Shirley Q Liquor is a
drag queen persona created by
Alabama resident Chuck Knipp. The character, a very strong
stereotype of an
African American welfare mother with 19 children, is exceptionally popular, especially on the
internet. (Shirley's www.mp3.com/shirleyqliquor/ website receives the most downloads of any site on www.mp3.com.) The character came into criticism in the year
2002 when protesters picketed a
New York City performance, protesting Knipp's
blackface performance as
racist and
misogynistic. This lead to public response by various members of the drag queen and
gay community, including noted drag queen
RuPaul and singer/songwriter
Easter Bradford.