Florida Drag Queen Tags Sharks to Fund LGBTQ+ Youth Center

Imagine watching a drag show on a boat in Biscayne Bay while waiting for sharks to surface for scientific research. That's exactly what happens at Drag N' Tag, an event that proves conservation work can look completely different from what we expect.

Miss Toto, a Florida drag queen with a master's degree in marine science, hosts the annual fundraiser in partnership with scientists from the Field School Foundation. Attendees head out on the water to help tag sharks for hands-on research. While they wait between shark sightings, Miss Toto performs full drag numbers on the boat.

Every dollar raised goes directly to Pridelines, a community center serving LGBTQ+ youth in Florida. "It's more important now, than ever before, to do this type of work and be vigilant and visible, especially in Florida," Miss Toto wrote on Instagram after a recent event.

The idea blends Miss Toto's two passions perfectly. She told Attitude magazine that Steve Irwin was her biggest inspiration growing up, and she dreamed of becoming a marine scientist. That dream evolved, but it never disappeared.

The Ripple Effect

Drag N' Tag does something remarkable. It creates space for LGBTQ+ youth in Florida while advancing real marine science research. The event proves that community support and conservation don't have to be separate causes.

Miss Toto's work also challenges outdated ideas about who belongs in science. She shows young people that they don't have to choose between their authentic selves and their professional passions. They can tag sharks in full drag and call it a career.

Her ultimate goal reflects this fusion thinking. "I want to do a Steve Irwin-type show with wildlife and sharks, but with me as a drag queen," she said.

For now, Drag N' Tag continues to grow each year, bringing together scientists, drag fans, and conservation supporters on the same boat. That's the kind of creative problem solving our world needs more of.