Tom Henderson-Griffiths, better known by their stage name Aunty Ginger, has today released a new single talking about unwanted touching at drag performances. The single, called Don’t Fxcking Touch Me, is available now on all major streaming platforms, with an accompanying music video that will shortly be available on YouTube.
Don’t Fxcking Touch Me has been produced by the extraordinarily talented Adam Joseph, who has previously released viral tracks including Linda Evangelista featuring Aja from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and The Rent featuring Lady Red Couture. This is Adam and Ginger’s second collaboration, following Adam’s remix of Ginger’s single Stay In.
Don’t Fxcking Touch Me is a 3 minutes and 23 seconds-long song that balances welcoming one and all to the show with light-hearted warnings against touching the performers. But despite the levity, the subject matter is serious, and directly inspired by Ginger’s experiences during her career as a drag queen.
“On a nightly basis when performing I have my wigs, costumes, jewellery, bum, chest and genitals grabbed by total strangers – despite very clearly laying down ground rules, and regularly reminding people about it throughout the night,” says Ginger. “I released this song partly to entertain, but also to make it clear that unwanted touching, of anyone, is never OK – and if it goes far enough, it’s sexual assault. So, I also hope that the song starts some productive conversations about what is and isn’t appropriate at a drag show – or any kind of show.”
Unfortunately, this kind of assault is depressingly common. In 2021 the contenders on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK discussed their experiences, with all four remaining queens sharing experiences of being touched inappropriately during performances and while travelling; in April 2022 the Liverpool Echo reported on inappropriate touching, speaking to several local drag queens. These stories abound – yet, if you search the web for information about unwanted touching or sexual assault against drag performers, the results are very few. “My social media feeds are filled with horror stories from fellow performers, and the stories I’ve personally heard go well into the hundreds. It can be incredibly damaging for the performer, both physically and mentally, and though security staff are generally very supportive and quick to take action, if they don’t get there in time then the damage is done.”
Despite this, during writing and recording Ginger was passionate that the song remained upbeat. “One of my mentors told me: ‘don’t get paid to be angry, get paid to educate people,’ and that’s the tone I wanted to take with this song. People come to experience drag to have a good time – and the performer getting angry or upset can spoil that experience for the rest of the audience, which I’d hate to do. You could play this song at any point in your set without spoiling the vibe.”
The accompanying video, produced by Scruffy Bear Pictures Ltd, features nine drag artists and nightlife entertainers from a range of styles, ages, genders and backgrounds – making it clear that unwanted touching is a problem for all sorts of performers. “Scruffy Bear Pictures Ltd are passionate allies,” Ginger comments, “who wanted to help me start this conversation. I’m very grateful to them for helping me bring the video to life.” In order to continue raising awareness of the issues faced by drag and other performers in the industry, Ginger will be donating a percentage of any profits generated from the song and video to various LGBTQ+ charities.
Now available via Apple Music.
About Aunty Ginger
Aunty Ginger is the stage name of Tom Henderson-Griffiths. Ginger is a drag queen based in Manchester, who has been working professionally in drag since 2019, and went full time in January 2022. Ginger works all over the UK performing Cabaret, Standup and DJing in a range of pubs, clubs, cabaret venues and private events. Ginger can be booked via their website, AuntyGinger.com
About Adam Joseph
One of the leading forces in the queer underground music scene, Adam Joseph is not only an award-winning vocalist, he’s also the mastermind producer and songwriter behind other artists like Peppermint (RuPaul’s Drag Race S9) and Jonny McGovern (Hey Qween). He has released 2 solo albums, been a featured vocalist on songs with Grammy Nominated DJ/Producer Bob Sinclar, Wet Fingers, Plastik Funk, Lem Springsteen of Mood II Swing, and been remixed by Bass Jackers, David Jones and Deeplomatik. He has written songs for #1 Billboard artists like Inaya Day and Lea Lorien. His ever-growing collection of viral smashes has gained millions of listens online.
About Scruffy Bear Pictures Ltd
Scruffy Bear Pictures Ltd is on a mission to produce visual content that resonates with viewers, regardless of genre, scale or platform, with awards from Cannes and the National Film Awards under its belt. From creating the overall strategy, to organising and executing the shoot, to managing the multifaceted post-production process, Scruffy Bear Pictures Ltd ensures its clients’ projects are seamless from start to finish.