From George Michael to Gender Euphoria: A Trans Comedian's Drag King Story

Chris walked past a mirror after performing as George Michael and thought, "Who's that handsome guy?"

That moment changed everything.

Neural pathways unlocked. Gender euphoria arrived. And a journey that wasn't available before suddenly became possible.

In this episode of The Kings of Joy Show, I sit down with my spouse - yes, my actual spouse - Chris McAllister, aka Chase Cocks, The Trans Comedian. We talk about how we met as backup dancers for a Drag King parody performance, what it was like witnessing Chris's gender journey unfold, and how we built Kings of Joy and Queers of Joy together as a way of giving back what we'd found: community, belonging, and permission to become.

This conversation goes deep. The sliding doors moments. The top surgery fundraiser that raised $6,000. The viral "I Can Tell" campaign that's now reached over 4 million people. And what it means to build a community where people don't just feel included - they actually belong.

Watch or Listen

You can listen to the full episode on your favourite podcast platform or here: https://www.danicalani.com/podcasts/kings-of-joy-podcast/episodes/2149178420

What You'll Hear

• How we met through Drag Kinging - and the Patrick Swayze knee slide that made me a goner
• The George Michael performance that unlocked Chris's gender journey
• "They look like someone else's boobs stuck on my body" - the beginning of gender exploration
• What it was like for Chris to have a completely safe space to explore gender
• The top surgery fundraiser Bye Bye Bye - 20+ Drag Kings, 120 people, and a standing ovation
• How the viral "I Can Tell" campaign reclaimed dysphoria and turned it into allyship
• Building a community where people belong, not just where they're included
• Why "participation is the source of vitality" - and what that means for aspiring Drag Kings

The Story

Chris and I met at a rehearsal for a Drag King backup dancing gig. I was the choreographer. Chris didn't know that at first. They just thought I was really getting involved.

Then came the Patrick Swayze knee slide. That was the moment I was a complete goner.

Chris gave me a gift - a prayer book they'd found at Salvos as a prop for the performance. Inside, they'd written: "This is hopefully the first gift of many." Very charming. And then, after rehearsal, Chris told me that being choreographed by me was better than a threesome. Which was a big compliment, considering they'd had one before the rehearsal.

We started dating after the second rehearsal. True lesbian style.

But this isn't just a love story. It's an origin story. Because what happened next shaped everything that Kings of Joy and Queers of Joy would become.

The Mirror Moment

Chris had recently performed as George Michael in a dance tribute I'd put together. They'd done the five o'clock shadow, dressed all in black, embodied the masculine energy. Our gay friend Brad said after the performance, "Oh, Chris looks so hot." That had never happened before - having a gay man look at Chris like that.

Chris got home that night, walked past the mirror in the bathroom with the light off, and caught a glimpse. "Who's that? Who's that handsome guy?"

Weird stuff happened in their brain. Neural pathways opened up. Something shifted.

Then one night, Chris looked at their chest and thought, "They look like someone else's boobs have just been stuck on my body. They look so weird."

Chris told me. And I didn't freak out. I didn't panic. I didn't make them feel weird or like a freak. It was a completely safe space to talk about it.

"I think probably going on this journey just wasn't available to me before meeting you," Chris said.

Coming Into Alignment

What I've witnessed over the years is Chris coming into more and more alignment with Self - capital S. The true, authentic Self. I've seen them become more empowered, more expressed in the world, more themselves.

And yes, very handsome.

I'm a lesbian. I identify as a red-hot-blooded lesbian. And what's always attracted me is the masculine in AFAB bodies. I could see that masculinity in Chris even when they presented very androgynously. That's what made me weak at the knees.

But Chris needed space to pause and reflect. They'd spent years as a party animal, covering things up with substances, not stopping to think or consider who they were. Meeting me - and stopping drinking - gave them the clarity to explore.

"Being with you and just having that space to pause and reflect allowed me to further become myself," Chris said.

The Top Surgery Fundraiser

Like many people on a gender journey who don't have a spare $10,000 lying around, Chris turned to community to fundraise for top surgery.

We'd started building the Kings of Joy community by then, and Chris had founded Queers of Joy as a platform for trans and gender-diverse artists. So Chris had an idea: a big Drag King extravaganza called Bye Bye Bye.

Twenty Drag Kings performed that night. Some of them were doing solos for the first time. About 120 people packed the audience. Chris hosted. And at the end, Chris performed "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC with two friends - a routine involving water balloons that looked like boobs, white t-shirts, and a boy band wet t-shirt competition vibe.

Chris raised $6,000 that night.

"It was one of the best nights of my life," Chris said. "It was what I think it would feel like to have a really big birthday, even though there were heaps of people I'd never met. They were all just so beautiful. It was such a joyful night."

