American Masters

Joan Jett Blakk: The drag queen who ran for president

Special | 6m 13s | Video has closed captioning.

On her 35th birthday, Joan Jett Blakk, the drag persona of actor Terence Smith, ran for president in lipstick, heels and eyeshadow, continuing a long tradition of drag as political activism. Blakk had also run for mayors of Chicago and San Francisco. During these “campaigns,” Blakk advocated for policies that many politicians are still talking about today, including universal healthcare.

Aired: 08/06/21

Rating: NR

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Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

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