Queer|Art and Megami Unite to Protect Queer Art With Limited Edition T-Shirt
Queer|Art, the national organization dedicated to connecting and uplifting generations of LGBTQ+ artists, has partnered with RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 fan favorite Megami on a limited edition artist-designed shirt, available now in exchange for a donation starting at $50.
The design draws directly from Megami’s now-iconic talent show performance, in which she lip synced to 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up” before revealing a series of protest signs. The final sign, reading “PROTECT QUEER ART,” became an instant viral meme and a defining cultural moment. All proceeds from the shirt benefit Queer|Art’s mission of cultivating intergenerational community among LGBTQ+ artists.
Queer|Art Executive Director Río Sofia said she had dreamed of the collaboration since watching the performance live at a Brooklyn bar in 2024. “Megami held up that sign at the exact moment mainstream support for queer people and LGBTQ organizations was collapsing,” Sofia noted, pointing to corporations abandoning Pride sponsorships and the disappearance of gigs for nonprofits, drag performers, and the artists who make queer culture visible.
“Queer artists are sacred,” Sofia added, “especially in times like these, when speaking truth to power is brave and necessary.”
The shirt itself is crafted from 100% ring-spun cotton, garment-dyed for softness, and digitally printed with water-based ink. It is available in black/white and white/pink colorways, fits true to size with a relaxed silhouette, and is designed for everyday wear.
The release marks the third drop of THE QUEER|ART TEE SHOP, a new initiative led by fashion designer and creative director Willie Norris, featuring artist-designed shirts released as open editions for limited windows of time. Previous drops came from artist and activist Avram Finkelstein and Queer|Art’s own Río Sofia.
Megami, a self-described “geek-chic” queen raised between Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Staten Island, carries Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Dominican heritage. Her drag name is drawn from her favorite JRPG series, a nod to her roots in gaming and cosplay culture. Beyond the viral “Protect Queer Art” moment, her Season 16 run included a main challenge win and a celebrated run in the Lip Sync LaLaPaRuza Smackdown. She has since built a reputation as one of drag’s sharpest songwriters, contributing verses to fellow Drag Race competitors.
The shirt is available at www.queer-art.org.
