Archives for posts with tag: RuPaul

Words, Words, Words….

March 19, 2014 //
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The Fairy Princess has had an interesting few days since St. Patrick’s.

Kate Middleton in BEST ST PATRICK'S DAY OUTFIT OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!

Kate Middleton in BEST ST PATRICK’S DAY OUTFIT OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!

 

Several long Facebook discussions that were completely and totally agitating – all on race, casting, perception, and the words we use to describe one another. It’s been exhausting. However there was one today, and I feel it is worth sharing where The Fairy Princess stands on this ‘line in the sand’.

Today there is a piece in The Advocate about a word often used on TV, and by different folks within the LGBT Community, and that word is (I’m just going to type it, I don’t use it myself in conversation or well, ever) –

tranny.

Trans people have explained it again and again why they do not want the word used, but again and again, people who have ‘grown up’ in the LGBT community and who are, tis true, of a certain age group or community status, feel that they can use the word, and are accustomed to using the word, to describe transvestites.

Dame Edna - perhaps the most Internationally famous man in a dress

Dame Edna – perhaps the most Internationally famous man in a dress

When I first heard the word years ago and when it was first described to me, I will agree – it meant transvestite.

It never occurred to us then to use it to describe transgender, because truth to tell – we did not talk much about Transgendered back in ye olden days because…well…there was not the same awareness that there is today.

Chaz Bono, who identifies as Trans

Chaz Bono, who identifies as Trans

Words and meanings evolve. Who would have thought that a pile of sticks used to burn heretics at the stake would evolve into a Gay Slur? Probably no one at the time. But it has, which is the point.

The point is, it is ok to say “Well, I did not realize, sorry, duly noted, will not use it again.” which should be followed with “Thank you for letting me know.”

Gabourey Sidibe had to apologize, and honestly, The Fairy Princess does believe that she did not know it was offensive, and congratulates her for taking the initiative to apologize and learn a new way to speak

Gabourey Sidibe apologized, Thanks Precious!

It is true that this is a relatively (RELATIVELY) new issue, not NEW NEW, just…it’s been around but a lot of people seem to not be paying attention – on purpose.

The Fairy Princess gets that people  have differing opinions on this word, but this is her only question:

If it hurts someone else, and you KNOW it hurts someone else, why are you still using it?

 

 

Isn’t this an easy fix?

Yeah, it is – and that is truly, the point. Not whether you think someone is being too sensitive or unable to take a joke – that is the not the point. The point is – are you the type of person who knows you are hurting someone and will continue to do it?

Duck Dynasty anyone? Is it really that different?

It’s all words right?

Yes, it’s words – and how they are used, and how they are heard.

 

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Categories Diversity

Lessons Learned At the Heels of a Drag Queen part 1

June 29, 2012 //
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Some of the best people in my life are Drag Queens. A Drag Queen is a man who dresses like a woman, and creates the illusion of a woman, on stage.  Usually, if you go to a Drag Show, you’ll see men dressed as some of our culture’s favorite Divas and they are on stage either doing comedy or lip synching to a famous song, or both. Some Drag Queens walk around in 1/2 drag all day, some only do it for performance. Some Drag Queens are Impersonators, and some are Originators – there is a hell of a lot of talent in pulling together a successful Drag look – there’s creative concept to ‘see’ it in their heads, sewing the outfit, makeup, and of course, ‘tucking’. Tucking is…look at the Gay Glossary in the back, but it’s sort of self explanatory.

I think there are lots of lessons to learn from Drag Queens as women, because to create the illusion of being a woman, they have studied women. Not just Divas, but real women – how we talk, how we hold ourselves, in fact, the best Drag Queens are better women than I could ever be – and their foundation makeup is flawless.

Here are a few lessons that I have learned from the Drag Queens in my life

Compassion

My Cousin from Australia was coming over to see me for two months – her Parents were going through a Kelsey/Camille divorce and she was an emotional wreck. Her dream was to be a makeup artist, and she had been taking courses at school, but she needed practical knowledge – which was why her Parents sent her on an impromptu trip to Los Angeles to stay with a Cousin she had not seen since she was six years old. Ahem.

The first day, we had a bit of a breakdown that happened when she told me about what was going on at home, and it was clear that she had not been taking care of herself emotionally or physically.

