IN CONVERSATION WITH MA’MA QUEEN AND CHARLIE MACGREGOR
interview NATALIE-ANNE GAL
The Social Hub is taking a stand with its “Shout It From Our Roof” initiative, giving a platform to underrepresented and marginalized communities. The series began on July 30 at The Social Hub’s Amsterdam location, where Dutch drag queen Ma’MaQueen hosted the night. Founder and CEO Charlie MacGregor, also co-founder of the refugee nonprofit Movement on the Ground, continues to champion equal rights through his work. We interviewed both of them about trans rights, their missions, the future of their efforts, and the advice they would share with others.
Ma'Ma Queen
Ma’MaQueen is a Dutch drag queen, best known for competing in Drag Race Holland Season 1, celebrated for her glamorous performances and outspoken voice on political and social issues. We interviewed her after she hosted The Social Hub’s Pride event, discussing trans voices in today’s society, the art of drag, its representation, and the impact of Drag Race.
You recently hosted The Social Hub Amsterdam City’s Pride event. How did the night go? How did it feel to be part of it, and were there any particularly memorable moments for you?
First of all I have to say that I was very honored to be invited as the host of this event. I felt very seen and heard by the the people from The Social Hub in meetings prior to the day of the event.
This created the setting in which I could express what I was truly going through in my personal life and that resulted in creating an environment where I could really be myself. For this event we specially wanted the transcommunity to have a space where they could celebrate but also, and not less importantly, express and connect. Since I am a trans person myself I feel like besides being a host I was also very much a visitor and participant. I have had beautiful conversations that were intimate and deeply personal and I am very thankful for these memories.
What are your thoughts on The Social Hub’s efforts to amplify trans voices through initiatives like this one?
A more conservative wind is blowing, and our community is being marginalized by politicians in the Netherlands, but also worldwide. It’s worrying to see companies scaling back their DEI policies. That’s why it’s so important for organizations like The Social Hub to stand with us. The Social Hub is not just now standing with the queer community but has been for a long time. I’ve been working together with them many times for different kind of event trough our socials hubs in the Netherlands and Europe. They employ queer people, they invite queer organisations, they donate their spaces to us. And I think this is a very clear statement to the community that they have our backs.
In your view, what’s the biggest difference between the American and Dutch drag scenes?
I always say the drag community isn’t divided by geographic borders. Of course we exist in different cultures with their own habits, that create variables in circumstances but when ever I meet a fellow professional drag artist we value our differences and appreciate each other's art no matter the background. I think we are all so used to being judged, like we are art or art in a museum, people have certain feelings or opinions about us. But we express our love for the art of transformation never to offend or hurt but always to show love, to touch, to connect and to entertain.
What advice would you give to young people just starting out in drag – especially in today’s politically charged climate?
Drag is a form of art that you physically embody. Therefore taking care of your body is important. And taking care of your mind is important for a healthy body. Drag can be very exhausting and intense. You have to give a lot of energy to your audience.
Quite often the transformation you go through on the inside is bigger than the one on the outside, but people don’t see that. I’ve always said to my drag kids, focus on having fun, enjoying the process of discovering yourself through and with drag. Choice a way to express yourself that’s suits with you as as human being, as an artist. Don’t compete, don’t prove anything.
How do you envision the future of drag evolving in the years to come?
I think queer people, trans people; specially poc, and drag artist have always been on the forefront of the fight for equality. And that’s where we will be in the future because the fight isn’t over. Art is a beautiful way to reflect on what’s happening in a society, so drag is and will always be doing that. Even if we won’t be allowed in certain mainstream spaces that we are visible now, we will always be at the heart of our community, empowering, entertaining, and taking care of our people and our allies.
Drag Race has had a big impact on your community – how do you relate to that, and where do you stand with the show today?
I will say this: I think the impact of drag race is good, I am very thankful for the platform and it has been a big help in my career path. I won’t deny that. But I also have to say that there are many many very talented hardworking dragartist that are not getting the recognition they deserve because people both within and outside of our community pick dragartist based of they dragrace participation and not always on talent.
And this is for a singular event but also for example to be represented by agency’s. And of course I am one of the privileged artist that did participate so yes I am on the “lucky” side, and I am very thankful for that. But I appreciate and respect drag artist that work hard, focus and build a stable and steady career for themselves, no matter with a dragrace status or not. So, yes I would love to see more seasons of drag race. Make the show more inclusive (especially drag race holland). This way more queens get the opportunity to launch their professional careers through this platform but also be mindful of other drag talent that is amazing art to show the world.
Charlie MacGregor
Charlie MacGregor is a Scottish entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of The Social Hub. Launching the venture in his twenties, he shared insights on turning vision into action during that transformative stage of life. We also discussed his nonprofit, Movement on the Ground, and his commitment to trans rights.
This year, The Social Hub launched the "Shout it from our Roof" initiative, offering trans people a platform to make their voices heard. What are your thoughts on this initiative, and what do you see as its ultimate goal and the next steps it should take?
At The Social Hub, we welcome everybody and aim to use our spaces to foster connections and build communities. This Pride, we've doubled down on our ongoing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. At a time when trans rights are under increasing pressure, both in the Netherlands and globally, we believe it is our responsibility to use our platform to amplify the voices of those who are too often silenced. We want now more than ever to make a difference.
