Let's face it: the planet is pretty much on fire. From rising sea temperatures and dying coral reefs to rapid deforestation and all manner of pollution, humanity's effects on nature have been devastating to say the least. With so much destruction happening to our natural world, it can seem nearly impossible to effect any meaningful change. But that hasn't stopped Queens for a Cause.
Established in 2023, Queens for a Cause is a Tokyo-based, queer-run organisation that puts on several drag shows throughout the year featuring local and international talent. Each themed show is dedicated to a specific environmental cause, toward which QFAC donates a portion of its earnings. Whether it's saving pollinators, protecting polar ice caps or cleaning up our oceans and beaches, QFAC donates to a wide variety of organisations that dedicate themselves to helping the planet.
The collective is the brainchild of Polaris, a Jill-of-all-trades with a backstory as intriguing as the drag shows she produces. The American flight attendant spent her youth working on a farm in Connecticut before studying dance in New York. While in the Big Apple, she landed internships working in the fashion closet at Allure and the accessories closet at Vogue, among other places. The travel bug eventually brought her to Japan in 2013, where she would remain for over a decade working with special needs children.
As for her experience with drag, Polaris had dabbled during her time in NYC, but it wasn't until after the pandemic that she considered producing her own shows in Tokyo. Wanting to make her events stand out, she had the novel idea of combining drag with another of her many interests: environmental activism. To help bring her vision to life, Polaris recruited her close friend, veteran performer and experienced event producer Stefani St Slut.
Within just a few months, Queens for a Cause was born. The group's debut show – entitled 'Global Crisis' – premiered November 2023 and raised over ¥60,000 for the Environmental Defense Fund. Since then, the group has raised over ¥1 million for nine different local and international organisations. Each show now brings in around 60-70 attendees, and numbers only continue to grow as the performers find new ways to keep audience members entertained, all while enlightening them on global issues.
'When someone like [drag performer] Meringue can tell a story about love and death while portraying a fig wasp and teaching about the importance of pollinators, you know you have something special', says Polaris regarding the popularity of the unique performances.
'The queer community is specially equipped to deal with injustice, as we experience it all our lives and it's woven into the fabric of our history,' she continues. 'Drag and simply being queer is activism in and of itself, so I think when you connect that sensibility with a cause that really affects all people, not just the gays, it creates an even bigger sense of import and connectedness. I wanted to harness the gay community's power into a direction that wasn't just about us, but about our global community as a whole.'
Polaris's vision has certainly paid off. Queens for a Cause has recently attracted the attention of a big-name global NGO as a new collaborator, whose name will be revealed during the group's upcoming two-year anniversary on November 15 at Gyoen Rosso 198. The show's theme is 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' and will welcome a dozen drag performers to strut their stuff on the stage.
Before the big anniversary show in November, QFAC is giving a regular performance on September 20 dedicated to preserving alpine forests – follow the group on Instagram @queensforacausetokyo for details. As for future goals, QFAC plans to continue expanding and diversifying its line-ups, and hopes to make an appearance at Tokyo Pride 2026.
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