March 2019 - True Q Magazine by True Q Magazine

MARCH 2019

A Conversation Between Drag Queens, Old And New Making Connections Where They Matter A Lifetime Of Fun With WGI Sport Of The Arts

Join us in Columbus to honor the work of an outstanding ally and an impactful activist.

HONORED ALLY NANNETTE MACIEJUNES Executive Director of the Columbus Museum of Art since 2003 with a strong history of allyship to LGBTQ people.

HONORED ADVOCATE LUSTER SINGLETON A Zanesville native with three decades of performance, activism, and service to people across a spectrum of isms, faith, genders and sexualities.

MARCH 27 • COLUMBUS MUSEUM OF ART

RSVP at equalityohio.org

For more information or to sponsor this or future Equality Ohio events, contact Siobhan Boyd-Nelson at siobhan@equalityohio.org or 614-224-0400.

Chief Executive Officer Publisher Curtis Davis cdavis@team-icsc.com

Editorial Director Social Media Manager Kaylee Duff editor@truevoiceonline.com

Executive Assistant Columnist

Jeff Skinner info@onetruevoiceonline.com

Contributing Photographers Emily Hirzel, Mike Miller, Jeff Skinner, Judie Vegh

Sales Manager

Christopher Leaming sales@truevoiceonline.com

True Q loves feedback from our readers! Please address all media inquiries, Email us at info@onetruevoiceonline.com internship requests and event or program with any questions, comments or concerns. listings to our Editor at editor@onetruevoiceonline.com.

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

Contributing Writers

Daniel Tirabassi, J.M. Rayburn, JT Lucas

Creative Design

Brandon Messner brandonmmessner@gmail.com

True Q Magazine and the True Media Group are proud members of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

MARCH 2019 | 1

contents

March 2019 3 Letter from The Editor Our love song to queer performers

4 March Events

What’s going on in Ohio this month

13 Nina West Takes

5 Out In The Media

Reviews of the latest books, movies, shows and more

6 Spotlight On Corey

On RPDR

The local queen is representing Ohio on season 11

14 Trans And Drag:

Williams

Meet the drag queen who uses makeup to spread love

When Worlds Collide

The worlds of doing drag and being trans aren’t always so separate

7 Spotlight On Cleveland 16 A Trio of Queer Kings Action Pack The drag kings who are eradicating barriers in queer performance

Exhibitions

The Wexner Center is featuring exhibits by LGBTQ+ artists

22 A Lifetime Of Fun

With WGI Sport Of The Arts

World Championships events will be coming to Dayton in April

24 Allies And Advocates

In Columbus

Equality Ohio honoring the activists making Ohio a better place to live

26 Queens Around The

Buckeye State

Interviews with queens from across the state, celebrating differences in drag

8 Giving Lizzo The Love 18 A Call For More MidShe Deserves 28 You are Ohio’s Block Crosswalks The body-positive rapper and singer who will save us all

10 A Conversation

Between Drag Queens, Old And New Two local queens chat about everything drag

They increase safety and create vibrant neighborhoods

#OneTrueVoice

Snapshots from Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community

20 Making Connections

Where They Matter

KYC’s new housing programs center needs of LGBTQ+ youth

ONETRUEVOICEONLINE.COM

ON THE COVER: Drag queens Samantha Rollins and Jennifer Lynn Ali getting ready for a joint show. True Q Magazine is published monthly by True Media Group. True Q Magazine issues are FREE at distribution locations throughout the state of Ohio, or available as a subscription for direct delivery online at OneTrueVoiceOnline.com/subscribe. Copyright © 2019 True Media Group All Rights Reserved. Reproduction without expressed written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. All rights in letters, manuscripts, photographs, drawings, illustrations and artwork sent to True Q Magazine will be treated as assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to True Q Magazine and True Media Group terms and conditions. All models are at least 18 years of age. All photographs included are posed for by professional models or willing participants in True Q Magazine except as otherwise noted. Neither said photographs nor accompanying editorial is indicative of sexual orientation or gender expression, unless specifically noted. The publisher of the magazine does not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers.

2 | MARCH 2019

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

letter

Letter from the Editor This is our love song to queer performers everywhere.

Photo by Emily Hirzel.

istorically, queer culture has been intrinsically tied to performance arts of all different types. Musical theatre. Dance. Drag. Movies. Music. You name it, the LGBTQ+ community has probably left our mark on it. (Although the fact that those marks are historically swept under the rug, if you will, is a discussion for another month.) So what is it about being queer that makes people want to put on a show? Most queer theorists have something to say on the subject. I think it’s rooted in our basic human instinct of protecting ourselves with masks and costumes, the desire to become another person. It’s defensive, evasive. It’s avoiding the problem (whether that be internal or external homophobia or transphobia) by escape. But I think it’s become something more than that. Being a performer is also about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Whether you’re on a team, in a group or going solo, performing is about becoming a character beyond reality. Performing, especially in the queer community, has surpassed basic escapism by allowing us to find passion, beauty and excitement by giving others joy. Performing is letting loose. It’s entertainment. It’s expression in the most animalistic form.

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

This issue is our love song to queer performers everywhere. We see you and we thank you. Whether you be a drag queen, a singer, a dancer or anything in between or outside of, we are taking this month to celebrate what that means to our community. I have been both a performer and a consumer of performances my whole life, from dance and show choir to marching band and colorguard. Each of those outlets gave me the chance to find and explore my identity in a safe environment. On the stage and in front of a crowd, I was able to grow into the person I am today. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

Love, Kaylee Duff, Editor

MARCH 2019 | 3

events

March Events

What’s going on in Ohio this month? Here’s a selection of great community events happening around the state in March. SOUTHWEST

NORTHEAST

Sound Valley Winter Music Festival Dayton

Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama Cleveland

MARCH 2

This is bound to be a wonderful night of local music for a great cause! The Sound Valley Winter Music Festival is teaming up with The Foodbank, Inc. to raise money and collect canned goods for those are are food insecure in the Miami Valley. The music festival will be held at The Brightside Music & Event Venue at 6:30 p.m. Check out soundvalleydayton.com to buy tickets and see additional details.

SOUTHEAST MARCH 2

Wild Honeybees Mardi Gras Dance Party Athens The Wild Honeybees will be turning the Ohio University Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium stage into an amazing party space and dance floor. Shake off those winter blues with a Mardi Gras party the likes of which you won’t find anywhere outside of New Orleans! There will be a special guest appearance by The Largemouth Brass Band that you definitely won’t want to miss. The party starts at 7:30 p.m. and goes until 10:30 p.m. The room décor was done by Patty Mitchell and Honey for the Heart. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for general admission; buy them online at ohio.edu/performingarts.

4 | MARCH 2019

MARCH 16

Starting at 8 p.m., at the KeyBank State Theatre in Playhouse Square, catch intimate and honest conversations between Mrs. Obama and a selection of to-be-announced moderators. Attendees will hear firsthand the stories from her memoir, Becoming, including inspirational triumphs and personal setbacks, from childhood to the White House, where she became revered around the world as a transformative voice for change and inclusivity. The tour will candidly recount moments spanning both her personal and professional life, both before and after her time as the first Black First Lady of the United States of America, as a way to share lessons learned and inspire people to become the best version of themselves. For more info, check out playhousesquare.org/events.

Got a cool event coming up? Submit it to our calendar at onetruevoiceonline.com/ submit-an-event.

CENTRAL

MARCH 16-17

Live Loud | Live Proud Columbus Come discover your FLAWLESS self with the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus! They’re ready to get loud and proud at their next concert. The CGMC will be celebrating what makes us all unique while dancing along, featuring songs by everyone’s favorite artists — David Bowie, Queen, Bette Midler, Jennifer Lopez and many, many more! The Saturday show starts at 8 p.m., and the Sunday shows starts at 3 p.m. Both shows will take place at the Lincoln Theatre. Come catch the stunning music, sensational dancing and your absolute favorite local performers celebrating the differences that make us unique and the ties that bind us together. For more information and to buy tickets, visit columbusgaymenschorus.com.

NORTHWEST MARCH 27

2019 Milestones: A Tribute to Women Toledo The YWCA of Northwest Ohio is honoring the women of northwest Ohio who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities and have opened doors for other women. Local women are nominated by community members based on the following criteria: unique, exemplary achievements in her field; serves as a role model for women in the community; and lives a life consistent with the YWCA mission. This annual luncheon was established in 1996 with the goal of increasing community awareness and appreciation for the contributions of northwest Ohio’s diverse female leaders, and has celebrated over 150 women throughout the years. This year’s luncheon will be held at the SeaGate Convention Centre from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Reserve your spot at ywcanwo.org/milestones. All proceeds raised by the event will benefit over 23,000 women and families who utilize the social service programs of the YWCA.

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

Out in the Media The True Team review some of their favorites!

Cher on stage; photo by Jeff Skinner.

