Skellefteå library's children's space.
The Pride parade in Skellefteå 2024. The drag show group Tuck O'Hej performed.
Of course, sequins, glitter, and dazzling shows are wonderful, but bringing drag show culture to Skellefteå is also a significant symbolic act. It’s a statement that we won’t back down in the cultural war the Sweden Democrats have declared against drag queens.
I hope I’m right. I hope Skellefteå truly is hungry for drag queens, drag show culture, and everything it represents. I want to live in a city like that—a city that welcomes the unconventional.
Linnea Wikman, independent editorial columnist