He used that power to make statements, quite often political statements.” Flag drag & the Statue of Liberty He melded politics with these theatrical garments for a form of performative activism, at events ranging from Gay Pride celebrations and the Oscars to the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump.Ĭharley Beal, a friend of Baker’s and his estate’s creative projects manager, says that “Gilbert knew the power of fashion in a ‘Devil Wears Prada’ kind of way.
But there’s a lesser-known legacy: Baker also used his sewing skills to execute dozens of drag ensembles that he wore to protests and celebrations dating back to the 1970s.
