TRASH HITS AND BITS

Carl ConnieLingus

Well hello Beauts and welcome to the beginnings of a fun year so far. I don’t know that for sure, but Rihanna did say her weapon was to “Fake it, ‘til you make it.” I believe her and I’m gonna live by that now ha-ha her Superbowl performance has been living rent free in my head from it aired. She’s onto something and I’m here for it.

I’m going for a fresher take on this year’s column, and I hope you enjoy it. Welcome 2023 and here’s to an amazing year all round. And on that note, I would like to thank GNI and everyone who nominated me this year for Best Local LGBTQIA+ Entertainer. It is an absolute honour and very much appreciated. Voting will be happening soon, so a future thanks to those who vote for me. Not saying I’m gonna win, but it would be lovely and is still awesome to be just nominated.

Trans-Itchsions – Life Transitions and Trans Live (Matter)

These past few years have been nothing but changes and transitions, like a bad itch you can’t get rid of. From a seemingly normal life to a Pandemic that shut the world down, it still doesn’t even seem real, but unfortunately, we are noticing it in our society because all the work that was done before for LGBTQIA+ and POC Minorities has been forgotten in too many places, and now the fight is back on.

For myself personally, it has been a struggle to get out in the world full time again like I used too. I am not the same person I was anymore in many ways and even using my voice for matters that are important were stumped. However, recently the Universe has been sending me signs and certain opportunities that I cannot ignore, and the fact that things are starting to “go my way,” finally. With that I will talk more about discrimination and hate towards me and my people. The stories and incidents that I could share with you from myself alone, but in an AFAB, Queer, Drag King perspective, and just even from a human level would terrify you. The rise in Homophobia, Transphobia, Racism, Misogyny, Sexism and much more has rapidly increased from the Lockdowns were lifted. As a society, as humans, we didn’t even receive professional care to help us deal with what just happened, so everyone has lost what we fought for and the progress we all were making before this hit us all.

The one thing we all have in complete common now, apart from we all bleed red, is that we all went through this together. The whole World experienced the fear, isolation, and uncertainty. So why are we hurting and killing again?? What happened to the togetherness we all had looking out for each other during the hardest times of our lives?? I just don’t get it.

So, each column I do, I will dedicate it to a person or an event, to say their names. This Issue is dedicated to Brianna Ghey. Brianna was a 16-year-old who was murdered by 2 other teenagers, both 15 years old. This was because Brianna was Transgender, a Beautiful Trans Girl from Warrington just living her life and trying to figure out her own transition and being a teenager. No child should be thinking of this way to harm someone at 15, and not one person in the world deserves this type of death at 16. With so much anti-trans rhetoric in the media every day, attacks like this – senseless deaths of innocent people –will continue to happen, and the instances likely to increase. We must protect each other and those who need protecting. We must educate kids and adults that it is ok to be different, we are all just trying to survive this crazy thing called Life. None of us know the big outcome, we all die yes, but it should be naturally and not your life taken so viciously and prematurely. Say her name – Brianna Ghey – Fly with your Guardian Angels Beautiful <3 <3

“What’s Carl’s Caric??”

You can find Carl here over the next few months:

• Lost Lane, Dublin for “Candlelight Cabaret –Back to the 80’s” @ 7.30pm Sat 25/2/23

• Mansfield, UK for “Perfect Illusion – Lady Gaga Tribute” on Sat 18/3/23

• Gallaher’s Bar, Cityside for “Dragaoke” @ 9.30-12.30pm, on Fri 24/3/23

• Cabaret Supper Club, Belfast for “Perfect Illusion – Lady Gaga Tribute” on 12/4/23

• Gallagher’s Bar, Cityside for “Dragaoke” @ 9.30-12.30pm on Fri 21/4/23

• Eclectic Love, Belfast Telegraph Building @ 7pm-2am on Sat 6/5/23

• Gallaher’s Bar, Cityside for “Dragaoke” @ 9.30-12.30pm on Fri 12/5/23

• Drag Fest Ireland, The National in Dublin @6pm on Sat 27/5/23

• Gallaher’s Bar, Cityside for “Dragaoke” @9.30-12.30pm on Fri 23/6/23

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Email: carlconnielingus@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlconnielingus

Instagram: @carlconnie_lingus

TikTok: @cclingus1