Cher: The Here We Go Again Tour By Jeff Skinner On February 10th, we had a diva in the city! Cher came to columbus for her Here We Go Again Tour. The opening act, Chic, had such high energy! The group performed songs that they had written for other artists or groups, which I thought was awesome and fitting. When the show started, this huge curtain fell and Cher was in a cage that raised up. Her hair and makeup throughout the whole concert was amazing. For being 72 yearsold, she moves and looks incredible. The concert took place on Sonny’s birthday, so Cher did a couple songs from her days in Sonny and Cher. I thought that was a beautiful and touching way to remember sonny. She performed a lot of her biggest hits in addition to songs from her new album Here We Go Again (which features covers of ABBA songs in honor of her role in the Mamma Mia sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again). Did you know that Cher has had a number 1 hit for 6 decades?! Cher is a queen, and this concert was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

reviews

Cover design by Jet Purdie; photo by Emily Hirzel.

This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson 272 pp. Sourcebooks Fire. $10.99. By Kaylee Duff This Book Is Gay is a great non-fiction resource for gay teenagers. It’s basically the gay version of “The Talk” that we never got. The book covers a wide variety of topics, from coming out and terms in the LGBTQ+ umbrella to gay history and dating. It also has a great section about “the ins and outs of gay sex,” which is a resource that many LGBTQ+ identified teens don’t have. This is a wonderful place to start if you’re learning more about the queer community, or know someone in your family who is queer, or if you’re questioning your identity yourself. It’s funny when it needs to be, making tough situations a little bit easier for younger readers to understand. The illustrations are amazing, and are a great addition to already solid prose. Keep in mind that although the book is targeted towards young adults, it’s still a good resource for queer folks of all ages. (I learned a bunch of new things while reading it!) It’s also important to remember that This Book Is Gay was published in 2015. Because of that, a lot of the facts and language used in here are a bit outdated. At times the book feels like it could be more inclusive. During the first draft of the book, the author then identified as a white gay male; since publication, she now identifies as a white trans woman. However, Juno Dawson was very clear about not writing outside her identity(ies). For this reason, a lot of the information and topics discussed are more pertinent to gay men or lesbians (although there are many sections where being trans is discussed). If a 2019 version of this book were to be written, we need it to be written by a multitude of authors with different identities — in order to make it as inclusive and intersectional as possible. But all that aside, This Book Is Gay is still something that a teenage version of myself would have really, really benefited from reading.

Pageant By Jeff Skinner The movie Pageant was released on January 19, 2008. It’s a documentary that follows the lives of five different drag queens as they compete against 47 other female impersonators to be the next Miss Gay America. As I watched the film, I chuckled thinking about the queens that came to these competition and won in recent years. One of the queens followed throughout the documentary is Alyssa Edwards, from RuPaul’s Drag Race. It was awesome to see Alyssa at the beginning of her drag career and see how much she has grown, both as a person and a female impersonator. For me, the most intriguing parts about Pageant are all the stories of acceptance from the families and friends of the queens. It’s definitely heart-warming to see so much support from those the queens care about most. If you like drag queens and documentaries, I highly recommend that you watch Pageant! MARCH 2019 | 5

profile

Spotlight On Corey Williams Meet the drag entertainer who uses makeup and drag as a way to spread creativity and love. By Kaylee Duff The radiant Anisa Love!

Corey Williams as Anisa Love.

Name: Corey Williams / Anisa Love Age: 40 Medium: All things skincare and cosmetics related Kaylee: Why are makeup and drag — both of which are forms of art — important to you? Corey: As a makeup artist, I am allowed to live a creative life and share my knowledge and skill set with the public. Drag is my art form of choice. Anisa allows me comfort on-stage. Drag is my therapy. Drag is my home. Having done drag for almost 20 years, I have watched the times change. The political stance of having drag in the forefront is more prevalent than ever! Who or what inspires your craft? My mother inspires me. Pop culture inspires me. Looking back into the ’90s makes my spirit happy. Justice and equality inspire me. How did you get started? What was your beginning? I was a professional singer and dancer for years and naturally got drawn to other creatives. I ended up choreographing for a couple of drag queens, Lorayne Love and Virginia West. Which led to a dare of putting me in drag ONE TIME. Which has led to doing drag for 19 years and counting! Do you have a favorite makeup or drag memory? All things that Kevyn Aucoin touched; he is my makeup guide! I have also done some amazingly fun jobs as Anisa. I started a charity to raise money for wigs for children going through radiation treatment. In a few weeks, I am speaking at Harvard University on nonverbal communication and gender, thanks to my participation in a documentary called Kings, Queens & In-betweens. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would you choose? Ham! Chili! My mother’s fried chicken! Basically everything that can clog my arteries.

Follow Anisa Love on Facebook on The Anisa Love Fan Page and on Instagram @Anisalove2018. 6 | MARCH 2019

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

profile

Spotlight On Cleveland Kings Action Pack Meet the troupe of drag kings who are eradicating the barriers in queer performance while raising money for local causes and creating a safe community for queer performers. By Kaylee Duff Photos by Judie Vegh, OyVegh Photography.

ith the rise of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the local drag queen scene, drag performers are no longer strangers in the public consciousness. Yet somehow, drag kings (who are often women, non-binary and trans performers) continue to remain under the mainstream radar. A group of advocates in northeast Ohio are looking to change that and bring more inclusivity and accessibility to drag with the Cleveland Kings Action Pack (CKAP). The Cleveland Kings are a group of drag kings that perform in venues around Cleveland, to both spread the word about drag kings and provide fundraising/support for local community charities and activists causes. CKAP was started by activist friends Lisa Sanchez and Rose Driscoll, who were looking for a creative fundraising opportunity for the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF)-sponsored annual Bowlathon for Preterm, Cleveland’s abortion and sexual health clinic. What started as a pipe dream ended up being wildly successful; their first show raised over a thousand dollars for Preterm. “People were definitely interested in seeing more of it,” explained co-founder Sanchez, who performs as Macho Grande. “So we just kept trying to put together shows.” Since their first show a year ago, CKAP has continued performing and raising money for fantastic causes. All of the proceeds from their seven total shows have gone to organizations like Preterm; the Black Pride 4; Esperanza, a local Latinx school aid organization; a Cleveland Brake Light Clinic, through the Cleveland TRUE Q MAGAZINE

chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA); NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio; and the Tamir Rice Foundation. In addition to donating money to organizations that help the community, the Cleveland Kings Action Pack’s mission also includes making drag more accessible and inclusive. Their main focus is bringing underrepresented voices into the drag scene, and growing the awareness about drag kings. One way CKAP is making drag accessible is by starting a community closet, with Sweetlime Alterations, a queer tailory in Tremont, and Mandy Lane, a local artist and organizer. This is to make performing “more open and available to people who may want to participate but don’t have the cash, the time, the energy to really go out and buy makeup or put their costume together, because it takes time and money,” according to Sanchez. “We’re also going to have classes and watch parties for shows,” added member performer Rya Lally, a.k.a. Rhett Corvette. “We’re going to do a makeup tutorial, dance classes, things like that.” Both the community closet and how-to classes helps make the technical side of performing just that much easier for interested individuals. Making drag accessible will also help make it more inclusive; many underrepresented communities are the ones who lack the funds, time or “know-how” to perform. By offering help in those areas, CKAP is creating a safe environment for minority voices, especially

The Cleveland Kings Action Pack. for femme, non-binary and trans folks, to participate in the local drag scene. “I had always loved drag but, for some odd reason, I didn’t think women could do it,” shared performing member Roze Thornz, a.k.a. Thornstar. “I had never seen a women in drag before and I didn’t think people wanted to see women in drag. After that first CKAP performance, I made it a goal of mine to become a drag performer.” “There are not many trans and women performers in queer performing arts. There’s a huge drag queen scene in Cleveland, but not many opportunities for drag kings,” explained Lally. “I thought that expanding the mission of CKAP [to include those opportunities] would help develop queer performing arts for women and trans folks. We’re taking power into our own hands and making those spaces ourselves if they don’t exist. You don’t have to wait to be invited somewhere; you can just make it.” At the end of the day, the Cleveland Kings Action Pack is all about having fun and playing with self expression while being a part of a community. “I think groups like CKAP are important because [they] give people a chance to experiment with gender expression and express themselves in a way they otherwise couldn’t,” said Thorn. Performing in drag — for both drag kings and queens — is a way for people to have a little bit of fun with gender stereotypes. We perform gender every day when we get dressed a certain way or participate in certain activities, so why can’t the queer community use performance as a way to push those boundaries and binaries? Lally emphasized that: “When something is art, there are no limits.” Catch CKAP at their one-year anniversary show — The Pack is Back: Cleveland Kings Action Pack Turns 1 — on at 7:30 p.m. on March 23, at the Grog Shop.

