LEXINGTON, Kentucky (March 25, 2023) — With legislative attacks against the LGBTQ+ community sweeping the nation, a Kentucky ad agency is letting it be known that their workplace will always be a safe haven for self-expression.

Cornett, a Lexington-based full-service agency, has instituted “Work is a Drag”—an official workplace policy that welcomes and encourages any employee who wishes to dress in drag at the office.

To commemorate the unprecedented policy addition, Cornett enlisted the help of RuPaul’s Drag Race Seasons 11 & All Stars 6 contestant Scarlet Envy, a Kentucky native who graduated with a degree in Advertising Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Renowned local drag queens Jenna Jive, Kali Dupree, and Uma Jewels were also recruited to give two Cornett employees a transformative drag makeover.

Executive Creative Director Whit Hiler and Senior Copywriter Coleman Larkin jumped at the chance to step outside their comfort zone, becoming queens-for-a-day Witty Comments and Sweet Evening Sleeze respectively. Neither Hiler nor Larkin had tried drag before, and neither identifies as LGBTQ+. For the men, their participation was a show of allyship and creativity.

“Creative expression is at the heart of what we do,” said Cornett President & Owner Christy Hiler. “Cornett is committed to being a workplace open to every race, gender, sexual preference, age and ability. This policy is really just about respecting our employees’ freedom to be authentically themselves.”

Continued Hiler, “Empowering employees to express themselves through the art of drag while at work is a natural extension of Cornett’s goal to produce original, boundary-pushing work.”

While fostering a culture of inclusiveness, generosity and service is a start, Cornett also believes that businesses have an obligation to leverage their power for positive change.

“These discriminatory laws go against our core values and hurt our ability to attract national clients and exceptional talent,” said Cornett Director of Marketing Jamon Deaver. “These actions are exactly why much of the country overlooks Kentucky and negatively stereotypes the people and businesses that call it home.”

Cornett encourages everyone to stay informed about discriminatory legislation in their own states and make their voices heard by contacting the appropriate representative.

For more information, please contact Jamon Deaver atjdeaver@teamcornett.com.

About Cornett

Cornett is an independent, female-owned, full-service advertising agency in Lexington, Ky. Recognized as one of the best in the country, Cornett specializes in creating, restoring and maintaining relevance for brands such as Busch Light, A&W Restaurants, LEGOLAND, Tempur Sealy and more. teamcornett.com