SF says goodbye to Heklina

by John Ferrannini

Thousands descended on San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood May 23 for what one speaker called “a fucking state funeral for drag royalty,” as friends and fans alike said goodbye to Heklina.

“Heklina changed the face of drag,” San Francisco drag laureate and Oasis nightclub owner D’Arcy Drollinger told the crowd in the Castro Theatre, filled to its 1,400-seat capacity. “Not on purpose, but she did, and you can see her effect around the country, on TV and around the world. I do want to reframe that – we changed the face of drag, but she gave us the opportunity.”

The event – “Heklina: A Memorial (She Would Have Hated This)” – went overtime – three-and-a-half hours – and those who couldn’t secure a ticket watched outside, or in the queerville’s bars. One of those was Lizzy Dierken, a queer woman.

“Heklina was larger than life in the drag community and in the gay community, and I want to honor her as best I can,” Dierken said.

“She’s inspirational.”

Heklina was the drag persona of Stefan Grygelko, who died in London April 3 at the age of 55. She had been in London with her good friend Peaches Christ (Joshua Grannell), as the two were set to star in “Mommie Queerest.”

“There was a glamour to that she would’ve appreciated,” Peaches quipped. The crowd was hushed as she recalled their final days together. Heklina was brimming with ideas for the future, Peaches said, as they took a walk to Buckingham Palace the Friday before Heklina’s passing.

“We were having fun,” Peaches said. “The two of us had one of the best talks we had in years. I’m so grateful for that night. This was someone excited about life and this would’ve been a shock to her.”

Foul play or assault are not suspected, according to a post mortem conducted by London officials, as the Bay Area Reporter previously reported.

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