You can follow CKAP on Facebook @clekingsactpack and Instagram @clekingsactionpack for event updates, photos and more. MARCH 2019 | 7

music

Giving Lizzo The Love She Deserves If there could only be one artist to save us all in 2019, it will be this body-positive, self-loving, tequila-drinking, fluteplaying, breathtakingly-talented rapper and singer. By JT Lucas

o there I am one morning, laying in bed chugging cold brew coffee straight from the jug, trying to wake up while half-watching the previous night’s Jimmy Fallon while half-glancing through my social media feeds. Suddenly, I’m jerked to attention by a line that will surely propel a career into super-stardom: “Hold up, Jimmy, please, don’t make me have to take your bitch!” I break away from my Insta-stories, and my first thought is “sparkly.” There’s Lizzo — fierce, confident and decked out like a disco ball — completely owning the stage and working her way into a standing ovation. She promised that audience an “Ooooh, ahhhh sensation,” and I doubt there was a person out there who didn’t want to slide into her DMs when she was done. But there was a part of the whole performance that I did not like, when Jimmy Fallon claimed that Lizzo was one of his favorite new artists. Hold up, Jimmy, please, don’t make me have to educate you. Lizzo ain’t new. I would like to take a few minutes to explore this Big Grrrl thriving in this small world.

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TRUE Q MAGAZINE

music

Lizzo, born Melissa Jefferson, describes her happiest childhood moments as blasting music in her bedroom, singing and performing along with full choreography. Her love of music was impossible to contain. In a Teen Vogue interview from last June, Lizzo states, “When I was in high school, I was a big girl with a cute face. So dudes liked me secretly, but they didn’t like me publicly. I never had a boyfriend because they didn’t want to claim me. So now in this industry, I’m a big girl with a cute face and some cute music and I’m still being liked secretly and not claimed publicly.” This seems to be a driving sentiment behind her loud proclamation of self-love and acceptance. This also could be a valid statement on how, even though she was labeled by Time Magazine as an artist to watch all the way back in 2013 after her debut album Lizzobangers — which features the terminally infectious “Batches and Cookies” — shook the world, she still hasn’t been able to break into the level of stardom she clearly deserves. It’s hard to understand why 2013’s Lizzobangers and the even more refined 2015 follow-up Big Grrrl Small World did not receive their due accolades, since they both showcased a spit-fire energetic rapper who could serve you a hook that is actual literal fire.

Lizzo’s turning point was her 2016 Coconut Oil EP, her first release with a major label, Atlantic Records. The feel of this is much more deliberate than her prior offerings. While her rap chops are still displayed, her gospel background shines through, especially on songs like “Good as Hell” and “Scuse Me.” The “coconut oil” concept refers primarily to selfcare, and in “Scuse Me,” she makes sure that you understand that she means to talk about even the naughtiest aspects of self-care.

undeniably fun, feel-good song with smart lines like “No, I’m not a snack at all, look, baby, I’m the whole damn meal.” Play it before a big presentation at work or while getting dressed up for a hot night on the town for a much-needed shot of confidence. The song will be featured on the upcoming studio album Cuz I Love You, coming out April 19, which will also feature a collab with Missy Elliot. If I understand the terminology right, this will assuredly be dripping in Ragu.

From this point, she has just been releasing singles, and each one has been better than the last. She reminds us that she’s her own inspiration in “Water Me,” lifts heavy metal working on her “Fitness,” and proclaims her love of a wide range of “Boys.” Everything she releases serves as an unapologetic anthem for self-love and body positivity. When asked about this, she often refers to it as merely getting through life. She learned the importance of self-acceptance and wants the world to have as many self-love songs as there are love songs.

Also, have you heard Lizzo play the flute? Because if not, go listen to her now — it will change your life for the better.

As many close calls as she’s had trying to break through on her career, “Juice” may be the one to actually do it. For starters, it’s geared to be her best-charting song to date. It’s an

JT Lucas is a Columbus-based music enthusiast, frequent concertgoer and a Carly Rae Jepsen superfan.

DRAG TALK WITH

A new podcast all about the world of drag.

@QueenJLynnxo TheQueenJLynn /QueenJLynnxo

JENNIFER LYNN

cover story

A Conversation Between Drag Queens, Old And New In celebrating the changes drag has undergone through the years, two local Columbus queens chat about everything from memories to the future. By Jeff Skinner a.k.a. Jennifer Lynn Ali

ike any art form or craft, female impersonation hasn’t stayed the same since its birth. From the changing of laws pertaining to crossdressing and to a popular, Emmy-award winning show about competing drag queens, times really have changed. But what about the approaches, the attitudes and the memories? True Q’s Administrative Executive and female impersonator Jennifer Lynn Ali sat down with friend Samantha Rollins to talk about how drag has changed through the years: Jennifer Lynn: Entertainers like you, Coco, Brazon, Maria Garrison have paved the way for myself and many other drag queens in Ohio. I wanted to sit down and talk with you about what drag was like when you first started, and then talk about our favorite memories of drag. How long have you been doing drag? Samantha: I’ve been doing drag for 37 years now. More than most drag queens now have been alive. [laughs] Wow. I don’t think I knew that! Why are you laughing?! Because I didn’t know that! I didn’t know it’s been 37 years. Wow. Why do you think I’m so fabulous? 10 | MARCH 2019

That’s amazing. I started drag when I was 18. I’ve been doing it for eight years. Oh, my gosh. I’m a baby. I started doing drag when I was 20. What was it like back then? I know now, you walk in fully ready. I’ve always walked in fully ready. Unless I’m out of town and have to get ready there; in that case, I hope for a hotel to get ready. I’ve always looked at this as a job. They hired Samantha, from start to finish. So I go in and leave as Samantha. You get what you pay for. I know that I’ve heard that “back in the day” — like years and years ago — people didn’t show up in drag. They would have to get ready in the bars. Did you ever have any issues with showing up in drag? Well, I looked like a woman, so from a distance, you’d never know. Back then, you had to have on at least three articles of men’s clothing, in case you were pulled over or arrested or harassed. Mostly, that would be like undergarments, which we could hide. You’ve never been harrassed? Nope. I’ve never been looked at twice, as long as I’ve been doing this.

Jennifer Lynn (second from left) with Samantha (third from left) and the girls at Columbus Pride 2017!

Jennifer Lynn (left) and Samantha (right) eating ice cream and taking selfies! Good! That’s amazing. I’m not one to dress up and come to the bar. I like to get ready there. Actually, I’m like Hellin Bedd. I have my sweats on. You’re a dude in makeup, is what you’re telling me. Well, I’m a lady in makeup. Now we know the difference between today’s youth and me. Do you think social media has changed drag? Why? Yes. 100%. Back in my day — I hate to say that, because I’m still here; it sounds like I’m retiring — the only place you’d see drag was a gay bar. You couldn’t turn on a soap opera and see a drag queen, like you can now. Or any time of the day, watch RuPaul’s Drag Race. All we had was the gay entertainment scene. We’ve lost that spark in the bars now, because they’ve already seen it before they got there. Right. They’ve seen a picture on Instagram. Or it’s preconceived what a drag queen should be because of RuPaul’s Drag Race. So if you don’t look like a RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, you fall behind. I was going to ask you about RuPaul’s Drag Race, but you brought it up! What is RuPaul’s Drag Race? Starting out, it could have been really good and helpful to drag queens, but they’ve isolated TRUE Q MAGAZINE

cover story so many drag queens by saying, “this is what we want, and if you are not that…” So look at Trixie Mattel. They picked someone who doesn’t look like your average drag queen on RPDR, but now all these new queens are just watereddown Trixie Mattels. Drag queens now aren’t their own personalities, like me and Georgia and Sonya Ross are. We had nothing to go off of. We had to create our own selves. There wasn’t any “let’s rewind this tape and let’s copy this girl’s makeup.” There was no YouTube to follow their exact routine. Exactly. What are some of the impersonations that you’ve done throughout the years? Make fun of yourself first; yes, I have a big nose and I’m very aware of that. I can do Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Cher… Uh… Oh, Lady Gaga. Duh. Duh! How did that slip your mind; that’s like your main one! Because you do it, and I thought of how horrible you do her. Oh!!!! Now we’re on Drag Race behind the scenes. Seriously. Untucked. And then I did Justin Bieber, which you can find on YouTube. Yes! I’ve watched that multiple times. My favorite is probably… What is the KFC guy? Reba McEntire as Colonel Sanders. [laughs] Yes, that’s one of my favorite memories of you. It was so fun! All right. What style of drag best fits you, Samantha. People always ask me that. For some reason, you have to be labelled now, as a certain type of drag queen. I am an entertainer. I do comedy, drama (which is ballads to me), look-a-likes. I try to be everything, so I don’t have a label for myself. If people ask what type of I do, entertaining, is how I put it. I would say I’m an entertainer, also. I don’t just do one thing; I do multiple things. Wouldn’t you agree? [laughs] But you don’t do them all good, like I do. No! Of course not! [laughs] Because you’re a legendary queen and you can do no wrong. Just let me add here: I’m not conceited; I’m just making fun of you. I am my own worst critic. I would agree. I’m the same way. What has been your biggest obstacle or challenge in your drag career? My nose. [laughs] No, I’m kidding. My insecurity. I’m very shy. I’m like your average actor; I’m very different off-stage. People don’t realize that until they get to know me. That’s funny. I’ve been shy since I was a little kid. I used to hide behind my mom. I can top that. I moved into a house and didn’t come out for two years. I was agoraphobic; is that what they call that? And then most people TRUE Q MAGAZINE

