The Great Read: A Drag Queen Leaves the Stage on Her Own Terms
Kai Lee Mykels often said her goal was to make straight men uneasy, but that was a gag. Her creator had a bigger goal in mind.
The New York Times
The Great Read

July 25, 2025, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

On weekdays and Sundays, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times — a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go.

Kai Brown, wearing a blond wig, a sparkly pink dress and heavy drag makeup, lip-syncs onstage in front of a screen that says “Hanging Up the Heels.”

A Drag Queen Leaves the Stage on Her Own Terms

Kai Lee Mykels often said her goal was to make straight men uneasy, but that was a gag. Her creator had a bigger goal in mind.

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