In spring 2023, Texas Christian University (TCU) offered a unique course exploring the intersection of drag, queer theory, and performance. Titled "The Queer Art of Drag," the course, taught by Nino Testa (whose drag persona is Maria von Clapp), challenged students to develop their own drag personas and delve into the rich history and social significance of drag.

Offered through TCU's Women and Gender Studies Department, the course utilized a syllabus that framed drag as a powerful form of social commentary, pedagogy, and queer world-building. Students examined the work of gender theorist Leslie Feinberg, whose writings challenge the conventional understanding of the gender binary and encourage a more fluid and expressive approach to gender identity.

Texas Christian University's "The Queer Art of Drag" course allowed students to explore drag as a form of social critique and self-expression. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)

Students in the course culminated their learning by creating and performing their own drag personas. (John Amis/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign)

The curriculum included readings and videos exploring drag's impact on various aspects of society, including early childhood education. (David McNew/Getty Images)

The course syllabus included readings that examined the gender binary as a tool of white supremacy and the ways in which drag performers have been targeted by the far right. Students also engaged with works exploring drag pedagogy and its potential in early childhood education, including pieces by Harper Keenan, Lil Miss Hot Mess, and Mary Zaborskis.

A key component of the course was the creation of a one-to-two-minute solo drag performance, which students recorded, edited, and presented at TCU's Annual Night of Drag. This culminating project allowed students to put their theoretical learning into practice and experience the transformative power of drag firsthand. The course also touched on controversial topics, such as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and their recognition by the LA Dodgers.