By entering as a contestant or by voting, you agree to the following rules. Beyond Earth Foundation (the "Organizer") administers this competition to raise funds for its general operations and to award prizes to the winning Kings and Queens.
1. Eligibility
- Contestants must be 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.
- Open to drag performers competing in one of two categories: Drag Queen or Drag King.
- Open only to residents of New York State who perform primarily in New York State.
- Organizer staff, board members, and their immediate families may not compete.
2. How to Enter
- Submit the online application with your drag name, category, city, contact information, a short bio, and a photo.
- All applications are reviewed and must be approved by the Organizer before appearing on the ballot. The Organizer may decline any application at its discretion.
- Applicants must provide complete and accurate contact information, including legal name, email, and phone number. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Applications open: immediately. Application deadline: July 31, 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon) EST.
3. Competition Timeline
- Voting opens: August 1, 2026.
- Voting closes: October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
- Top 3 finalists in each category announced: November 6, 2026.
- Finalists are invited to perform at an award ceremony — date to be announced (November/December 2026).
4. How Voting Works
- Every signed-in supporter receives one free vote per category, per day.
- Supporters may also donate to vote using these bundles, each usable once per category, per day: $1 = 1 vote, $5 = 10 votes, $10 = 25 votes, $25 = 75 votes, $50 = 200 votes, $100 = 500 votes.
- Daily limits reset at midnight EST each day. Per-contestant vote totals are kept private during the competition; only standings (place) are shown publicly.
5. Fair Play & Anti-Fraud
- Daily caps exist so that no single person can simply buy the outcome. Attempts to bypass them — multiple/fake accounts, automated voting, or other manipulation — are prohibited.
- The Organizer may void suspicious votes and may disqualify any contestant or voter found violating these rules.
6. Prizes
- The top three vote-getters in each category (Drag Queen and Drag King) are the finalists, announced November 6, 2026, and invited to perform at the award ceremony (date TBD, Nov/Dec 2026).
- Each of the top three in each category receives a cash prize equal to the total donations their individual campaign received during the competition.
- The first-place winner in each category additionally receives a crown, sash, and the title "Voter's Choice NYS Queen" or "Voter's Choice NYS King," held for one year.
- Prizes are non-transferable. Cash prizes of $600 or more may require an IRS Form 1099, and all prizes are the recipient's tax responsibility.
- In the event of a tie, the Organizer's decision is final.
7. Donations
- All donations support Beyond Earth Foundation's general operations and the competition prize, and are non-refundable except where required by law.
- Beyond Earth Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. You will receive a receipt for your records. Donations are processed securely through Zeffy. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.
8. Code of Conduct
- This is a celebration of drag and community. Harassment, hate speech, threats, or discrimination of any kind — toward contestants, voters, or staff — will not be tolerated and may result in removal or disqualification.
- Contestants are responsible for their own conduct on and off the stage during the competition period.
9. Privacy
Contact information collected through applications and voting is used only to administer the competition and is handled per Beyond Earth Foundation's privacy practices. Your email is never shown publicly.
10. Organizer Rights
The Organizer may modify, suspend, or cancel the competition, or amend these rules, if needed to run it fairly or for reasons beyond its control. The Organizer's decisions on all matters are final.
11. Contact
Questions? Contact Beyond Earth Foundation at Donations@beyondearthfoundation.org.
⚠️ Please have someone familiar with New York contest and charitable-gaming rules review these before going live — especially the tax-deductibility and cash-prize sections, since prize money is paid to individuals. This is a starting point, not legal advice.