From sneaking into Pride to leading it: The story of drag king Pressure K

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Keena Blythe, who performs as the drag king Pressure K, is one of eight grand marshals for this year’s Atlanta Pride Parade.

Every night starts the same way for Blythe — foundation first, then the beard.

“I’m doing feminine stuff to look masculine,” Blythe said.

The beard is not a costume piece. Blythe has a hormonal condition that can cause excessive hair growth in women. She used to cover it up. Now, she paints it into her act.

Comedy is where it started. Blythe used to go by “KB Too Funny — the Bearded Lady of Comedy.” She calls that act an outlet for lesbian pride and for telling her story of growing up masculine-presenting with a Christian mother.

“Anything that came off masculine, I could not do. Now, I’m able to wear those clothes, those exact clothes, and just take it up a notch and make it shiny,” Blythe said.

Blythe did not leave that comedy behind. She folded it into who Pressure K is now.

“I’m a drag king comedian,” Pressure K said.

Pressure K found a platform on Season 1 of “King of Drag.” He now performs at Out Front Theatre and on stages across the country.

“My drag is definitely early 2000s Y2K,” Pressure K said.

Pressure K said that throwback sound is what made his performances click.

“I was there when Soldier Boy came out. Like, I graduated in 2006. So it really clicked when we put the performance on. We had two background dancers, and I felt the joy,” Pressure K said.

“Pressure makes me feel better. I could be depressed, I could be feeling pain, but as soon as they say, ‘Pressure K, welcome to the stage,’ it all goes away,” Pressure K said.

Atlanta Pride chose Pressure K as one of eight grand marshals for this year’s signature parade — a moment he said is full circle for someone who used to skip school to sneak into Pride.

“Just being at Piedmont Park around queer people made me feel like I could breathe. You know, my first kiss was that Pride,” Pressure K said. “To be celebrated by the city that I’m in love with, it does feel like I made it.”

Blythe credits her wife, Whitley, for helping her gain confidence in who she is and for helping develop her drag king persona.

“She really healed my body, mind, and soul, like 100 percent,” said Blythe.

She says Whitley will be by her side during Sunday’s Pride Parade.