The moderately commercial strip of 17th Street in Dupont Circle was barricaded and blocked off from traffic for the annual “High Heel Drag Race” on Oct. 29.
Currently in its 27th year, the annual D.C. “High Heel Drag Race” is an informal run along 17th street near Dupont Circle. Mayor Vincent Gray, who was grand marshall for the 25th anniversary of the event, returned this year.
Police officers on bicycles and Segways pushed the bulging crowd close together, a mass of people getting ready to burst into the streets. To gain a view of the festivities, people balanced on parked bicycles, street lamps, unstable fences, garbage cans, gates and even each other as the sidewalks were turned into urban city trenches.
The Washington D.C. “Drag Queen Race” lasted for approximately four minutes after 9pm. Some participating drag queens waited up to three hours for a straightforward run that lasted four minutes, but for them those moments were precious minutes where they could freely express themselves and their excitement.
thescene@theeagleonline.com
