It’s official: Drag queens aren’t just in Key West any more.
And Upper Keys residents can thank Tavernier resident JD Reinbott, who has been hosting smash-hit drag queen brunch and bingo events at local venues since this past fall.
Translation: We don’t have to drive hours down south (or north to the mainland to Miami) to enjoy the drag scene anymore. And possibly, no one is more ecstatic about the success of his events than Reinbott himself (a.k.a. drag queen Double Dietrich).
“It’s been amazing,” Reinbott told Keys Weekly. “Going into the first drag show that I hosted and produced at the Catch, I thought, ‘This might just be a room of 20 friends.’ Instead, we had over a hundred people and raised over $2,000 for a fundraiser. That was November 2025, and it really became the blueprint.”
From there, Reinbott started approaching local businesses about collaborating on shows. And he is grateful for his drag queen sisters who have supported and/or been showcased in these events: Scarlit Fatale, Brandy B, Kennedy Waldorf, Ariesela, Barbie-Rose Dixon and Maeve Saint-Couture.
“I’ve been in the Florida Keys since 2018, and the lack of a visible queer community has really weighed on me,” Reinbott said. “But instead of giving up, I leaned into that ‘If you build it, they will come’ mindset — overused as the phrase may be. It was definitely a leap into the unknown, but it has been beyond worth it. I’ve had numerous people DM me on Instagram just to say, ‘Thank you for creating a space for our community to exist in.’ I’m eternally grateful to be leading the charge forward, one size-14 heel at a time.”
He is a marine biologist who is originally from New Jersey, and currently works as a digital strategist for Overseas Media Group. Reinbott started doing drag in the Keys as a way of celebrating the day he came out by hosting a house party called “Dragapalooza.”
“Dragapalooza was an excuse for me to buy a wig, put on some makeup, and celebrate my queerness with some of my closest friends in a place where I thought I would never be able to fully express myself,” he said. “But once the party concluded, everything would be put back into my closet until the following year.”
Eventually, Reinbott sashayed into public performances after deciding to sign up for a talent show in Wilton Manors.
“That’s where I met the performers I now consider my sisters. It’s really where Double Dietrich fully emerged,” he said. “But living in the Keys created a significant bottleneck. To perform, I’d have to put aside hours to get into makeup, drive north, perform sometimes until midnight (or later), drive south, and then wake up at 7 a.m. for my day job. So when a local organization was planning a fundraiser and asked for ideas, I said, ‘Well, I’m a drag queen. Why don’t we do a drag show?’”
It’s been a flurry of lip syncing, wigs, sequins and high heels for Reinbott ever since. He has successfully booked Upper Keys venues including the Catch Restaurant & Bar, Crooked Palm Cabana, Florida Keys Brewing Co., and the Elks Lodge.
Florida Keys Brewing Co. co-owner Cheryl McBay has booked Reinbott/Double Dietrich for a few drag bingo events. And she is thrilled.
“I love drag queens, and I would drive to Key West to see them. But I thought the Upper Keys were missing out,” she said. “I had been wanting to book a drag bingo show for a long time. I knew JD — he worked next door. But I never knew he was a drag queen. I was like, ‘No frickin’ way!’ It all fell into place, and the show was fantastic. I’m super happy.”
Emily Becker is both a good friend of Reinbott’s and a superfan.
“It’s been awesome to see the community he’s built for himself and for the queer community in the Upper Keys,” she said. “The show is phenomenal. It was very special to see the joy on everyone’s faces. I am 100 percent extremely proud of him.”
For drag-show newbies, you can expect a lot of lip syncing and comedic banter, and sometimes the queens will unexpectedly pull volunteers from the crowd. A traditional way to praise the artists is to tip them with dollars.
“It’s not your typical day in the Keys,” said Reinbott. “Forget the fishing gear and grab the tip dollars!”
Reinbott’s next shows are both set for Saturday, April 18. Drag Me to the Keys Brunch takes place at Tavernier’s Crooked Palm Cabana at 11 a.m., followed by Siren Drag Bingo at 8 p.m. at Islamorada’s Florida Keys Brewing Co. Both events have a $15 cover charge. For more information on JD Reinbott/Double Dietrich, go to @doubledflkeys on Instagram.