Jennifer Lynn (left) and Samantha (right) getting ready for a show together.

ask, “How did you overcome your shyness.” Being a drag queen! Being a drag queen! You’re right! By putting on this mask where no one saw me. It’s like being a different person. So where do you see yourself in five years? Dead. [laughs] Retired!!! No! I will never say I’m going to retire. Because then, if I don’t, people will say, “you said you were going to retire when you’re 40!” They’re going to call you Cher. I used to say I was going to retire when I was 40. Well, Samantha’s 37. I’m going to have that farewell concert for the next three years. We’re talking a lot about Cher. What’d you think about Cher’s concert? God, I love Cher. But it was lackluster. You’ve not seen her before, but she’s done that same concert three times in a row here. It’s cookiecutter. My friend Jason was sitting there, and I would know what song she was gonna do next, and he’d turn to me and be like, “you’re right!” “I Got You Babe” was the only new set, because so many people were asking her to do it. I was very busy looking at her rhinestones and outfits. She did update her outfits with rhinestones. That’d be like me pulling something out of my closet from five years ago and just stoning it. “Hey, think they’ll notice?” I was looking at the patterns of the rhinestones, because I was so close. I liked it. I was happy that it was all rhinestone, and I’ve never seen it before. It was great. The concert was good; don’t get me wrong. But she didn’t talk to the audience as much as she used to. Granted, we were in the middle of a snowstorm. She probably wanted to get the hell out of there.

That was very interesting. And I was in heels during that snowstorm. Boy drag. [laughs] That shake and bake tan. But you did look good. I just went tanning that day, so thank you. So I know that you’ve competed in pageants before. What do you think about pageantry? Back in my day — and I hate, again, to keep saying that — when you entered a pageant, there were 30 other queens in that pageant with you. That was the only way to really get noticed back then, because we didn’t have social media. Hell, we didn’t even have cell phones. You would have your 8 by 10 glossies; look that up, children, some of you may not know what that is. But pageants now. There’s so many, and you only get three girls to show up. It’s lost its importance, because of social media. No offense to girls who are pageant queens. I was a pageant queen, because that’s what you had to be. But I’ve outgrown that. I totally agree with that. We are not the same person. Stop agreeing with me. I want you to disagree with me on something. I like agreeing with you! I just love your opinions. We’re too much the same person. What is your favorite drag memory? My favorite drag memory is why I got started in this. I walked into The Garage — for all you new kids, that was The Garage back in the ’80s when it was a fabulous place, not this 2000s Garage right before it closed — and there was a drag queen on stage. It was an older person and she was performing this number. I just knew that’s exactly what I was going to do. I knew, from then on, I was going to be a drag queen and a performer. I wish I could remember her name. And what song she was doing.

MARCH 2019 | 11

cover story

Jennifer Lynn (left middle) and Samantha (right middle) hanging out with Ava Aurora Foxx (far left) and Jonathan Whitney (far right).

My favorite memory would have to be when I first went to a drag pageant. I believe it was Ohio USofA At Large; I think you were actually performing or judging. My mom actually went with me, and we watched the pageant together. That’s when I knew that drag was something that I wanted to do, that I wanted to try and compete at some point. I was very young; 18 years-young to be exact. Let me change my favorite memory then, because that was too close to yours. My second favorite memory in drag was the first time I saw Sonya Ross perform. No one ever associated my initials (SR) with Sonya Ross’s initials (SR). Sonya was my idol. She was what I wanted to be when I first started doing drag. She was doing a two woman show with Jennifer Foxx at The Garage. It was just the two of them. She changed so fast! That’s when she wore her own hair. She came out for her first number and it was all down. Then she came back out in this S&M spikey thing with a mohawk. All of her own hair! Done literally within two numbers, while the other girl performed. For the last number, she came out with her hair huge with a purple feather boa and matching purple feather fans. She did this strip number. She was just... breathtaking. She’s still stunning beautiful. But she was breathtaking beautiful back in the ’80s. Back in the day! And talk about staying power. That’s my Sonya. How long has she been doing drag, do you know? A couple years more than me. A couple? [laughs] Yes, a couple.

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She’s incredible, and to think that she’s still doing drag is really inspiring to me. Let’s talk about my favorite memory of you. How long have we known each other?

It’s amazing to me how talented you are. I’m just happy that we got to sit down and kiki, if you will. Chew the fat!

We’ve known each other for four years. Maybe a little longer than that. I met you when Hellin Bedd booked you at Cavan’s one night. You had on that incredible teal and black ’80s thrift store jacket that you wore with those black panties. That was my first time seeing you; my favorite memory of you, though. If I’m in a show, I look at it like theatre where you don’t see actors out roaming around the audience, so I kind of go from the stage to the dressing room. Lately, I’ve been going out because people expect that of you now. But I didn’t usually get to see the performers that I worked with. One night, at AWOL, I actually got to watch you perform. When you came off stage, I told you that you’re more talented than you really know. You were doing a Stevie Nicks number, but not dressed as Stevie Nicks. You were so entertaining. I had never really seen that side of you, because I’d only seen you backstage or walking around. It was really good. But don’t let that go to your head; you’re not great by any means. [laughs] I didn’t realize that you have so much potential, and I don’t think you’re using even half of it.

Now you’re showing your age. I choose my words very carefully.

Thank you. That really means a lot to me! My favorite memory of you would be that time when you switched your makeup from Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz to your normal makeup. In like ten to fifteen minutes. I sat right beside you the whole time, and I was just blown away. I just don’t know how you could do that. I’m kind of a perfectionist, and I like to take my time with it. It takes me hours, and you do it in ten to fifteen minutes. Years of practice!

Last thing, where can I find you on social media? [laughs] What is that? Just kidding! Where do you see drag going in the future? Do you think there’s going to be bars to perform at? There will always be drag. There will always be people who need drag as their artistic outlet. There will always be people who are confused with their gender who need that step to get comfortable with themselves. Through all the decades, drag has gone through many stages. We’re in that rebellious stage. It reminds me of the ’80s punk stage, when we were all rebelling. That’s the stage we’re in right now. We have all these queens who can’t commit to being a glamour queen, so they are hiding behind this rebellious look. Which is fine, that’s their gimmick. I call it rebellious drag. No titties. No hair. The Trixie Mattel big eye thing. I think we will go back to the glamour stage, once people realize that the real base of drag is to look like a woman. That’s the whole purpose of drag. When it started back in Shakespeare’s stage, it was a man trying to look like a woman. I mean, it’s all drag. Any last words? ”I’m so glad we had this time together. Just to have a laugh…”

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

feature

Nina West Takes On RuPaul’s Drag Race The local Columbus “superdrag” queen is representing Ohio on season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. By Kaylee Duff

Photo courtesy of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Learn more about Nina West at ninawest.com. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for photos, videos and more!

ina West’s participation in season 11 of the Emmy-award winning VH1 show, RuPaul’s Drag Race (RPDR), was announced online in the long-awaited “RuVeal” on January 24th. The announcement of the season 11 queens was live-streamed on YouTube and was hosted by figure skater/LGBTQ+ advocate Adam Rippon and season 10 winner Aquaria. This 39-year-old queen has auditioned for RPDR nine different times — and is ecstatic to finally spread joy and share her talent with the world. Nina (a.k.a. Andrew) is nothing short of a Columbus legend. Popular for hosting different drag shows and events at local hotspots like Union and Axis, she specializes in classic, campy and comedic drag. “I’m really just a big ol’ man in a dress, and I’m celebrating that,” Nina said in the official “Meet Nina West” video posted by the VH1 YouTube channel. Nina’s approach to drag and entertainment is a welcome breath of fresh air. Andrew has been taking the stage as Nina and in regional theatre performances around the state and country for the past 18 years. Most recently, Nina appeared as Ursula in the Pleasure Guild of Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. All of the proceeds from the show went to Nationwide Children’s Hospital Hospice and Palliative Care Program. In her spare time, Nina also hosts Dragcast, a hilarious podcast about “all things drag and LGBT” with her co-host Patricia Taylor. You can listen to episodes of Dragcast online at ninawest.com/dragcast. A lover of charity and giving back, Nina also started the Nina West Fund (via the Columbus Foundation), which benefits local LGBTQ+ organizations such as Kaleidoscope Youth Center, the Ronald McDonald House, Equitas Health, Planned Parenthood, Family Pride Network and the ACLU. When this article went to print, the community was still awaiting the premier of RPDR season 11 (which premiered on February 28) with bated breath.

