“If you can’t love yourself,” RuPaul declares at the end of each episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, “then how in hell are you gonna love somebody else. Can I get an amen?”
No reality television show seems to have resonated with the LGBT community quite like RuPaul’s Drag Race. It encourages viewers—no matter their sexuality—to love themselves, to cherish what makes them singularly precious, and not to let anybody make them feel otherwise.
It’s fitting, then, that RuPaul made a PSA for National Voter Registration Day, urging his legions of followers to get to the polls and strut their 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th Amendments—that is, by sashaying into the voting booth.
One thing that makes RuPaul so estimable is his ability to both entertain and educate. This is reaffirmed by her Creative Arts Emmy award for outstanding host of a reality television series. RuPaul’s Emmy—the first nomination after eight seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race—signifies a cultural shift in the art form of drag. It also qualifies as a turning point in the LGBT movement.
After the marriage equality act was passed in 2015, some thought that the LGBT struggle was over. Tragically, this was not the case. The mass shooting at Pulse—the LGBT nightclub in Orlando—served as a blunt reminder that hate and ignorance are still omnipresent in this world.
Viacom’s corporate culture strives to advocate for LGBT equality, among other social justice imperatives. In the aftermath of the tragedy in Orlando, our brands linked up to help the victims and bring an end to such devastating hate crimes. Logo, our network devoted to the LGBT community, is on the front lines in our war against intolerance. RuPaul, arguably the voice of Logo, is using his immense power as an LGBT icon to encourage viewers to vote.
Just watch RuPaul’s PSA for National Voter Registration Day. Gay, straight, bisexual, or pan-sexual, this spot aims to stir your emotions:
As RuPaul proclaims, “This is the most important election in her-story. You better sissy that vote, y’all.”
It would be a real drag to give up your constitutional right to vote in one of the most important elections in American history. RuPaul has you covered. Just go to Vote.Usa.Gov to make your voice heard.
Logo’s subsidiary new site NextNowNext promotes another vital, yet underappreciated initiative—voting for Senate and gubernatorial races. Voters will decide who will sit in 34 U.S. senate seats in November, while 12 states will choose their next governor, including Missouri, Indiana, and Utah. Perhaps nowhere does this choice carry more consequence for the LGBT community than North Carolina, which passed a controversial bathroom bill that caused millions of dollars in businesses and events to flee the state, including the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, several NCAA tournament games, and a new PayPal facility. Your vote could potentially oust politicians who continue to defend such transphobic laws.
#SCOTUS returns to work on October 3: https://t.co/FjAaHMTerg
— NewNowNext (@NewNowNext) September 29, 2016
With less than a month before voting day, it’s imperative to stay informed. Logo linked up with NextNowNext News correspondent, LGBT activist, and YouTube celebrity Raymond Braun to engage its audience with a series of election-related videos focusing on LGBT issues.
In the first video, Braun interviews Stephanie Miller—author of Sexy Liberal—at the Democratic National Convention. “It could not be more important for your rights,” said Miller, “Or your kids’ rights, to get out there and vote.”
Watch the rest below:
In another compelling clip, Braun attends the Republican National Convention brunch to hear Caitlyn Jenner discuss her unique perspective as both a Republican and a trans woman.
See what Jenner has to say about this purported conflict of interest:
Even though National Voter Registration Day has passed, there is still time to register. Logo is informing viewers how simple it is to vote, using the app Hello.Vote. Send “HELLO” to 384-387 via text message or Facebook messenger, and answer a few short questions.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I tested the app and found out that I’m not even registered to vote at my current address…luckily the creators of this app took transient millennial voters into consideration. It took less than ten seconds to click-through to the D.M.V. registration site, where I was finally able to update my registration information. All you need is a valid government ID and address.
Clik here to view.
My conversation with the Hello Vote-bot. The registration process was surprisingly painless and straightforward, despite having to deal with the D.M.V.
Thanks to Hello Vote, I’m able to follow RuPaul’s advice.
If the sublime queen can make time to vote in between scoring Emmy nominations and trophies, so can you. Follow RuPaul’s lead and cast your vote on Nov. 2.
This is the fourth in a series of Viacom election recaps. Over the next month we’ll keep you updated with what our brands are doing to further Viacom’s mission of voter engagement and social justice.