I. Mission Statement

The International Drag KingCommunity Extravaganza, also known as IDKE, is an event that celebrates the mutability and performance of gender and is designed to draw together an international collection of persons interested in the many aspects of gender-based performance. IDKE strives to be collaborative rather than competitive, accessible rather than exclusive, and a safe space of respect and accountability.

See Appendix A for original IDKE Mission Statement (1999) & Revised Mission Statement (2001).

II. History

The First International Drag King Extravaganza (IDKE) took place on October 15-17, 1999 in Columbus, Ohio, and was founded by Julie Applegate (Jake), Shani Scott (Maxwell), Sile Singleton (Luster/Lustivious de la Virgion) and Donna Troka (dj love), in conjunction with H.I.S. Kings, Fast Friday Productions, the Kings Court, and many other Columbus community members. It was a first-of-its-kind event in that it was a collaborative, non-competitive gathering of drag kings, their fans, and the people who studied, photographed and filmed them.

In October 17-19, 2003, its fifth year, IDKE realized its true potential as a traveling annual conference with its move to Minneapolis, Minnesota where it was produced and hosted by FTM Productions. IDKE 6 took place in Chicago, Illinois from October 14-17, 2004, and was hosted by The Chicago Kings. IDKE became truly "international" in its seventh year, when it traveled to Winnipeg, Canada from October 20-23, 2005 where it was hosted by the Gender Play Cabaret. Without a doubt, IDKE has grown to be a huge national and international event. To date, participants have hailed from such countries as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, England, Germany, Sweden, and Ireland.

The fact that IDKE has begun traveling as the drag king community continues to grow has demanded two important things: an IDKE Steering Board & an evolution in focus for the events. The IDKE Steering Board was established in 2001 to identify a host city for IDKE 5 (2003). Along with the tasks of soliciting proposals from host cities and choosing the city best suited and prepared to host IDKE, the Steering Board also provides support and guidance to host cities. For more information, go to: www.idke.info.

And while IDKE was a gender-based event that was originally created in 1999 to focus on drag king culture, our king community has grown over the years. In 2001, a Bio-Queen Manifesto (that was presented to the community during the Saturday afternoon conference) requested that IDKE become more inclusive of all gendered performances. This movement continued for three years and a request to expand the focus of IDKE was again presented and discussed during the Town Hall Session at IDKE Chicago in 2004. A vote was taken at the end of the discussion, and as a result of that vote, the event’s name was changed to the International Drag KingCommunity Extravaganza (still abbreviated as IDKE). Finally in 2005, IDKE evolved to become a more all-encompassing gender arena where all forms of gender expression are welcomed and nurtured. In 2006, the IDKESC voted to rename itself the International Drag KingCommunity Extravaganza Board and began the process of applying for nonprofit status.

III. Philosophy

From its inception in 1999, IDKE has been dedicated to several goals. First and foremost, IDKE is a drag king community event that celebrates the mutability and performance of gender. We believe that intrinsic to this culture is a sense of collaboration rather than competition or hierarchy. If in the future, this event continues to grow and competition is a necessary preliminary step (to keep performance numbers manageable) we are dedicated to "creative competition" which avoids monopolies in regards to regional representation, generational representation, experienced vs. novice king representation. We also strongly discourage repeat performances.

Along with a collaborative environment, we are dedicated to ensuring IDKE is an "accessible" event. Not only must IDKE be physically accessible to participants with disabilities; it should also be regionally accessible to both rural and urban participants, as well as financially accessible (with both hosted housing and scholarships offered).
Please see Appendix B for elaboration on our definition of "accessibility".

IDKE strives to be a safe space for all its participants and consequently it works to embrace and treat equally all races, sexes, classes, sexualities, genders, body types and levels of ability. As a result, IDKE is an event that works toward and respects diversity in identity and ideology while simultaneously upholding freedom of speech. We understand that participants are coming from very different places with very different levels of awareness and consciousness, and therefore we must all be dedicated to dialogue, recourse, accountability and responsibility. Put more simply, all participants must be held accountable for what they say or do, while at the same time recognizing they have a duty to respectfully discuss problems or concerns they may have.

