A southern born fur queen here to rock your world and get you to the voting booth: we all jump for Shaneeda Bump!
Thotyssey: Hi Shaneeda, thanks for chatting! How’s May treating you so far?
Shaneeda Bump: May has been really great! I just moved into a new apartment, and my drag now has its own place to live… which really makes my life so much better.
I bet! how long have you been a queen now?
A bit over two years now; I started my drag career in DC.
Is that where you’re originally from?
Actually, no. I was born and raised in a small town outside of Nashville, TN. The anti-LGBTQ bans there really hit close to home, and inspired me to start working with Drag Out the Vote.
Did you happen to watch the first three eps of We’re Here, which all take place in Tennessee? It paints a pretty sad picture of what’s been happening with queer acceptance in that state (spoiler: it’s pretty backwards). Was that what you experienced, or do you think it’s maybe gotten even worse since you left?
I’m a bit behind on We’re Here at the moment, but I’m not surprised that there were lots of obstacles. Growing up there, I never came out due to the fact that I literally never saw anyone around me that was queer. I imagine that since I left, things have potentially gotten worse. It seems like after the 2016 election, many people who used to keep their bigoted opinions to themselves have become more vocal. It definitely feels like progress has slowed in the south over the past few years
Very distressing, but hopefully things will turn around after we officially put Trump behind us.
Yes, fingers crossed that everyone can put Trump and that whole mindset in the rear view.
Can you tell us a bit about Sheneeda’s birth in DC… how did that come about, and had you dabbled in performance prior to drag?
Shaneeda’s birth came from a variety of things. I grew up doing theater and chorus, and even continued a lot of that into college. As an adult, I really was missing the stage.
In DC, I was really close to several of the drag queens there, specifically Cake Pop and Venus Valhalla. Seeing the joy they had while performing, and their support when I was starting there, really meant the world to me.
I also attempted drag one Halloween before I started actually performing. I use “attempted” nicely, because ooooh did I look rough, but that time kind of scratched an itch in me that finally came to fruition when I performed for the first time as Shaneeda Bump at Duplex Diner for their Drag Race viewing party.
The bearded / hairy drag aesthetic is much more common now, but it still might prove surprising to fans who get their drag solely from, say, Drag Race!
Yes, while it is more common today, it doesn’t come without some obstacles. I actually remember one of my first competitions here, getting scored 0 points by a judge because she didn’t understand my “choice not to shave.”
For me, Shaneeda is a very important part of who I am… but so is Dalton. I love the Dalton with facial hair and body hair, and for me it doesn’t make sense to remove that part of Dalton when I become Shaneeda.
I often times like to be a hyper femme version of drag, but with the mustache and chest hair added–which can really mess with people’s conception of drag. But also, there are lots of people who identify as women with body hair… so I don’t think being hairless should be any sort of requirement for drag.
What do you like to do on stage?
A performance from Shaneeda Bump will often times be very campy, and often times just down right stupid. When preparing a number, I often channel all the stupid quotes and jokes in my head onto the stage.
Have you ever performed with Sheneeda Dickson, by the way? That would be a lot of Need on one stage!
I have performed with her a couple times! That’s one of my sisters, absolutely love her. We’re always saying we need to do a duet show called “A Dick and a Bump.”
Lol! What ultimately brought you to New York, and what are the joys and challenges of doing drag here?
I actually came to New York on kind of a whim; my best friend in DC got into NYU for grad school, and asked me if I would come up and be here roommate. I said sure, and moved up here without a job, and with only a few months of drag under my belt.
I think the biggest joy of being here has been the community and relationships I’ve made with fellow queens and people in nightlife. I can 100% say that my closest friends in New York are the queens I surround myself with.
I think one of the biggest challenges is that NYC drag does have a more competitive nature to it than DC did. For me, drag is a beautiful and amazing way for me to express myself, and who Shaneeda is. When I was competing several times a week, I feel like I lost that part of drag. Thankfully, now that I’ve been able to find bookings and create my own space here in NYC, I’ve been able to fall back in love with drag and why I do it.
You actually have a recurring show with Virgo Rising at Club Cumming called “D.R.A.G. (The Debauchery, Ridiculousness and Amusement Get-Down),” which returns Wednesday May 22nd with special guest Miss Woman the Woman.
Yes! “D.R.A.G.” has been such an amazing show, and I’m so thankful that Club Cumming has allowed us to expand and welcome in extraordinary guests like Miss Woman. “D.R.A.G.” is all about the fun and stupid side of drag. Virgo and I get to share just the most ridiculous sides of ourselves and our drag. It also doesn’t hurt that Virgo is truly my best friend, so our chemistry on stage is just unmatched.
Then Thursday, May 23rd you’ll be hosting “Pink Pony Club,” a Chappell Roan drag tribute at 3 Dollar Bill’s 9 Bob Note featuring Chase Runaway, Jamie CD, Roqué, Trey Jolly and DJ Eros Hedonista! Are you a full-on Chappell stan?
Oh yes. “Pink Pony Club” is truly going to be one of the best nights of my career; I’ve been a Chappell Roan stan since 2020, when she released Pink Pony Club. When I pitched this show, I wasn’t even sure 20 people would know who Chappell is… and we sold out the first two tiers within 24 hours!
Everyone in this cast are truly Chappell fans, and I’m so excited to see what they’re going to bring. I know that the whole night will truly be a tribute to our Midwest Princess.
Can you tell us a bit about what the prior mentioned organization you’re a part of, Drag Out the Vote, does? And also, how important is it for everyone to vote in this upcoming presidential, and all, elections?
Drag Out the Vote is a nonprofit organization that encourages everyone to vote with the use of drag performers. Often times when people walk into a room, the first people they notice are us drag performers–so we are using our voices and platforms to get people out to the polls.
Since Drag Out the Vote in a nonprofit organization, we are non-partisan and don’t endorse specific candidates… but we partner with organizations to discuss the issues facing our community. It’s so important to vote in this upcoming election (and every election) because queer rights are on the ballot this year.
It is estimated that the next president will have the opportunity to nominate three new Supreme Court justices, and we’ve seen these past four years how much power they have… so it’s important to vote, and vote for the candidate you believe will protect your rights and nominate justices that will do the same.
The importance of this moment should not be lost on anyone! Anything else to add?
I would like to remind everyone that all of us drag performers have been given a platform, and we impact the community and people around us. I encourage everyone to use their platform to help the people around them, and those who might not have the same opportunities that we do.
Thank you Shaneeda!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Shaneeda Bump’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Thotyssey 