The “Shout it from our Roof” initiative is just about that. It’s more than just giving them visibility. The goal is to foster a society in which trans people can live openly, safely, and with dignity and not just during Pride season, but every day of the year. Shout it from our Roof is our way of saying: “We see you. We listen to you. Your voice matters."
In the months ahead we plan to donate 99 hours of meeting and event spaces to local initiatives and activists supporting the LGBTQIA+ community across our Glasgow and Amsterdam hubs, as resistance to diversity and inclusion grows. Through the donation of these spaces, we want to create meaningful connections, with opportunities to meet, listen, and understand the needs of the community, working together to drive change in the near future.
The initiative is deeply aligned with our mission to create a better society. A society that is truly inclusive, equitable, and respectful of every identity. But, visibility alone is not enough. Our next step is long-term, consistent action. We are and will keep providing safe, welcoming spaces where people can truly be themselves.
In your experience, what’s the best way for someone to positively influence those around them to better understand and support the trans community?
As a privileged, educated, straight, white, able-bodied man I might not be the best to speak on the matter. I've enjoyed many advantages our society offers. But that only makes it more important for people like me to stand up for those who haven't had the same opportunities. Each of us has a role to play and it starts by listening, learning, and simply showing up. The ‘Shout It From Our Roof’ initiative is the first step to bringing the community together. To connect with the community and listen to their needs. A moment to reflect, and to begin imagining what’s possible when we share space with intention.
I feel that marginalisation of the LGBTQIA+ community is a problem that concerns us all. The question we must ask ourselves is: if we don't want a diverse, equal, and inclusive society, then what do we want? A world based on the inverse of these values is not one anyone would want to live in. Even at a corporate level, few people would want to work in an environment that champions uniformity, inequality, and exclusion...
What are your thoughts on initiatives like this that aim to uplift and celebrate trans voices? Why do you think they matter today?
Initiatives that uplift and celebrate all voices are essential. Especially now, the trans community is facing increasing pushback both globally and here in the Netherlands. With DEI efforts being scaled back and protections reversed, we must be vocal and intentional in our support. In my opinion, DEI is not a trend or a box to check. At The Social Hub, it’s part of who we are. That’s why we’re committing to year-round support, shaped by the needs and voices of our diverse community, including the trans community.
This includes, donating our meeting and event spaces to LGBTQIA+ groups, hosting educational events, when and where there’s interest because we believe in learning with the community, not just about it; backing changemakers through our Better Society Academy curated by our TSH Talent Foundation, and much more.
A couple of weeks ago, I attended our latest Better Society Academy at The Social Hub Glasgow and saw what happens when people from all backgrounds get in a room and really listen. You get energy. You get ideas. You get progress. People actually hear each other – which is scarily rare in today's world. Abandoning these efforts undermines the core values of diversity, equality, and inclusion.
You founded The Social Hub in your twenties – a time when many people are full of ideas but struggle to bring them to life. What advice would you give to someone in that stage of their journey?
When I founded The Social Hub in 2003 I envisioned a place where people could leverage our spaces to be inspired, explore their purpose, realise their potential, and ultimately create a community that could make a true impact on society. This isn’t only about creating a better experience for guests - we are integrating communities and revitalising cities.
My advice to anyone at that stage (full of ideas but unsure how to bring them to life) is to hold on to your vision and focus on building a community around it. Surround yourself with people who want to make an impact, including those who challenge your point of view in a constructive way. Keep smiling, keep showing up, keep putting in the work. It won’t always be easy but stay true to yourself, follow your heart, that’s what will truly make the difference.
With The Social Hub now in multiple locations across Europe, is there a specific city or country you're eyeing for future expansion?
As a proud B Corporation, we have hotels across 21 locations working hard to make an impact in Europe’s most dynamic cities. We’re always looking to grow and are actively looking for new sites. I look forward to announcing plans for expansion in various European countries very soon. Next on the list include Turin and Lisbon and we’re looking to expand to places like Edinburgh, London, a second hotel in Paris, and beyond.
You’re also the founder of Movement on the Ground, which supports refugee camps and was founded in 2015. Could you share more about its mission – and how people can get involved?
When I started in 2015, after visiting the Greek island of Lesbos at the height of the refugee crisis, I was deeply moved by the urgent needs of the hundreds of thousands of people arriving there. That experience shaped the way we work: with a pragmatic, solution-focused, and community-centered approach.
With time, Movement on the Ground developed a holistic ‘Camp to CampUs’ methodology, which means we don’t just work for refugees, but with them. From the moment refugees arrive, and in close collaboration with local host communities, we transform camps into sustainable, safe, and dignified environments. However temporary those may be.
Today, our NGO is active in Syria, Greece, Poland (supporting refugees from Ukraine), and the Netherlands, always striving to create real impact through partnership and respect where we create environments where individuals are valued as people, not just as refugees. People can get involved by volunteering, fundraising, raising awareness, or simply educating themselves and others about the ongoing challenges refugees face. Many displaced people in our CampUs have become volunteers, and some even joined our staff at The Social Hub. This shows how people can regain control, feel uplifted, and become active contributors to the communities they now call home.
Now with over 270 million forcibly displaced people around the world, every effort helps us support these communities with dignity and hope.