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MARCH 2019 | 13

trans view

Trans and Drag: When Worlds Collide The drag world and transgender community are often seen as two completely different worlds. Sometimes, this is an accurate assumption. Other times, this could not be farther from the truth. By Daniel Tirabassi

or the first time in this column, I will talk about my own personal experiences as it relates to this topic. At 20, I created a drag persona that was nothing like me. Dontae Night was outgoing, flamboyant, charismatic and the epitome of male sexuality. He wore costumes with partially open shirts, tight pants and rhinestones that glittered in the stage light. At the same time, I was shy, reserved and did all I could to blend in, including wearing baggy black clothes at all times. Like many transgender people who aren’t sure who they are, I had labeled myself as a lesbian and idolized drag kings because they weren’t afraid of showing their masculine side through performance. In the summer of 2007, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at drag. I booked my first show at Ladies’ Night in an Akron gay bar called The Interbelt. When I got to the dressing room, the host, Danyel Vasquez, did something I was not prepared for. After thanking me for making the almost hour drive,

14 | MARCH 2019

she looked me up and down — and then asked me if I was transgender. Though my answer was no, the following six months would end up proving me a liar. The more I performed, the more time I wanted to spend as my persona. One day I bound my chest while I was hanging out around my house. For the first time off the stage, I felt comfortable in who I was. This is a story that I hear from so many transgender people now — drag helped them discover the person that they truly are. This is when the worlds start to battle. This mostly happens due to hormones being seen as an unfair advantage during pageantry. Though pageants are not judged on a performer’s appearance in their illusion, some performers feel that being transsexual should be disqualified because their art is no longer an illusion. However, performance and costuming has nothing to do with a person’s gender identity.

Dontae Night at Pride Youngstown 2017.

About a year after I came out as trans, a group of my transgender friends started a YouTube channel called TransOhioKingz. On this channel, transgender drag kings from all over the state talked about various parts of life being a transgender drag king. We discussed our decisions to still be referred to as drag kings versus male entertainers, what it is like in a dressing room as a transgender king, and how the lines between drag life and real life blur as one transitions. Many on the group were still competing in the pageant circuit and winning titles. I also competed in a few pageants and did well. It showed a slight shift in the drag community toward accepting transgender artists. Though preparing for shows became easier due to no longer needing to paste on a beard or bind our chests, transgender kings were showing that the art behind the performance doesn’t change as one transitions.

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trans view This shift in acceptance of trans kings is mirroring the acceptance trans queens. Some of the idols I had when I started drag were in the process of transitioning and winning statewide titles. These idols included Danyel Vasquez and Brionna Brooks. As I watched them almost effortlessly break the boundary between doing drag and being trans in Ohio, I found hope for the future of the art. That hope is now national. Thanks to the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the world of drag has become a mainstream phenomenon. Even though RuPaul has stated that she is not a fan of transgender drag queens, a number of past and present contestants have come out as transgender and are doing amazing things with the art. The reboot of Queer Eye also showcased a transgender drag king as he returned to his home bar after completing top surgery (the removal of breast tissue from a male presenting transgender person). Though Dontae Night has only been making special appearances over the past few years, he still plays a huge role in my identity. He is the one who taught me who I truly am and gave me an outlet to experiment with who I could be. He gave me a creative way to work through my emotions while I transition. He gave me a platform through which I made friends who are going through the same things that I am.

There are many times when I miss performing on a regular basis. It’s almost like I am missing a huge part of myself. To this day, when I walk into a local bar, most people still address me by Dontae. This is both a good and bad thing. On one hand, it means that people paid attention when I was performing and knew exactly who I was. On the other hand, it means that people only saw me for my performance and not the person behind it. It almost feels like my transition is a part of the performance and not who I truly am. At times, it has made me think that my transition is a call for all the attention I got when I was on stage. Though I know this to not be true, it is hard to separate the two sometimes. This is a major reason for Dontae taking a back seat in my life. It was a way for me to separate my art from my real life. This became incredibly clear as I was nearing the end of my regular performance career, which had lasted almost ten years. I started to realize that my body was taking a very masculine form. Because of this, I started to integrate stripping into many of my performances. In the local bars, make entertainers would ask me for tips on stripping in their performance. Dontae became known as the “stripping king” because I would get down to my binder and boxers at every show I did. Though this became a crowd pleaser, I lost the creative aspects that drew me into the art. It would sadden me to do an artistic piece and see the audience pay little attention to the

performance then turn to do a stripper piece and watch the crowd erupt in excitement. As I decided to semi-retire from drag, I worried that I would lose my sense of self. As it turns out, I found more of myself than I would have if I continued performing regularly. For me, drag has turned into a mark of celebration instead of a way of life. It signifies something important to me rather than a regular night. This showed me, more than anything, that the two worlds need to be separate. By treating drag as a special part of my life, I learned that the worlds need to meet, but do not have to define one another. The drag world and transgender community are indeed two separate worlds, but they intersect at many points. Whether it is learning one’s true identity through art or pushing the lines of performance, transgender people play a huge part in the drag world and vice versa. It’s being proven that when the two worlds collide, both communities benefit. It’s just another way for the express one’s self through art. Daniel Tirabassi is a trans man whose goal in life is to make the process of transitioning easier for the next generation.

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arts

A Trio Of Queer Art Exhibitions The Wexner Center for the Arts at OSU is featuring three different exhibits from LGBTQ+ artists. By Kaylee Duff

John Waters Beverly Hills John, 2012 Chromogrenic print Rubell Family Collection, Miami Image courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery © John Waters

he Wexner Center for the Arts — The Ohio State University’s “multidisciplinary, international laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art” — is showcasing art by three LGBTQ-identified artists. The Wexner Center is a space where both established and emerging artists can experiment, where the audience can participate in cultural experiences, where the community can come together to observe and understand the art of our time. These three exhibitions that offer a splash of color and hope during some of the grayest months of the year are inspiring, touching and culturally significant. Community members can come experience collections of art by John Waters, Peter Hujar and Alicia McCarthy through the end of April.

John Waters Image courtesy of the artist

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John Waters Jackie Copies Divine’s Look, 2001 Vinyl doll in fabric clothing with glass vitrine Collection of James Mounger, New Orleans Image courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery © John Waters

John Waters: Indecent Exposure The most comprehensive collection of his gallery-based art to date, Indecent Exposure draws from Waters’ experience with film and his interest in celebrity, crime, religion and kitsch. Waters is a filmmaker, writer, performer and visual artist who uses shocking, affectate humor to “subvert mainstream expectations of visual art” and draw viewers in with “his astute, provocative, and wickedly funny observations about society.” This exhibition is organized by The Baltimore Museum of Art.

John Waters Divine in Ecstasy, 1992 Chromogenic print Collection of Amy and Zachary Lehman Image courtesy of Marianne Boesky Gallery © John Waters

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arts Peter Hujar: Speed of Life In this collection of photographs spanning four decades, Hujar offers a glimpse into the world of gay culture between the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Hujar existed in a world of avant-garde dance, music, art and drag, until his untimely death from AIDS in 1987. These portraits are uncomplicated yet far from simple; they’re touching, full of empathy, life and culture. Peter Hujar: Speed of Life was organized by the Morgan Library & Museum, New York, and Fundación MAPFRE, Madrid.

Peter Hujar Sheryl Sutton, 1977 Gelatin silver print Purchased on The Charina Endowment Fund, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2013.108:1.46 © Peter Hujar Archive, LLC, image courtesy of Pace/ MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Peter Hujar Ethyl Eichelberger as Minnie the Maid, 1981 Gelatin silver print Purchased on The Charina Endowment Fund, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2013.108:1.41 © Peter Hujar Archive, LLC, image courtesy of Pace/ MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Peter Hujar Gay Liberation Front Poster Image, 1969 Gelatin silver print Purchased on The Charina Endowment Fund, The Morgan Library & Museum, 2013.108:1.76 © Peter Hujar Archive, LLC, image courtesy of Pace/ MacGill Gallery, New York and Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco

Alicia McCarthy Untitled, 2017 Water-based spraypaint on marine grade plywood Installation at San Francisco Art Institute’s Fort Mason Campus. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Stephanie Smith

For more info about these exhibitions and other events, projects and more at the Wexner Center for the Arts, visit wexarts.org. TRUE Q MAGAZINE

Alicia McCarthy: No Straight Lines McCarthy is known for colorful, vibrant abstract paintings influenced by punk and queer subcultures, graffiti and folk art. She often uses found elements or recycled materials tied to the surrounding community. In this site-specific mural created in the lower lobby of the Wexner Center, McCarthy utilized leftover paint from past Wexner Center exhibition installations, in honor of Columbus’ DIY culture.

All three exhibitions are running through April 28. Tickets are free for members, college students (with valid ID), patrons under 18, active military and veterans; $8 for the general public; $6 for senior citizens (65 and older); and $6 Ohio State faculty and staff (with BuckID). All visitors are admitted to the exhibition for free on Thursdays after 4 p.m., and on the first Sunday of each month. Admission is also free with a ticket to any same-day Wexner Center event. The exhibition is closed on Mondays.

MARCH 2019 | 17

development

A Call For More Mid-Block Crosswalks In Central Ohio Providing opportunities for pedestrians to cross at more places will increase safety and create more vibrant neighborhoods. By J.M. Rayburn

A sketch of a mid-block crosswalk; courtesy of the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO).