IV. Extravaganza Format

IDKE consists of five main parts: Dragdom, Showcase, Conference, Brunch, and Art/Film event. Any significant deviation from this format must be voted on by the IDKE Board in the same process as a change to the bylaws.

A. Performance Respect Clause
Much of drag performance is about entertainment and fun, but it is important to not lose sight of the fact that drag performance also can be a powerful medium that can either reiterate or deconstruct norms and/or stereotypes of gender, race, class, sexuality, and ability. Therefore, performers are asked to consider carefully whether or not the characters, costumes, and situations that they present on the IDKE stages are respectful of fellow performers and the audience. When in doubt about a performance, please ask a member of the current host city steering Board or IDKE Board.

B. Performance Guidelines
(host cities should consult the board should they feel they need to significantly deviate from these guidelines)

1. All Dragdom performances are limited to seven minutes.


2. All Showcase performances are limited to four minutes.


3. Showcase performers may appear on stage only once during the night.


4. New Performances are strongly encouraged for the showcase. Performers should not repeat a previous showcase performance.

V. Money

The IDKE Host City is responsible for funding the Extravaganza and reporting its finances, including all profits, to the IDKE Board no later than 60 days after the event. Profits from the event will be distributed as follows: 70% to current host city, 10% to next host city for scholarships, 10% to Board for maintenance of website and meeting expenses (copies and distribution of reports), and 10% to a cultural document of the Board’s choosing related to documenting the drag king community (for example, Kingdom magazine).

VI. IDKE Board Functions

As was stated earlier, the IDKE Board was established in 2001 to identify a host city for IDKE 5 (2003). Along with the tasks of soliciting proposals from host cities and choosing the city best suited and prepared to host IDKE, the Board also provides support and guidance to the host city and ensures the mission of IDKE is upheld.

A. Choosing IDKE Host Cities
The Board is responsible for choosing the host cities for the annual Extravaganza. IDKE 10 automatically returns to H.I.S. Kings in Columbus, OH, if they accept the invitation to host. For all other years, the Board will provide an application to host IDKE. Applications will be available at IDKE, on the Board website, and on drag-king listserves two years in advance. Applications will be due 18 months in advance, and the next host city will be decided 15 months in advance. In addition to looking for a host city with the resources, experience, and enthusiasm to take on this major event, the Board is committed to looking for diversity of location and population in host cities and their organizers.

B. Archiving
The Board is responsible for maintaining the institutional memory of IDKE. Whenever the financial and personnel resources are available, the Board will keep records of past IDKEs and make those records available to host cities and other interested parties.
See Appendix C for more information on our archiving plan.

C. Communication
The Board is committed to making itself, its decisions and processes, as well as IDKE as accessible and transparent as possible. To this end, the IDKE Board will do the following:

1. Maintain an informational website with IDKE mission and bylaws, board membership information, and links to past and present host-city websites. (www.idke.info)


2. Host a Town Hall meeting during the conference of each IDKE. This meeting will be used to discuss important changes to the IDKE mission or bylaws as well as guide the community through any other pertinent discussions. It is recommended that this event not conflict with other conference events.


3. Make themselves available throughout IDKE via an informational table and introduction of members at the brunch.

VII. IDKE Board Membership

A. Types of membership
The IDKE Board consists of twelve regular members as well as consultants who are former members. It is the hope and goal of the board to have its membership reflect the diversity of the community in terms of region, race, ethnicity, gender, age, etc.

