The Art of Drag, a Panel Discussion

Free. Registration required.Registration open up one month prior to the event.
Join the Cincinnati Art Museum (CAM) for The Art of Drag, a lively public panel exploring drag as a powerful cultural and artistic force. Moderated by local LGBTQ+ independent journalist Missy Spears of Queer Kentucky, the conversation will bring together local queer professionals to reflect on drag’s history, its role in world culture, and its evolving future. Panelists will also discuss how drag intersects with performance, fashion, storytelling, visual art, and community expression. The program concludes with a Q&A with panelists. ASL interpreted.
 
Moderator
Missy Spears, Executive Director of Queer Kentucky
Missy Spears (she/they) is the Executive Director of Queer Kentucky, Kentucky's only LGBTQ+ newsroom, which she has helped grow into a nationally recognized outlet reaching more than 8 million readers annually. Under her leadership since 2023, Queer Kentucky has earned multiple GLAAD nominations, and in 2025 Missy received the Jeanne Córdova Award from NLGJA, one of the most prestigious honors in LGBTQ+ media. She also serves on the Cincinnati Art Museum's Community Advisory Committee.
 
Panelists
Jake Hogue (Queen City Queer History), Freelancer
Jacob Hogue (he/him) is a public historian with a master’s degree from Northern Kentucky University. He is the author of Cincinnati Before Stonewall: The Untold Queer History of the Queen City. He also serves as the History and Legacies Chair for Cincinnati Pride and is the creator of Queen City Queer History Tours, the region's only LGBTQ+ walking tour company. Jacob lectures at universities and businesses across Ohio and Kentucky, and his work has been published in Ohio Valley History Magazine, Queer KY Magazine, and the NKY Tribune.
 
Ryan Thoreson (University of Cincinnati), Professor of Law
Ryan Thoreson (he/him) is the Associate Dean of Faculty and Research and an Associate Professor of Law at the U