Byron B Craig (Ph.D. Indiana University) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. Dr. Craig’s research focuses on race, racism, and citizenship in American democracy. His work has appeared in journals such as Cultural Studies and Critical Methodologies, The Journal of Religion and Communication, Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning as well as edited volumes such as The Gig Economy: Workers and Media in the Age of Convergence (London: Routledge, 2021) and in Beyonce in the World: Making Meaning with Queen Bey in Troubled Times (Wesleyan, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2021). He is co-editor of the forthcoming volume Rupturing Rhetoric: The Politics of Race and Popular Culture Since Ferguson (2024). Dr. Craig is also a Fellow with the American Democracy Project and Faculty Fellow and chair of the Committee on LGBTQIA+ Policies and Initiatives at Illinois State University. He can be reached at bbcraig@ilstu.edu and is on Mastadon at bbcraig@zirk.us . “I have lived as an Out individual since I was 18 years old and have relished every single moment (both good and bad times). As a member of the LGBTQAI2S+ community, I have experienced quite a bit, including the loss of numerous friends during the era of AIDS/HIV. I have also loss friends to senseless acts of violence due to domestic violence and their identity. But, I have also enjoyed the activism I’ve been involved in for LGBTQAI2S+ rights starting when I was young and even presently. The work I’m doing as a member of the President’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, chairing the LGBTQAI2S+ Subcommittee on Policies and Procedures means a great deal to me and my hope is that it creates even more change at ISU, the Bloomington-Normal community and beyond as our community is facing numerous challenges that we must learn to navigate and fight. Additionally, as a former Drag artist (or, are we ever former—I put on the Drag this past June for a charity cycling ride), I am extremely happy that Drag Royalty is here. As an active, entertaining, and educating organization, it brings me a great deal of joy to know DR is creating more safe spaces for students to live out loud and to live out loud safely. While I am never concerned with being liked, I want those of us who are in the community to be treated equally, equitably, and receive the full legal rights as those who are considered more in the mainstream. In the end, I am very proud to have been a part of the origin story of Drag Royalty. Watching this group grow and glow has been one the most awarding experiences I have had during my time here at ISU. Stay working and teaching loves, Madame is always here if you need me.”