A mid-block crosswalk in Atlanta, Georgia.

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development

id-block crosswalks exist to create safe connections for those who want to cross a street in between roadway intersections. The installation of mid-block crosswalks helps prioritize pedestrians by giving them more locations to cross streets. Corner crosswalks are designed around vehicle traffic, while midblock crosswalks better reflect how and where people want to use streets. Mid-block crosswalks come in a variety of forms. The most basic form (and least amount of possible effort) is simply painting black-andwhite stripes in the street. It’s a start, but we really can do so much better. Think flashing lights attached to poles to alert drivers to slow down as they approach the unorthodox crossing. Imagine the street on both sides of the walkway being paved with rough granite blocks, another traffic-calming measure. Instead of doing the bare minimum of painting black-andwhite stripes in the street, a city that really cares about pedestrians would install bricks treated with a glazed, reflective coating.

Most city and county budgets for such street improvements are limited, and justifying the investment of mid-block crosswalks in neighborhoods can be challenging. Still, they are needed at locations where crossing is dangerous or pedestrians have limited options. In response, supports of mid-block crosswalks have turned to other funding sources. In Philadelphia, for example, many of the mid-block crosswalks are privately-funded projects sponsored by nearby businesses. I would love to see more mid-block crosswalks installed throughout Columbus, particularly in commercial corridors like High Street and Parsons Avenue. Other opportune areas are historic districts and urban centers in the suburbs. J.M. Rayburn is an urban planner with the City of Dublin, Realtor with Coldwell Banker King Thompson and neighborhood commissioner for the 5th by Northwest neighborhood of Columbus. Opinions are his own and not the views of his employers.

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feature

Making Connections Where They Matter Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s new housing programs focus on centering the needs of homeless or housing insecure LGBTQIA+ youth in central Ohio. By Kaylee Duff The Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

his year, Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC) is celebrating 25 years of serving and supporting LGBTQIA+ youth in the central Ohio community. Since 1994, they have been providing LGBTQIA+ youth with programming that focuses on “building resiliency and reducing risk factors through belonging and building community.” KYC, which is located on Town Street in downtown Columbus, welcomes drop-in visits during their business hours (Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Fridays from 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.). Youth can visit, hang out and connect with other youth in spaces such as the Tom W. Davis Family Room, Creative Arts Room, Library, Game Room, David Bohnett Cyber Center and KYC Cafe. One of KYC’s most popular programs is Genderscope, which offers a safe and affirming place for trans, gender non-conforming and queer youth to come together, discuss issues and gain support. Kaleidoscope Youth Center is also the hub for the Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Network in Ohio; providing support, technical assistance, and training throughout the state. In 2019, KYC is celebrating their 25th anniversary by expanding their programming to even better serve the local LGBTQIA+ youth. Kaleidoscope Connections will provide access to resources and services for homeless and housing insecure or vulnerable young people (ages 16-24). Connections is a “trauma informed and culturally responsive community-based approach to quickly identify and link individuals to services and other critical supports,” explains Erin Upchurch, MSW, LISW-S, Executive Director of Kaleidscope Youth Center. “Through Connections, participants will receive support in securing stable housing; case management and service coordination; child care support; food security; physical, mental health, and substance use support; and transportation.” Traditionally, federally-funding housing programs — those currently available to the community — focus on those whom are either already homeless or about to be homeless. This means that young people in unsafe home situations are forced to live “on the land,” on the streets or in other dangerous conditions before qualifying for assistance. “In Columbus, there are an estimated 3,000 young people identified as being homeless; and of that number approximately 40% are unaccounted for because they are not eligible to access current services based on federal guidelines, and/or there are not mechanisms developed to accurately record their experiences,” explained Upchurch. “While the need to serve youth whom are literally homeless is real, this restricted focus creates barriers, and a gap in services for LGBTQIA+ young people whose housing is insecure or vulnerable due to lack of acceptance or safety within their homes.”

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feature

Find KYC online at kycohio.org. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @kycohio.

KYC is for youth by youth.

This is where KYC’s Connections and Housing Programs come in. These programs are the first step to closing the gap and serving the vulnerable LGBTQIA+ youth in central Ohio. The main focus of Connections is prevention — “disrupting and decreasing the risk factors that may lead to homelessness, and often attached crises” — in addition to the three-pronged Housing Programs to support those with housing needs. Rapid Re-Housing Kaleidoscope received funding from the Victims of Crime Act and State Victim Assistance Act via the Ohio State Attorney General’s Office in 2018 to establish a housing program to provide “supported housing opportunities through move in/rental assistance, housing identification, and case management support to young adults ages 18-24.” The Rapid Re-Housing Program will help young adults in finding and securing safe housing opportunities. Supportive Co-Housing This program will be offered through KYC’s Carriage House (located just behind the Drop-In Center). “This project is innovative and the first of its kind in Central Ohio, and will meet the needs of our youth, and serve as a tool for the prevention of homelessness and subsequent crises,” says Upchurch. It will provide supportive, intentional community living, where young people will have space to strengthen life skills and benefit from peer and mentor relationships. Each participant will be supported by a case manager to aid in the development and implementation of a case plan. The ultimate goal of this program is to move the youth from Supportive CoHousing into safe, stable and independent housing. This program will be available in early 2020. Host Home Network This program is a community based response addressing a critical gap in those with immediate short-term housing needs.

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According to Upchurch, “the goals are to keep our young people off of the streets, and to decrease and disrupt the potential for subsequent crises that often arise when youth are without a safe place to stay.” Kaleidoscope will recruit, screen, train and support community volunteers to provide short-term, supportive housing for homeless or critically vulnerable youth. These “Host Homes” offer a transformative and intimate approach to providing young people with a stable, supportive environment while they navigate the uncertain processes of finding and securing their own permanent housing or possibly reuniting with family. The Host Home Network will match young adults (ages 18-24) who have immediate, urgent housing needs with community volunteers, at no cost to those in need. In addition to the supportive housing environment, participants will also be provided case management support and referrals to relevant resources. The hosts are provided additional support and resources to ensure success for both the young person and the Host Home. If you have any questions about how to get involved, email Heather Wise, MSW at heather@kycohio.org. They are hosting a KYC Home Host Network Volunteer Info Session on March 9, for anyone interested. Full details can be found on the Kaleidoscope Youth Center Facebook page. The critical importance of these and similar housing programs are no mystery. It’s no secret that LGBTQIA+ youth (especially youth of color, and transgender and non-binary youth of color) are overrepresented in the homelessness or housing insecure population. “Our new programs will work to close existing gaps in services by meeting the basic needs of young people, addressing barriers to housing stability, connecting them to their resiliency and ultimately supporting their survival and thriving,” says Upchurch.

youth in our community; until now, no other youth housing programs specifically centering LGBTQIA+ youth in central Ohio have existed. Although other youth housing opportunities exist, KYC’s housing programs center the needs and experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people. This means that the unique needs of our bright and vibrant queer and trans youth are being centered in programs and services that are inclusive, affirming and culturally-responsive to their intersectional identities and needs. The new Housing Programs aim to disrupt and prevent homelessness and housing vulnerability for the LGBTQIA+ youth in our community. “Our vision is to keep our young people off of the streets while giving them the tools to thrive,” Upchurch reaffirmed. “These new programs are an opportunity for the community and the city of Columbus to build and provide culturally responsive safety nets and programming that will work to decrease and close existing gaps in services by addressing and meeting the basic needs of our young people.” Through this, Kaleidoscope Youth Center connects youth to their own resiliency, which benefits their life skills and ultimately supports their survival and thriving.

KYC has been serving Central Ohio for 25 years.

KYC has provided 25 years of innovative service and programming to LGBTQIA+

MARCH 2019 | 21

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Bellbrook High School Percussion, Scholastic A Class.

A Lifetime Of Fun With WGI Sport Of The Arts The annual WGI World Championships events will be coming to Dayton during the first two weeks in April. By Kaylee Duff Photos courtesy of WGI Sport of the Arts

GI (which stands for Winter Guard International) Sport of the Arts is the world’s leading non-profit organization for indoor color guard, percussion and winds competitions. Many times, when performers are asked what indoor color guard/percussion/winds is, they’ll answer something along the lines of, “The color guard with the marching band but inside with pre-recorded music/the drumline with the marching band but inside/marching band but inside.” But to the thousands of performers and fans that WGI Sport of Arts reaches every year, it is much more than that. “WGI Sport of the Arts provides a venue for young people to achieve the extraordinary through performance and competition,” said Trevor Jordan, Marketing Manager of WGI Sport of the Arts. The organization offers educational performance opportunities around the world, such as clinics to regional competitions — many of which lead to the WGI World Championships held in Dayton every year. 22 | MARCH 2019

WGI is the governing body for the multitude of indoor color guard (also often referred to as winter guards), percussion and winds ensembles that compete throughout the season. The non-profit sets standards, rules and provides the resources groups need to succeed. WGI Sport of the Arts is the international circuit through which ensembles around the world compete; many groups also belong to local circuits, where they compete with other local groups. “It is called the Sport of the Arts because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format,” explained Jordan. Groups are divided up into several classifications, depending on a variety of things such as association and experience. The classifications include scholastic (associated with a high school) or independent (not associated with a school); and A Class (beginner-level experience), Open Class (intermediate) or World Class (advanced). Percussion ensembles also have the option of a Concert Class, meaning they don’t march during their performances.

