Connecting Through Covid

by Haley Star

When you think about socializing and having a good time with your friends all summer long, things like masks, face shields, q-tips up your nose and temperature checks wouldn’t be what immediately comes to mind. Normally, you’d think of laughter, sunshine, and tropical flowing libations. Unfortunately, 2020 has given us anything but that. However, I am here to tell you that you can still have a good time while being responsible and socially distant amidst the craziness that is 2020.

Back in March when everything hit, my partner-in-crime LaDiva Jonz had the brilliant idea to start putting virtual content on social media as a way to entertain and engage with the community. And so, “The View” Virtual Drag Brunch was conceived. After a few successful episodes, we decided to try our hand at a primetime version of our show, which was a hit! During Primetime, LaDiva does a fabulous cooking segment called “15-Minute Meals with LaDiva,” where she welcomes a special guest into the kitchen each week. Many community leaders and businesses got involved and graciously sponsored our shows. What we thought would be a show we would have to do for a couple months on Facebook, has now been going strong for over 35 episodes! If you’d like to join in on the fun, you can tune in each Sunday at 2pm on Facebook Live. Navigate to LaDiva Jonz, Jacqueline DiMera, or yours truly’s Facebook page to see all the hijinks go down! If brunch isn’t your thing, you can watch our Primetime episode, which airs at 9pm on various days of the week.

Another fun way you can stay social and try to maintain a semblance of normalcy is Drag Bingo. While this is usually a fun night out every month to benefit AIDS Care Ocean State, we have taken Drag Bingo to Zoom. Who knew there was a website where you could play Bingo with anyone in the world? The third Thursday of each month we get together on a Zoom meeting and play Drag Bingo virtually. This has been a welcome change to the normal Drag Bingo, as we get to interact with each guest in a more intimate setting. If you are missing out on your fill of queens and gambling, check out the AIDS Care Ocean State website for info on how you can join us next time.

If true social interaction is what you crave, then the nightlife scene still has much to offer. Granted, things may look a bit different from what we’re used to, but we can still hit the town in a safe and responsible way with our closest friends, have a drink or two, and remain socially distant. The staff of our favorite stomping grounds have done remarkable work to ensure this is possible. Be sure to check out the Alley Cat, Dark Lady, Eagle, Mirabar, and Stable if you’re craving a stiff libation and some in-person laughs with friends. From socially distant outdoor seating to yummy freshly made snacks, each bar offers something different. While it’s not what we're used to, we each have to do our part to support our favorite establishment so they can come out victorious on the other end of this.

I can’t wait until life resumes to a new sense of normalcy. Until then, I implore community members to take all the necessary and safe social precautions when leaving your house – especially wearing your mask. The only way through this is together!

Until we meet again,

Haley