May-August 2026 - The Pride Issue: The Naked Truth -Anastasia Moon

In Taos, New Mexico, known for its art, culture, and beauty, a vibrant queer community is growing. Thanks in large part to one performer’s vision. At the heart of it all is Anastasia Moon, a drag artist who has transformed not only herself, but an entire scene.

“Anastasia Moon was born on August 4, 2015, in Taos, NM, during one of Taos first LGBTQIA+ prides,” she shares. Inspired “She was just a teen youth, who had too much style for just one gender.” 

Her name, inspired by a favorite makeup brand, carries a deeper meaning. “The meaning of Anastasia is rebirth,” she explains. “Anastasia is a little bit of everything: she is a beauty, a monster, a weirdo, and overall, a silly human.” 

But what began as self-expression quickly became something much bigger. When Anastasia first stepped into drag, Taos had little to no visible queer infrastructure. “Taos didn’t have a queer scene at all…it used to have one queer event a year, Taos Pride,” she says. Determined to change that, she began organizing events herself—Drag shows, dance parties, and spaces where people could gather freely. It wasn’t easy at first. “Not a lot of venues wanted to work with us,” she recalls.  But persistence paid off. As interest grew, so did support. Venues began reaching out, eager to be part of something new.

For Anastasia, the turning point came after experiencing Albuquerque’s thriving queer community, wanting to create those same scenes and safe places for the new generation in her community. It led to Taos’ first official drag show in March of 2023. It revealed something powerful: a hidden community ready to be seen.

From there, a movement was born. A local cast of performers emerged, events became more frequent, and Anastasia stepped into a role she carries proudly. “Anastasia has been Queer Mother of Taos since she developed the scene,” Moon says.

Building that community came with challenges. Attendance fluctuates, and organizing events requires constant effort. “We realized it takes a lot more to have people join us, but it’s also about creating connections and creating a community,” Moon explains. That’s exactly what she did—turning strangers into friends, audiences into family. Performing in a small town has also shaped her perspective. “Being from a small town… makes me a lot more appreciative about everything about having a queer place,” she says.  She values the closeness of the community, where people show up not just for the performance but for each other.

Beyond the stage, Anastasia uses drag as a platform for advocacy and awareness. Through her art, she amplifies both queer and broader social issues, reminding audiences that drag is as much about voice as it is about performance. Her commitment to inclusivity is evident in the spaces she creates. “I created multiple drag shows and dance parties where everyone is welcome to come be themselves,” she says.  From all-ages brunches to drag story time, her work ensures that even the youngest members of the community can see themselves reflected and celebrated. “It was really all about giving back to the community and getting to meet young queer humans,” Moon shares. 

As Taos Pride continues to grow, so does the visibility of the community she helped build. “We took over a very historical place in Taos and got to celebrate being queer,” she says of a recent Pride event. 

Looking ahead, Anastasia remains focused on the future, not just her own, but the community. “I hope we’ll continue to have drag shows and these amazing events,” Moon says. When it comes to her legacy, her vision is clear and deeply rooted in purpose. “I hope Anastasia gets to leave the legacy of Mother of Taos and creating these spaces… so Taos never forgets about the queer community and that everyone, even in a small town, will have a place to call home.” 

​In a place where that space once didn’t exist, Anastasia Moon didn’t just find her voice—she created a stage for an entire community to rise with her.