Saskatchewan

Drag queens an important part of Queen City Pride

Matthew Bellisle, a 24-year-old Regina nursing student, performs in drag as Lexi Tres-Belle and says drag queens play a vital role in the gay community.

Matthew Bellisle says performing as Lexi Tres-Belle is exhilarating

By day, Matt Bellisle is a nursing student. By night, he's Lexi Tres Belle. He's leading a drag workshop at Pride Week in Regina.

Matthew Bellisle from Regina has been performing in drag for five years. Currently, Bellisle, 24, performs regularly as Lexi Tres-Belle, and was recently crowned Miss Gay Regina 25. 

Bellisle said he came out as gay to his family when he was 18 years old and started performing in drag shortly after. 

"Being able to express myself in this way is exhilarating," said Bellisle. 

Bellisle said his family has been very supportive and his grandmother has helped him sew his outfits. 

Bellisle is one of the organizers of a drag workshop. He said participants will experiment with makeup and dressing up and then there will be a mini-performance.

While the workshop is aimed at all ages, Bellisle said he is seeing more young people being attracted to the drag scene and wants to reach out to Gay Straight Alliance groups wth the event. 

"The gay community doesn't just start when you are bar age," said Bellisle. 

The drag workshop is on Thursday (June 18) and runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CST at the Q Nightclub in Regina.