The Untold Story of the Book that Defined '90s Drag

November 6, 2025 MANHATTAN, NY Thirty years ago, before the "Drag-Industrial Complex" took over TV screens, the art of drag lived in the vibrant, defiant corners of Downtown Manhattan. There was no guidebook to this dazzling, essential scene—until author Julian Fleisher took a massive gamble.

In the early '90s, the struggling writer, who'd found his tribe among the "misfits and weirdos" of the East Village, landed a $20,000 deal to chronicle this "edgy" world. That deal became "The Drag Queens of New York: An Illustrated Field Guide."

Fleisher's research required him to prove his legitimacy to a skeptical cast of queens who were "having a moment," appearing on MTV, and wary of outsiders. He faced unexpected costs—including a hefty $500 fee from Lou Reed for four lines of lyrics—but pressed on, intent on capturing a scene that was "feeding the energy of New York nightlife."

The book, with its playful, smart, and funny voice, was a "loving tribute" to a culture that was an "antidote to popular culture." Featuring the straightforward photography of Brooke Williams, it cataloged legends who "carried the torch of art through a dark, dark time—by that, I’m referring to the AIDS crisis.”

Today, the cultural import of that original work is celebrated at the Howl! Archive gallery in an expansive anniversary exhibit. As drag veteran Linda Simpson muses on the passing of time, this book stands as a groundbreaking, essential document of an era when drag was fierce, personal, and strictly "for the people in the room on that night."

(The exhibit runs through Nov. 30th.)