ORLANDO, Fla. — A new drag show is getting started in Central Florida. Called “Thrive,” the show is the brainchild of a group of friends who are working to make drag accessible for people who are disabled.

Skylar Elliott Heart and David Santiago-Tate have bonded a lot over their love of drag. However, both say they’ve found themselves avoiding bars or clubs because they can be overstimulating. Unfortunately, these sorts of venues are commonly where drag shows are held as well.

In a conversation with a friend, Santiago-Tate said he learned the friend had difficulty attending a show because there wasn’t a space for their walker. It’s stories like those that encouraged them to create a new space for drag artists and allies.

“A lot of the LGBTQIA+ community are disabled. We often are hidden in the shadows, like we don’t exist and marginalized by our own, ironically, LGBTQ community, who is already marginalized,” said Heart.

Both are trans and say having open community spaces is important to them. They want to make sure drag is accessible.

“It can be anything you want it to be. Anybody can do drag,” said Santiago-Tate.

Santiago-Tate loves to see drag transformations and when he’s not helping with the drag show, he’s working out of his special effects makeup studio, Punk Rock Makeup Studio.

They are now on the hunt for venues that are disability-friendly. While making plans, they’ve gotten help from Santiago-Tate’s partner, Patrick, who has experience in planning events.

“Seeing how they’re using it as a vehicle to come out of their own shells and challenge their own selves is inspiring,” said Patrick Anderson, who performs under the name, “Stella Boheme.” “But it also gets me to start thinking, ‘How do I challenge myself in my own life?’”

Thrive is currently looking for new disability-friendly venues. If you have one in mind, you can contact them here.