1. Regular Members
   The twelve regular members are leaders in the international drag king community. The original members were selected or recruited by two of the founders of IDKE, Julie Applegate and Donna Troka. The regular members of the Board are responsible for all actions taken by the group. One (or two) members must serve as chair or co-chairs, one as present-host-city liaison, one as webmaster, one as next-host-city liaison, two as past-host-city liaisons, one as financial person, and one as archivist. Should new active positions arise as the event changes, they will reside within regular membership. In addition, members will publicize their areas of expertise (e.g. conference organizing, show production, etc.) as a way to facilitate communication with and assist the host city organizing team. The IDKE Board will also organize itself into working subcommittees to aid in the work of the group. Regular members are expected to participate in all meetings, contribute to all listserv discussions, and vote on all issues.


2. Consultants
   Once a Board member’s term is up, he or she may choose to stay active in the board conversations by serving as a consultant and maintaining the institutional memory of IDKE. Consultants are welcome to contribute to all listserv discussions but do not have voting rights.

VIII. Board Meetings

A. Logistics
Live board meetings happen twice a year: once in May at the Great Big International Drag King Show in Washington DC and once in October at IDKE. Virtual meetings on Instant Messenger also happen monthly. Listserv discussions happen on an as-needed basis.

B. Procedure
The Steering Board Chair, following a written agenda, facilitates the two live meetings. A minimum of six voting members (at least three must be regular members) shall be present in order to establish a quorum for those matters coming before the Board for a vote. Virtual meetings will consist of a preliminary email that presents an agenda and/or topic of discussion. Members then participate in an hour-long chat on set agenda topics. A summary and full transcript of each meeting is subsequently posted to the listserv.

IX: Amendments to the Mission and Bylaws

Amendments to the IDKE Mission or Bylaws may be made by a super-majority vote (75% or 9 of 12) of the board members.

Appendix A

Original IDKE Mission Statement (1999)
1st International Drag King Showcase
October 15-17, 1999
Columbus, Ohio
Presented by Fast Friday Productions

Presented below is a proposal for the First International Drag King Showcase produced by Fast Friday Productions and hosted by the members of H.I.S. Kings. This event is designed to draw together an international collection of persons interested in the many aspects of drag king culture. Such an event will present a unique opportunity to bring together many different types of people interested in performing, watching, photographing, filming, and writing about female to male drag. This event will encompass performances, academic and non-academic workshops, presentations of papers, breakout sessions, and panel discussions. All of which will create a space that fosters dialogue about female to male drag and inspires networking around the subject.

It is proposed that the event take place the third weekend of October 1999. Ideally events would take place on the campus of Ohio State University, in Summit Station and at Wall St. The showcase would be designed to attract a wide array of participants, ranging from established drag king performers, to aspiring kings, to feminist theorists, to transgender activists, to fans of FTM drag, to artists engaged in photographing or filming drag king subjects, to students interested in the study of drag king culture, etc. Ideally, participants would come from all over the world.

WHY THIS WOULD BE GOOD FOR FAST FRIDAY PRODUCTIONS, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE:

The popularity of FTM drag is soaring and no one has yet brought all the scattered performers together. Judith Halberstam is the only person we are aware of who has attempted to take a comprehensive look at the FTM drag movement, and her research is now almost 3 years old. People tend to think that Club Casanova is the be all and end all of FTM drag; we in Columbus know that to be false. This showcase and conference would forever correct that error. If we hope for FTM drag to operate at some sort of cooperative level, that is, being fundamentally different to the cattiness of drag queens, someone needs to bring us all together before rivalries develop. We should be networking; this event would give us that opportunity. Drag king culture in Columbus, Ohio has always been a joint venture between the kings, Fast Friday Productions, our community of fans and supporters, and Ohio State University (even if they weren't always aware that they were supporting us!). This event will take that union a step further.

Written by Julia M. Applegate
Proposed to Coordinators of Fast Friday Productions by Donna Troka and Julia Applegate April 1999.

Revised IDKE Mission (2001)
From its inception in 1999, IDKE has been dedicated to several goals. First and foremost, IDKE is a drag king event and therefore should center on drag king culture. We believe that intrinsic to this culture is a sense of collaboration rather than competition or hierarchy. If in the future, this event continues to grow and competition is a necessary preliminary step (to keep performance numbers manageable) we are dedicated to "creative competition" which avoids monopolies in regards to regional representation, generational representation, experienced vs. novice king representation. We also strongly discourage repeat performances.

