--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's like, 'Oh, great, drag queens can…" description: "\"It's like, 'Oh, great, drag queens can excel!' - but then the ceiling is so low. You're only allowed on the first floor; you're not allowed to go play ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/sharon-needles-4305_career_it-s-like-oh-great-drag-queens-can-excel_3190214.png" --- # It's like, 'Oh, great, drag queens can excel!' - but then… ![“It's like, 'Oh, great, drag queens can excel!' - but then the ceiling is so low. You're only allowed on the first floor; you're not allowed to go play with the big boys upstairs. Even RuPaul, who's a massive success, has been limited to where her music career can take her.” quote by Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/sharon-needles-4305_career_it-s-like-oh-great-drag-queens-can-excel_3190214.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/sharon-needles-4305_career_it-s-like-oh-great-drag-queens-can-excel_3190214.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62d/sharon-needles-4305_career_it-s-like-oh-great-drag-queens-can-excel_3190214.png) > “It's like, 'Oh, great, drag queens can excel!' - but then the ceiling is so low. You're only allowed on the first floor; you're not allowed to go play with the big boys upstairs. Even RuPaul, who's a massive success, has been limited to where her music career can take her.” [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She critiques that success for drag queens is limited by systemic barriers, preventing full participation in mainstream arenas. **In simple terms:** Success for drag queens is limited by systemic barriers. Key Takeaway Challenge structural limits on queer expression. Themes equality media LGBTQ+ representation systemic bias career advancement Mood frustrated determined hopeful Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - entertainment industry - career planning - advocacy - policy reform - public speaking Key Concepts Cultural studies media representation gender performance Questions to Reflect On - What steps can break the “first floor” ceiling for queer artists? - How can mainstream platforms broaden opportunities beyond token representation? A Different Perspective Even high-profile successes may not dismantle underlying inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allowed Floor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed-floor-5881789/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Drag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag/) [Drag Queens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drag-queens/) [Floor Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floor-allowed-5881788/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-career/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Rupaul Massive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rupaul-massive-5881790/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Upstairs Rupaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upstairs-rupaul-5881787/) ## Related quotes > [My concept is drag queens are not a reflection of society, they are a fun house reflection of society where we bend, and twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/my-concept-is-drag-queens-are-not-a-reflection-of-society-they-are-a/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Not all drag queens but certainly the ones who empowered me, are people who pushed buttons, and poked fun at society from Leigh Bowery,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/not-all-drag-queens-but-certainly-the-ones-who-empowered-me-are/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [I think the reason people are propping up drag queens is because it's popular with the fans that identify with them, so we're great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/i-think-the-reason-people-are-propping-up-drag-queens-is-because-it-s/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Drag queens don't work well outside. We're designed for spotlights, not sunlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/drag-queens-don-t-work-well-outside-we-re-designed-for-spotlights-not/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Most drag queens dress up as super women, as an over exaggeration of the female form, because we like women, usually powerful women. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/most-drag-queens-dress-up-as-super-women-as-an-over-exaggeration-of/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [I never hate my bullies from high school. I actually kind of appreciate them. If it wasn't for that boot camp training of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/i-never-hate-my-bullies-from-high-school-i-actually-kind-of/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Drag really isn't just about exaggerating and celebrating femininity. Some drag queens want to look like monsters, some drag queens want to look like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/drag-really-isn-t-just-about-exaggerating-and-celebrating-femininity/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [I think it has been a weird mistake to have people with their own music careers going on and judging people because when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-think-it-has-been-a-weird-mistake-to-have-people-with-their-own/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Loose Women' didn't axe me. I had started planning the tour and album and Loose Women saw my list of 40 dates. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcdonald/loose-women-didn-t-axe-me-i-had-started-planning-the-tour-and-album/) [Jane McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcdonald/) > [I decided I wanted to use my real name 'Tierra Whack' when I decided I wanted to make music my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tierra-whack/i-decided-i-wanted-to-use-my-real-name-tierra-whack-when-i-decided-i/) [Tierra Whack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tierra-whack/) > [Family and friends always need to be bigger than your music career, and in that sense, your music will be bigger because you respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/family-and-friends-always-need-to-be-bigger-than-your-music-career/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [My high school career counsellor said I shouldn't pursue music as a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-faker/my-high-school-career-counsellor-said-i-shouldn-t-pursue-music-as-a/) [Chet Faker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-faker/) > [My music career has been very rewarding, but success never came easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-music-career-has-been-very-rewarding-but-success-never-came-easily/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [I was still on track to go UNC at Chapel Hill, I had no plans to be a musician. It wasn't even a goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porter-robinson/i-was-still-on-track-to-go-unc-at-chapel-hill-i-had-no-plans-to-be-a/) [Porter Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porter-robinson/) > [In films, I didn't crave the type of attention I had sort of stumbled into in my music career. And I do not audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-timberlake/in-films-i-didn-t-crave-the-type-of-attention-i-had-sort-of-stumbled/) [Justin Timberlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-timberlake/) ## More by Sharon Needles > [Any younger person - let's say if you're over the age of 30, Pride is a great excuse to go day-drinking. But no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/any-younger-person-let-s-say-if-you-re-over-the-age-of-30-pride-is-a/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Some people say, 'Oh you're a weird queen. You're a punk queen.' All queens are weird! I don't care if you're in a sickening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/some-people-say-oh-you-re-a-weird-queen-you-re-a-punk-queen-all/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [The most powerful woman I know is my mother, and she doesn't wear any make up at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/the-most-powerful-woman-i-know-is-my-mother-and-she-doesn-t-wear-any/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [I love taxidermy. I collect taxidermy. I'm fascinated by the art of taxidermy. But on a more artistic level, I look at taxidermy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/i-love-taxidermy-i-collect-taxidermy-i-m-fascinated-by-the-art-of/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [When most kids were hiding their eyes or cowering under the covers, I was three inches away from the television when horror movies were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/when-most-kids-were-hiding-their-eyes-or-cowering-under-the-covers-i/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Jason Voorhees was a kid who was picked on at summer camp, and Michael Myers was someone vilified by his own family. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/jason-voorhees-was-a-kid-who-was-picked-on-at-summer-camp-and-michael/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [PG-13' is kind of a scattered, almost movie soundtrack album, with elements of punk and metal and electronica.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/pg-13-is-kind-of-a-scattered-almost-movie-soundtrack-album-with/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [A drag queen on time is not a drag queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/a-drag-queen-on-time-is-not-a-drag-queen/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [It seems I am more beloved on a reality show from an extended cable network than I am in social circles in my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/it-seems-i-am-more-beloved-on-a-reality-show-from-an-extended-cable/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Love is a universal thing that everyone understands. Love, like death, is the only thing that binds humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/love-is-a-universal-thing-that-everyone-understands-love-like-death/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [If anyone boos you offstage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-boos-you-offstage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [I can't speak for all queens, but Sharon Needles is definitely a different entity from me as Aaron Coady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/i-can-t-speak-for-all-queens-but-sharon-needles-is-definitely-a/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [Well I grew up in a small town in Iowa and there weren't a lot of imaginative and fun outlets for kids of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/well-i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-iowa-and-there-weren-t-a-lot-of/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [I like work that pushes the barrier of bad taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/i-like-work-that-pushes-the-barrier-of-bad-taste/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) [Explore all 113 Sharon Needles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's like, 'Oh, great, drag queens can excel!' - but then the ceiling is so low. You're only allowed on the first floor; you're not allowed to go play with the big boys upstairs. 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