I would say actual drag "artists" are fringe of society and looked down upon.

Drag culture? Not fringe at all. Mainstream America has definitely taken it for themselves. Bugs Bunny has been doing it for decades. Mrs. Doubtfire and Madea took it into a very public space. Female makeup technique has been influenced by drag heavily, and even someone who does natural, modest makeup inadvertently uses techniques from that arena.

The left has pretty much been able to push drag as not fringe, because we are already so used to the superficial elements of its culture. The biggest fans of RuPaul's Drag Race are unfortunately heterosexual, centrist or conservative leaning white women.

I do not believe the general public are accepting of actual drag performers and their sexual dynamic. Those basic little white girls wouldn't be caught dead at an actual gay dive bar on drag night where the goal is "round the clock gay sex". Manicured, PG13 version at the House of Blues sponsored by Cricket Wireless? sure, call the girls. I think what's really telling is how up in arms everyone was because of the trend of drag story time. No one was surprised when it turned out they were sex offenders.