Along with a collaborative environment, we are dedicated to ensuring IDKE is an "accessible" event. Not only must IDKE be physically accessible to participants with disabilities; it should also be regionally accessible to both rural and urban participants, as well as financially accessible (with both hosted housing and scholarships offered).

IDKE must also be a "safe space," which to us means anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-classist, anti-homophobic, anti-transphobic, as well as anti-ableist. At the same time we believe IDKE should be a space that respects diversity in all its forms while upholding freedom of speech. We understand that participants are coming from very different places with very different levels of awareness and consciousness, and therefore we must all be dedicated to dialogue, recourse, accountability and responsibility. Put more simply, all participants must be held accountable for what they say or do, while at the same time recognizing they have a duty to respectfully discuss problems or concerns they may have.

Lastly, it is clear that IDKE is an event that celebrates the mutability and performance of gender. And while these aspects of gender can be articulated in many different ways, we encourage all showcase performances to have centralized drag king content.

Revised by the Steering Board Members in 2001.

Appendix B

In an ideal world, IDKE host cities could be able to provide the following accommodations

• Accessible communication forms — websites especially — compliance with ADA guidelines or the equivalent


• Accessible spaces for all weekend activities and events — including the venues for Showcase and Dragdom.


• Sign language interpretation or captioning available for sessions with hearing-impaired participants


• Sign language interpretation available at Showcase performance — this is a situation in which the interpreter could have prior access to songs in order to sign lyrics, and could interpret emcees' commentary


• Assistance locating hotel or transport accommodations in the host city, if requested


• Inclusion, in brochure or program, of info for disability-friendly transport options

Appendix C

The International Drag King Community Extravaganza Archives

Mission Statement
The mission of the International Drag King Community Extravaganza Archives is to identify, collect, and preserve materials documenting the history of the Extravaganza from 1999 to the present.

Administration
The IDKE Steering Committee will administer for the IDKE archival collection. Through the designation of an archivist (from the Committee membership), the Steering Committee will ensure that the collection will remain under the administration of the Committee until materials are donated to an archival repository. The Steering Committee will facilitate the safe transfer of materials as new archivists rotate into membership, and will be responsible for maintaining custody of collected materials.

Storage
As many archives as possible will be stored electronically. For those archival materials that must be physically stored, a selected member (who will be named on the Steering Committee website) will store materials in their home until resources become available to store them elsewhere.

Documentation Strategy
Collecting and preserving existing organizational records from IDKE host cities is the archivist's priority. When possible, collections from each city should include materials related to the planning and hosting of the Extravaganza, including publicity materials and publications about the event (e.g., newspaper or magazine articles, an issue of Kingdom). The host city collections should also include a copy of files comprising the web site used to provide information about the Extravaganza, transferred to the best available storage medium (e.g., CD or other digital storage medium).

The IDKE Archives are not currently collecting papers and materials from community members because of storage and preservation concerns.

Archivist's Responsibilities

1. Collection of existing records for the first through seventh IDKEs. The collection process will involve identifying, requesting, and selecting materials from host city organizers.


2. Development of a storage and preservation plan (in consultation with the Steering Committee).


3. Creation of a finding aid (list of materials and where they are stored -- box or file contents, etc.) for each IDKE host city collection.


4. Communication with an informal advisory network. The archivist will develop a network of professional and community contacts willing to advise the archivist and serve as a resource for addressing questions and concerns outside the scope of the archivist's experience.


5. Development of a documentation strategy for future IDKEs if storage and preservation resources are available. Ultimately, it is our hope that the archivist could begin to think about developing archiving practices and collection guidelines in conversation/consultation with a small community group, which could include: the archivist, past organizers, community members, researchers, and folks involved with other projects to document drag king community culture.