Anyway, as a stage performer, I know a lot about makeup, but I do not consider that I am a makeup artist, so I looked around for things for her to do. One of the best things I thought of was to take her to a Drag show that one of my friends, Calpernia Addams has every week at Hamburger Mary’s in West Hollywood. After the show, we went backstage and she met DeTox Icunt, Willam Belli, Miss Barbie-Q, Shangela. When I introduced her, and she talked to them about what she wanted to do, they all fell in love with her a bit, and they all offered to help her learn makeup. On various nights, they would come to the theater early, without makeup, so she could watch them put it on. Willam even allowed her to come to his house, and enter his amazing closet (it was a bedroom) so that she could see what he did. Also helping me out was my dear friend, Danny Cassillas, aka Ms Freida Laye from Chico’s Angels and my pal, Celebrity Makeup Artist, Brett Freedman.

When she went back to Brisbane, she was a changed girl. She was confident, she was a B.I.T.C.H. – Broad In Total Control (of) Herself! Cuz RuPaul is exactly right – If you don’t love yourself, how in hell you gonna love anyone else? Give that man in six inch heels an AMEN!

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Categories Drag Queens

Fairy Princesses are PRIDEful part 2

June 26, 2012 //
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A Fairy Princess should wave a wand of kindness as much as she can – yes, occasionally you must smack someone with the pointy end, but that is rare, so for the most part; be kind. Kind goes a long way and is reciprocated.

Be conscious that many of the Drag Queens there may be working, in that they are going to Host something, so if you ask for a photo and they say no, likely it’s because they are running late – or they’re a bitch, either way…keep it in mind.

Pride is many times, a Family Affair – so you will see plenty of straight people there, supporting their children, parents, uncles, aunties; so keep in mind that there may be some kids around, watch the potty mouth. Fairy Princesses don’t have to curse like a truck driver; that’s what Jackie Beat is for. As there are so many straight people mingling at Pride, it is perfectly ok to ask your Best Gay to keep a look out for your next Boyfriend, on the off-chance you are single. Kinda “Festivus for the Rest of Us” thing.

At PRIDE you will find speeches, rallies, and show stopping performances, many of which run adjacent to the street fair. There, depending on who is running the entertainment, will be a cavalcade of entertainers – singers, dance acts. Poetry, Drag Queens, Authors, and of course some celebrity that has a big Gay following. Yes, like Cher, or Deborah Gibson, or Tiffany, or RuPaul, or the cast of GLEE – you never know who needed their fix of unqualified love and support the day they were invited to sing.

People wander in and out of that part all day. I’ve done it, it’s fun – but not every act is going to be your taste, so it’s ok to cop a squat when you have some food, listen to the show, and then decide to wander again if you feel like it.

PRIDE generally spills into the local restaurants, and the whole area gets a festive feel – it’s one of my favorite things, oh look at that, I’m Maria Von Trapp…just when you think you have it under control…I digress. Sorry. Where was I? Liasons? No, oh yes, restaurants.

While I don’t believe in going to the Circuit Parties, partying with your Best Gays at their favorite watering hole is something I love doing, and I would cry copious buckets of sparkly tears if someone were to take it away. Do go out and eat and drink and have a mah-veh-lous time, and if you can, say marvelous like Marlene Dietrich. You can stay at some of those places all night and have a simply wonderful time flitting about, spreading glitter and sass in your wake. Sometimes the restaurants have a dance floor, and so it gets way ‘clubby’ at a certain time, and that is super fun.

The Marlene Dietrich says “Mah-vel-lous”

Dance Parties are also an aspect of PRIDE – look, it’s kind of Circuit-y – I generally wave my Best Gays who are off to the evening’s big theme party a ‘buh-bye’, and I continue on with those not going to that. Fairy Princesses can choose their own schedule. If you go to the Dance Party, no one will want to sleep with you, no one will really want to even talk to you – they will be busy getting sweaty and trying to get their groove on, you will be in the way. Even if your Best Gay tells you to come, say no – he’s not asking you sincerely.

Fairy Princesses do not have to poke their tiaras into all their Best Gay’s business.

Gay Dance Clubs during PRIDE, are different – as long as it’s not tied directly to Pride with anything other than a theme cocktail, in the Gay Dance Club it’s going to be business as usual and they’ll be all the fun aspects that you generally enjoy. Go ahead, sweat your ass off, why not?

Now, in other parts of the world, there are parades and are more tied to Pride and one of my favorite of those is, the Sydney Mardi Gras. You can find out more about this event at www.mardigras.org.au

They always have Divas and Drag Queens and lively events that Fairy Princesses are welcome at, and if not – go see the Blue Mountains, or the Opera House, or any of the hundreds of things Sydney and Australia in general, has to offer. You don’t have to feel like a ‘plus one’ in Australia, as there are tons of tourists and you can wend your way together or separately. Going to Australia for the Gay Mardi Gras is something that a Fairy Princess and her Best Gays should certainly do – at least once in their lifetimes.

(to be continued…)

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Categories gay pride