Better Know A Drag Queen: Mercedez Munro

Better Know A Drag Queen: Mercedez MunroPhotos courtesy of Mercedez Munro
Saul Sugarman
Published on February 12, 2017

This story is the first in a Hoodline series—“Better Know A Drag Queen”—chronicling San Francisco drag performers, their shows, influences, and favorite career moments.


Local drag queen Mercedez Munro slipped into her first performance dress after losing a bet in 1989. It was in a town in Michigan with her then-boyfriend.

“I don’t remember the bet,” she said with a laugh. “But I ended up having to perform in a local amateur drag competition.” And she won.

Turns out the role stuck with Munro, a self-proclaimed “theater gay” who eventually moved out to San Francisco, where she has showered us with “classic, old school” performances for 13 years.

Locals know her for her hosting monthly performances at Lookout in Castro, and many also remember a couple years ago when she made over HBO "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsguård, Farrah Fawcett style.

Munro—whose real name is Lonnie Halie—with Skarsgård in his first drag ensemble.  Skarsgård's drag name is "Lady Libido Lushbody."

As the first to doll up Skarsguård, Munro became his drag mother. “My claim to fame,” she said.

But the True Blood actor is not her only drag child. She estimates 26 queens in San Francisco carry the Munro name, all bestowed upon by her. They’re not all drag queens, either: some are DJs, party promoters, and makeup stylists.

They operate “as a family,” Munro said. “We go and support each other in any and everything that we do. It’s a business that runs itself. It’s great.”

Munro working on Skarsgård's drag look.

Drag dynasties are not uncommon in San Francisco: there’s the House of More with notable Juanita More, the House of Glitter, and others. For Munro, the largeness of her family shares obvious parallels with her desire to promote community and inclusivity.

“Hearing people say that I’ve inspired them to do drag or dress a certain way or do better is just very endearing to me,” she said. “If I’ve inspired even one person to do it, I’ve done my job.”

Munro draws inspiration from the late José Julio Sarria, a former political activist, drag queen, and founder of the Imperial Court, one of the largest and oldest LGBT organizations in the world. “He was ostracized for dressing up in women’s clothing,” Munro said. However, after Sarria died in 2013, Nob Hill's Grace Cathedral hosted a drag-themed funeral for him.

Munro has won several titles in the Imperial Court and on the drag pageant circuit, including Ms. Gay San Francisco, Ms. Gay California, and Ms. Gay United States. She’s currently running for Empress of San Francisco, an Imperial Court title with voting taking place on February 18th.

Again she pointed to Sarria as a reason for working the pageant circuit. “The Imperial Court has a reputation these days for being exclusive. I wanted to bring it back to Jose’s vision of being all-inclusive.”

And San Francisco drag culture is all-inclusive, Munro has observed. “All styles are appreciated here,” she said, noting a rise in bearded queens and ones who don’t use false breasts.

As for her own style, “I am old school drag all the way,” Munro said. “Feathers and rhinestones, elaborate costumes. I’m always on point and poised and looking really expensive.”

Munro "looking really expensive." | PHOTO: CLAYTON BECK

San Francisco is not known as an unwelcoming place for drag queens. But given the recent presidential election and resurging visibility of conservative voices, do queens feel scared?

Not Munro.

“It inspired me to do more,” she said. “The only way we can get through this is to stand together. And if anyone can get us to stand together, I guarantee you it’s a drag queen.”