WGI started in 1977, after a group of people met to standardize the growing world of indoor color guard performances and competitions. In 1992, the Percussion division joined the thriving Color Guard division of WGI; in 2015, the Wind division was launched. “Even with over 40 years of history, the sport continues to evolve and grow,” Jordan shared. Today, there are WGI ensembles across the globe — in the U.S., Canada, Belgium, Holland, Germany, England, Ireland, Korea, Japan and Africa. World Championships — typically held in April — bring over 500 winter guards, percussion ensembles and winds groups to compete over two separate weekends. With so many groups from so many places, people often wonder why World Championships are held in Dayton, Ohio. Originally, the site for World Championships rotated throughout the country, making sure to occur in each region equally (East, Midwest and West). This was mainly because, back then, many ensembles were unable to travel as much or as far. TRUE Q MAGAZINE

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2018 Color Guard World Championships Finale.

Pride of Cincinnati, Independent World Class.

“WGI was first interested in Dayton out of the recommendation of a board member involved with the University of Dayton; that recommendation was UD Arena, optimal for its unique courtside seating layout and large parking lot,” Jordan said. “In Dayton for over 30 years, the WGI World Championships have become a local staple in rallying excitement for the indoor marching arts. As WGI and interest in the indoor marching arts continue to grow, UD Arena’s close proximity to other major arenas has successfully set us up for many years to come.” Even more than the excitement of welcoming international groups from all over, WGI’s annual Color Guard, Percussion and Winds World Championships events bring in over 60,000 visitors to the Dayton area and produce an average of $20 million in revenue, which greatly benefits the economy in southwest Ohio. But if you ask any performer — past or present — why they keep coming back, year after year, to Dayton for World Championships, they won’t mention the arena or the local economy. To them, it’s all about the community. It’s about lifelong memories of spending half a year with the same group of people every weekend. It’s about pushing yourself to your limit, stepping outside your comfort zone, in TRUE Q MAGAZINE

Rhythm X Winds, Independent Open Class.

order to be truly spectacular. It’s about being a part of something larger than yourself. It’s about finding yourself. These performance ensembles “encourage growth in performance opportunities that might be otherwise overlooked or unnoticed in a community,” Jordan shared. “I personally believe that performance opportunities, such as the indoor marching arts, are so meaningful because they provide individuals with the ultimate outlet of unlimited creativity and expression. Beyond fine-tuning a performer’s movement or musical ability, the marching arts carries with it the excitement of performance and friendly competition, as well as a strong sense of family, belonging and worth.” This year, the three different WGI World Championships events will take place over the first and second weeks in April. Color Guard World Championships will be April 3-6; Percussion World Championships will take place April 10-13; and Winds World Champions will be April 13-14. Visit wgi.org to view each division’s calendar of events, so you can catch all your favorite winter guards, percussion ensembles and winds groups in prelims, semifinals and finals performances.

If you want to learn more about WGI Sport of the Arts, visit wgi.org or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat! MARCH 2019 | 23

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Allies And Advocates In Columbus Equality Ohio is honoring two of the local activists — Nannette Maciejunes and Luster Singleton — who are making Ohio a better place to live. By Kaylee Duff

Honored ally, Nannette Maciejunes.

ince their beginning in 2005, Equality Ohio has served Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community in almost every way there was a need. They focus their education and activism efforts on the legal and lived inequalities that affect the experiences of Ohio’s LGBTQ+ population. From pushing for non-discrimination acts and working to end conversion therapy to hosting legal clinics and providing resources, Equality Ohio does it all, big and small. In December, the nonprofit honored two activists — Dr. Cecile Unger and Giovonni Santiago — local to northeast Ohio in an Allies & Advocates event in Cleveland. This month, they are “celebrating the people who bring legal and lived equality to life” in central Ohio at an event on Wednesday, March 27, at the Columbus Museum of Art. The Equality Ohio Allies & Advocates Columbus honorees are Nannette Maciejunes and Luster Singleton. The honored Ally, Nannette Maciejunes, has been the Executive Director of the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) since 2003, and is a beloved ally to our LGBTQ+ community. “Being an LGBTQ ally is a natural fit for art museums because so many of the creative people who are such a vital and crucial part of the arts community — artists, curators, gallery owners — are also part of the LGBTQ community,” Maciejunes said. Over the years, Nannette has received a number of awards and recognitions for her work, including the Ohio Governor’s Award for the Arts in the category of Arts Administration and the South Side Settlement House Spirit of Volunteerism Award, in 2006; a YWCA Woman of Achievement recognition, in 2009; and Columbus Business First C-Suite Award Honoree, in 2015.

Visit equalityohio.org for more information Equality Ohio’s inspiring work. You can follow them online on Facebook and Twitter @equalityohio, and Instagram @equality.ohio!

24 | MARCH 2019

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

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The Museum has also been honored many times over the years; in 2013, it was awarded the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ National Medal, the highest honor for museums. “This award means that world to me because it recognizes that CMA is one of the finest museums in the country and that we make vital contributions to the creativity and quality of life of our community,” said Maciejunes. Maciejunes has also worked to bring diversity and inclusivity to both the Columbus Museum of Art and our surrounding art community. Under her leadership, the CMA adopted and implemented its mission to create great experiences with great art for everyone. Part of that mission included highlighted works by queer artists. “Throughout my career, I have championed organizing exhibitions about LGBTQ artists and acquiring works for our permanent collections by LGBTQ artists,” she explained. She has worked on many Day with(out) Art exhibitions, in commemoration of what is now World AIDS Day. She has served as a committee member, a host committee member, an art selection committee member and an honorary chair for Art for Life since its beginning in 1989. The CMA also organized a survey which coincides with the 50th anniversity of the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which features “more than 200 works of art and related visual materials that explore the profound impact of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) CivilRights movement on the art world.” The exhibition, Art after Stonewall, opens at The Grey Art Gallery at New York University and Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art in New York City on April 24; it will then be showcased at The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum in Miami, Florida starting September 14, 2019, and at Columbus Museum of Art starting February 14, 2020. “Art can open our eyes to different views, different perspectives, different cultures and different worlds, as well as what we share in common. Learning about our differences and our sameness is the key to empathy, understanding and peace among all peoples and nations of our planet,” Maciejunes said, regarding using art as a tool for advocacy. “Art is the best of us. It’s the ultimate end of a creative process that allows each and every one of us

to express how we view and experience life, which is the essence of humanity. If we are not inclusive in the stories we are telling, we are not telling the story of humankind.” Maciejunes is elated and humbled to be honored as an Ally for the LGBTQ+ community. In her eyes, “it is important to have both advocates within and allies standing beside communities when you are being a catalyst for change.” Equality Ohio is honoring Luster Singleton as an outstanding Advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Singleton is a native of Zanesville, and is “proud to be from ‘Y-bridge river country.’” Singleton is fascinated by the intersections of ‘isms’ and how it informs/instructs positive perceptions of “faith” and gender in our daily lives. They are a graduate of The Ohio State University, where they received both a Master’s degree and Bachelors of Arts degree in Women’s Studies. A former coordinator of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services and director of Ethnic Student Services at OSU, Singleton is also a 14-year veteran coordinator of the Pride Family and Teen Area for Stonewall Columbus’ yearly Pride Festival. Singleton has a 30-year reputation as an accomplished and beloved gender performer, and is best known for their gender bending portrayals of the sassy Lustivious Dela Virgion and the savvy Luster Dela V. They are the co-founder and visionary of 1990’s nationally and internationally acclaimed drag king troupe, H.I.S. KINGS and IDKE (The International Drag King Extravaganza), which was featured in several documentary films and toured with theater productions. Our community is coming together to honor these incredible activists for their work as role models for our local LGBTQ+ community. “Being a role model means you are being a catalyst for change,” Maciejunes said. “It means you recognize and respond to injustices you perceive in your community not by abandoning your community for a new community, but by becoming involved to facilitate change. It means mentoring young curators and artists to help them become everything they can be and to encourage them to live their truth.”

RSVP for the event online at equalityohio.org/ columbus-alliesadvocates-2019. COLUMBUS-FOUNDED, COLUMBUS-PROUD! TRUE Q MAGAZINE

MARCH 2019 | 25

drag talk

Queens Around The Buckeye State Here are interviews with different drag queens from across the state — celebrating the different styles, approaches and motivations found in the art of drag. By Jeff Skinner a.k.a. Jennifer Lynn Ali

Deja D. Dellataro.

