No Tea, No Shade presents intimate, hilarious, and inspiring essays by celebrated drag queens Lagoona Bloo, Julie J., Olivia Lux, Alexis Michelle, Kennedy Ann Scott, and Nina West.

Olivia Lux starred in Rent and Kinky Boots. Julie J raised over $100,000 for trans and LGBTQIA+ organizations. Alexis Michelle received a stellar New York Times review for La Cage Aux Folles. Nina West, who received an honorary doctorate in 2024, has worked with Glenn Close and Kermit the Frog.

No Tea, No Shade is a collective anthem: thirty essays by six queens exploring activism, Drag Story Hour, coming out, gender, parenting, rejection, relationships, womanhood, family, and image. These artists remind us that identity cannot be reduced to genitals and that the vilification of drag is a political distraction from issues like gun violence, poverty, and racism.

Despite risk, these queens fight for LGBTQIA+ rights with courage, humor, and defiance. Their legacy proves drag will endure hate—and prevail.

Moderated by Lea DeLaria—the first openly gay comic on U.S. television and jazz performer known as “Big Boo” from Orange Is the New Black (3 SAG Awards). Lea’s credits span Titanique, POTUS, On the Town, Shameless, Broad City, Cars 3, Support the Girls, and more