The Queens of Queen City by Michael O. Snyder

Cumberland, Maryland, was once ‘The Queen City’, a hub of industry and culture in Appalachia, a region known for its Bible Belt conservatism and Rust Belt work ethic. The story of Cumberland parallels that of many once-great cities throughout the Appalachian region, with the gradual departure of industry and, with it, a slow descent into economic stagnation and cultural decline. But even here, flowers are growing in the cracked pavement. The queer community has banded together to create a thriving drag scene, and – against all odds – built the largest Pride movement in the region, even as a growing backlash against drag queens has emerged across the United States. The Queens of Queen City is a documentary and portraiture project exploring the courage, risks and repercussions of openly expressing LGBTQ identities in rural America.