Scarlett Moon. First up is the beautiful Scarlett Moon, from Dayton! Jennifer Lynn: How did you come up with your drag name? Scarlett: When I was little, I loved the color scarlet in the crayon box and decided to add the extra ‘t’ to keep it classy! And my last name comes from me loving the night life and the moon! How long have you been performing? I have been doing drag since July 25, 2016. What is the first song you performed to? The first song I ever performed to was “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse, in a long black dress that I got online and a long blonde wig. Is there any bar that you want to perform at that you haven’t yet? I would love to perform at Axis in Columbus and Micky’s in California. What is your favorite memory in drag? My favorite memory was when I did the Grinch this past December. Everyone in the bar was watching me and screaming their heads off! Do you have any advice for someone starting drag? My advice for someone starting drag is that you will not be polished off the bat. It takes trial and error. You will have to push yourself to grow and ask others for help. Be true to yourself, and don’t be like everyone else. 26 | MARCH 2019

The next queen is fierce and funny. Deja D. Dellataro is known for being a competitive queen. She’s competed in pageants like Entertainer of the Year, Miss Ohio America and so many more. She is known for her impersonations of Missy Elliot, Madea and Janet Jackson. Deja is from Toledo. Jennifer Lynn: How did you come up with your drag name? Deja: Actually, my original drag name is “Deja Danger” because I wanted to be a “Bond Girl.” Sadly, that path didn’t work out. So, I was adopted and became the ICON known as Deja D. Dellataro. How long have you been performing? This is year 14. What is the first song you performed to? Britney Spears’ “Slave 4 U.” Is there any bar that you want to perform at that you haven’t yet? I would love to perform at any club in New York or Florida. What is your favorite memory in drag? I was a “back-up” dancer for Todrick Hall at four of his tour dates, in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Chicago and West Lafayette (Indiana). I will remember that forever. Such a humbling and blessed moment of my career. Do you have any advice for someone starting drag? Always stay true to yourself. Although you may be influenced by TV shows and other performers, being authentic is key.

Krystal Something-Something. This next queen is the incredible Krystal Something-Something from Columbus! Jennifer Lynn: How did you come up with your drag name? Krystal: I was a little stoned at the time, and I said to my friend, “I want my name to be Krystal… something… something.” They laughed; my face lit up. I said it again, and it stuck. How long have you been performing? 13 years, 2 months, 4 days, 8 hours, 7 minutes (and counting). What is the first song you performed to? “Stick It To The Pimp” by Peaches. Is there any bar that you want to perform at that you haven’t yet? The salad bar at Kroger. What is your favorite memory in drag? Either performing at Roseland Ballroom in NYC, or getting tossed around and eaten out by two beefy dudes during a performance at the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards. Do you have any advice for someone starting drag? Ask everyone for advice, then ignore it. TRUE Q MAGAZINE

drag talk

Mirelle Jane Devine.

This next fabulous queen lives in Cincinnati and her name is Mirelle Jane Devine!

Jasmyn LaBasha. This lady is a traveling queen! She performs all over the state of Ohio (from Athens to Akron). This is the Jasmyn LaBasha from Mansfield! Jennifer Lynn: How did you come up with your drag name? Jasmyn: It’s crazy how I got my drag name. I moved to NYC in ’94 right out of high school to start my transition. The vogue scene there was huge and the movie Paris is Burning was all the rage. I wanted so bad to be in a “house,” but you had to be sought after or brought into a house by the matriarch. I met Pepper LaBeija and was in awe. Since I couldn’t get in the house of LaBeija, I decided to take the last name and make it my own... hence Jasmyn LaBasha. How long have you been performing? I have been performing going on 25 years this November. I did take periodic breaks but am still going strong. What is the first song you performed to? The first song I performed to was “100% Pure Love” by Crystal Waters. Is there any bar that you want to perform at that you haven’t yet? I want to perform at PLAY in Louisville, Kentucky. What is your favorite memory in drag? There are so many great memories! I think doing a duet with Danyel Vasquez at Sami’s in Mansfield as we hosted an AIDS benefit together would be my favorite. Do you have any advice for someone starting drag? My advice that I tell all my drag kids is to MARKET, MARKET, MARKET. Make yourself a brand and make them want you! Sell yourself ‘cause no one else is going to.

TRUE Q MAGAZINE

Jennifer Lynn: How did you come up with your drag name? Mirelle: My drag name is a combination of a number of things. First, Mirelle is actually my best friend’s middle name. She’s been at my side for over 15 years, and I contribute a great deal of the strength that it took to make it through some of the hardest times of my life to her; I chose her name to honor that. Jane is my drag family name, so I had to fit it in there somewhere. And Divine comes from Glenn Milstead’s performance as Divine. I was studying Queer Theory and performance as activism in college around the time I started drag, and I chose Divine to pay homage to that. How long have you been performing? 10 years exactly as of last month. What is the first song you performed to? “If You Can Afford Me” by Katy Perry. Is there any bar that you want to perform at that you haven’t yet? The Baton in Chicago, Micky’s WeHo in West Hollywood and Parliament House in Florida. Or any bar that will have me, really — I love to travel. What is your favorite memory in drag? A long time ago, my drag mother moved to L.A., decided to get married and asked two of my sisters and myself to be a part of the ceremony. Being young and dumb, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get up in the gigs and terrorize the city. Of course, going out in Hollywood we couldn’t just do ordinary drag; she decided to wear a Satan getup and I dressed like a slutty nun. After a long night of shenanigans, I ended up separated from the group in West Hollywood, and had to walk Santa Monica Boulevard asking people if they had seen the devil run by. After about 20 minutes of startling large groups of pedestrians, taking dozens of pictures, passing out educational literature about safe sex and eating a free hot dog, I managed to reunite with my friends.

Do you have any advice for someone starting drag? When starting drag, you have to be three things: be fearless, be humble and be visible. While you don’t necessarily have to be fearless to start in this industry, you have to be fearless to persist. You can’t be afraid of trying new things, of change, and most importantly, you can’t be afraid of failure. In drag, you have to be able to get knocked down nine times and get up ten. Starting in drag, you need to be humble — nobody wants to work with someone who is absolutely intolerable to be around. Starting out, you’ll receive a lot of different advice from a lot of different directions; take it all in stride and acknowledge the fact that someone cares enough about your art to provide something constructive (hopefully). Remember, you can always hone your craft. And last, be visible. This doesn’t mean just post a ton on Facebook and Instagram. Actually be visible out and about at events, at bars, at open stages. Everywhere. As an entertainer, you need to build a following; being pretty or a good dancer or having incredible costumes will only get you so far, but having that in-person connection with a patron will form a bond that will keep them coming to see you for years. In addition, showing up in face to a bar (that you’re not performing at) is a great way to break the ice with the entertainment staff/ show director, and let them know that you’re interested enough in performing to come out and sell your brand directly. Thank you to all the entertainers that took time to answer my questions. I would like to say, just like people in the community, in the drag scene there are all shades, all shapes, all styles and all sizes. There is no right or wrong in drag. All drag is valid and all of us start somewhere. The more time and energy we put toward our craft, the better it becomes.

MARCH 2019 | 27

scenes

You Are Ohio’s #OneTrueVoice Here’s some featured snapshots from the state’s favorite LGBTQ+ events and hangouts!

Have any photos from recent LGBTQ+ events or hot venues? Send them to editor@onetruevoiceonline!

Photos by Mike Miller

Stonewall Columbus LGBTQ+ Career Fair January 25-26 Stonewall Columbus hosted their first LGBTQ+ Career Fair at the newly renovated community center! This bi-annual career fair is an amazing opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to network with LGBTQ+ open and affirming business partners. In addition to the career fair, there were also classes and resources available in the building for candidates and interested parties.

Abbott Laboratories.

CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society.

The LGBTQ+ Career Fair at SWC.

Honda.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Black History Month Gallery Hop with Stonewall Columbus Featured artist, Brendent Spivey.

Gallery Hop — the first Saturday of every month — is Columbus’ most popular night of the month to celebrate and appreciate art. High Street and the Short North Arts District, come alive all night to check out amazing artwork at dozens of galleries and non-traditional exhibit spaces. In February, in celebration of Black History Month, Stonewall Columbus kicked off Gallery Hop with a show that featured pieces exclusively by artists of color, including Queen Brooks, Debra Danzy, Janet George, Beverly Whiteside and more!

AJ Casey, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus.

February Gallery Hop at SWC. 28 | MARCH 2019

February 2

February’s Gallery featured art by artists of color. TRUE Q MAGAZINE

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March 2019 - True Q Magazine

Articles inside

Letter From The Editor

March Events

Out In The Media

Spotlight On Corey Williams

Spotlight On Cleveland Kings Action Pack

Giving Lizzo The Love She Deserves

A Conversation Between Drag Queens, Old And New

Nina West Takes On RuPaul's Drag Race

Trans And Drag: When Worlds Collide

A Trio Of Queer Art Exhibitions

A Call For More Mid-Block Crosswalks In Central Ohio

Making Connections Where They Matter

A Lifetime Of Fun With WGI Sport Of The Arts

Allies And Advocates In Columbus

Queens Around The Buckeye State

You Are Ohio's #OneTrueVoice