King of Hearts introduces readers to the exciting world of drag kings in the southeastern United States and shows how important where someone lives is as a critical intersecting component to understanding gender expression. The book provides a history of drag kinging in the American South, explores how drag helps people understand gender expression, shows how kings use drag as a way to learn about and become comfortable with gender identities that fall outside of the norms of Southern culture, and considers some of these controversies within the drag community. Rich with the stories of the drag kings themselves, King of Hearts shows both the joys and trials involved with drag kinging, and calls for an effort to support and save drag as a necessary resource for local queer communities, while also acknowledging the dire need for more resources in the South for all queer people.
