February 22, 2022
Watch: 'Drag Race' Queen Jasmine Kennedie Embraces 'My Truth,' Comes Out as Trans
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
"RuPaul's Drag Race" cast member Jasmine Kennedie came out publicly as a trans woman with a Feb. 18 Instagram post in which she revealed she has begun her transition, People Magazine reported.
Writing that she "always felt different" as she was growing up, Kennedie wrote that she had thrown herself into her career to the exclusion of figuring out what would constitute authenticity for her.
"Never did I take a chance to step back and ask myself, what does Kyle want to be or what does Kyle want to do. It was always what does Jasmine need to succeed," the drag entertainer wrote, referencing her legal name, Kyle Koritkowski.
"I though[t] drag was enough for me, I could take off the makeup anytime and no one would know me out of drag. But at a certain point in my drag career I was realizing that I was doing drag to fill the void in my own life."
LGBTQ+ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign took to Twitter to acknowledge and celebrate Kennedie's coming out.
"These moments don't just change opinions – they save lives," the group tweeted. "We couldn't be more proud of the queens of @RuPaulsDragRace helping create a brighter, better future for generations to come."
Kennedie is part of "Drag Race" season 14. She disclosed that now that the season is finished filming, she has started hormone replacement therapy, People noted.
"Everything I've wanted is finally happening and I am so thankful for the people who made it possible," Kennedie added, going on to thank the people who had been supportive and inspirational to her.
"I am proud to say I am Kyle, and I am a trans woman," the drag star finished her post.
Kennedie also spoke to her truth on an episode of "RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked," CNN reported, posting a video clip of the moment from the show.
"I definitely do feel that I am trans," Kennedie said on the show, breaking into sobs. "And I've been so scared to say it. I have held back from it for so long because I didn't want to hurt my dad."
Crying, Kennedie said: "But I can't lie about it any more: I am trans."
The performer went on to tell fellow trans "Drag Race" contestant Kerri Colby, "You are the ideal of what I want to be so bad."
Watch the video clip embedded in the HRC tweet below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