Being seen. Being known. Even by strangers. That's what community does.

The "I Can Tell" Campaign

Chris started posting a video every day on Instagram as The Trans Comedian about a year ago. The goal was simple: show a trans person having fun. Being joyful and silly. Dispelling myths. Showing a completely different narrative than the one that says trans people are suffering, struggling, or a drag on society.

The videos took off. Straight women loved the jokes about how men get praised for the most menial stuff. Trans people felt seen. Allies started engaging.

Then Trump got inaugurated, and every day for a week he said something about clamping down on trans people. It got really dark online. Trans people felt isolated. Like no one was sticking up for them.

Chris noticed something. Sometimes a comment would say, "I can tell you're still a woman." And directly underneath, another comment would say, "I can tell you're still a man."

But then people who'd been following Chris started commenting: "Well, I can tell that you're a lovely person." "I can tell that you're doing good in the world." "I can tell I really like following you."

Chris started a hashtag allyship campaign: #ICanTell. Say something lovely instead of the usual.

It went viral. 300 comments in the first hour. 3,000 by the next morning. To this day, it's had over 100,000 comments and 4 million views.

Trans people connected. Parents of trans kids realised they weren't alone. People who didn't usually engage in this conversation felt like they had a call to action they could relate to. Easy. Accessible. Not controversial. Just lovely.

"I can tell" to some trans people feels like a stab. Three words that trigger dysphoria. But to Chris, it means allyship. Community. Love. Connection.

"That's the power of changing the narrative for yourself," Chris said. "That's part of why I do comedy as well, because I can talk about things that maybe once had power over me, and they don't anymore, because it's my story and I get to say it how I want to say it."

Building Community That Belongs

Chris and I have built Kings of Joy and Queers of Joy together over the past five years. We've connected with people worldwide - including our dear fam Block 13, a group of Ugandan LGBTQIA+ refugees who fled to Kenya and have now relocated to Canada.

Someone at Chris's recent comedy workshop said, "Where would the community be now without you two?"

Chris was modest about it. "If we weren't doing it, someone else would."

But I think we can acknowledge ourselves for the type of community we've built. One where people feel they belong, not just where they're included. One where people uplift each other. One where you can go away as long as you want, and when you come back, we'll welcome you with open arms.

It's not just a show. It's not just a performance. It's not just being a Drag King or a comedian. It's got all this other stuff which enriches everyone's lives that are involved.

The Movement

This conversation is part of documenting a global Drag King movement. Kings of Joy is helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression - so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

Chris's advice to aspiring Drag Kings? "For whatever reason you want to do it - whether it's gender, confidence, community, friendship, self-expression - they're all great reasons. And even if it's just because you want to try something new, or have a new hobby or anything, why not give it a go? Participation is the source of vitality."

Start Your Own Drag King Journey

If you're feeling the pull to explore Drag Kinging yourself, start here: danicalani.com/dragkingname

About Danica Lani, The King Coach

Hey you 👋 I'm Danica Lani - also known as The King Coach. I've mentored over 150 first-time Drag Kings since 2020, and I'm here to say: if you're feeling the pull to explore gender through performance, you're not alone - and you're not too late.

Whether you're new to this world or quietly dreaming of stepping into your masculine side on stage, there's space for you here.

Kings of Joy is a global Drag King community helping LGBTQIA+ people break free from constraints around gender, sexuality, and self-expression - so we can be 100% at home in our own skin.

✨ Ready to name your King? Download Claim Your Drag King Name in 4 Simple Steps - a free guide to choosing your Drag King name.

About Chris McAllister aka Chase Cocks

Chris McAllister, aka Chase Cocks, is The Trans Comedian @thetranscomedia -  a stand-up comedian who's toured regional Australia and appeared in Sydney Fringe and comedy festivals. Chris now mentors first-time queer and trans stand-up comedians through the show Trans Christian Anderson and Friends.

Chris is the founder, co-producer, and co-host of Queers of Joy, a variety entertainment event that has become a vital platform for trans and gender-diverse artists since its inception in December 2020.

Chris is also the person behind the viral "I Can Tell" allyship campaign, which has reached over 4 million people worldwide and reclaimed three words that once triggered dysphoria, turning them into a call for community, love, and connection.

Chris performs in Werewolf Production’s, They Will Be Kings at Qtopia for Mardi Gras 2026 - a two-week run celebrating positive masculinity, gender exploration, and Drag King culture.

Production Credit

The Kings of Joy Show is produced by Bambuddha Studios. Their support has made it possible to document and share these conversations with care and cultural integrity. Learn more.

📸 Sarah Malone