Los Angeles drag queen Lauren Banall is putting her viral fame to good use, raising thousands of dollars for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) after her TikTok parody videos of conservative figure Erika Kirk exploded in popularity.
Banall’s lip-sync videos—where she impersonates Kirk—have racked up over 10.5 million views on TikTok. Dressed in a blonde wig, red blazer, and sequinned top, Banall makes exaggerated facial expressions while syncing to clips of Kirk misquoting Bible verses and defensively addressing conspiracy theories about her late husband, Charlie Kirk.
In one widely shared video, Banall concludes the impersonation with an energetic dance to Cascada’s 2009 hit “Evacuate The Dancefloor.”
Who Is “Erica Qwerk”?
Banall has dubbed her parody persona “Erica Qwerk”, though she hasn’t publicly explained the character’s inspiration in detail. Still, the timing of the videos comes amid online backlash towards Erika Kirk, who was criticised for making glitzy public appearances—complete with sparkly outfits and stage pyrotechnics—shortly after the 10 September 2025 murder of her husband, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Charlie co-founded the conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, and Erika Kirk was subsequently named its CEO and board chair following his death.
@laurenbanallWe are Charlie Kirk 🧿👄🧿
From Satire to Support: Raising Funds for the ACLU
In a follow-up TikTok video, Banall addressed the overwhelming response to her impersonations:
“Thank you so much for all of this incredible response… It’s truly overwhelming, and I’ve been thinking, ‘What’s something good we could do with this? What would Turning Point USA do?’”
She then quipped:
“Monetise.”
With that, Banall announced she had relaunched her GoFundMe campaign benefiting the ACLU.
The campaign page reads:
“We’ve re-ignited our Fund Rager page benefitting the ACLU so we can block the BS this next administration is doing in the courts! No kings, no grifters, no ICE! Any amount helps!”
As of Wednesday evening, the campaign had raised over $3,000.
Why the ACLU?
The ACLU plays a critical role in fighting attacks on LGBTQ+ rights across the United States. The organisation is currently involved in litigation against anti-drag laws, challenges to LGBTQ+ discrimination, and policies that criminalise people living with HIV. It also provides education and advocacy for broader civil rights issues, especially under increasingly conservative political leadership.
By transforming her viral moment into a political and philanthropic act, Banall reminds us that drag has always been political—and sometimes, it’s also a powerful form of protest.
