September 28, 2020October 30, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

BRUCE LABRUCE

From cleaning toilets at a nuclear power plant, to becoming one of the pioneers of the New Queen Cinema, no one makes movies quite like Bruce LaBruce does, including his new film Saint-Narcisse. But beyond his cinematic proficiency, what does LaBruce have in common with a former king of Scotland?

Where did you grow up? I grew up on a farm near Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula. The farm is gone; I miss it. Where do you live now? In Toronto. What’s special about Toronto that isn’t common knowledge? “Bore-onto” can still be provincial. Or maybe that’s common knowledge… If you had to live somewhere else, where would you live? In Colombia. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Cleaning toilets at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development Station. How did you come up with your name? I was born in Bruce Township—which is in Bruce County, at the base of the Bruce Peninsula—and to pay for university, I worked at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development Station. I’m also almost a direct descendant of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland. I added the “La” to add a feminine touch. What would your drag name be? I used to do a tiny bit of drag back in the day. My drag name was Judy LaBruce or Fonda LaBruce.

ADVERTISMENT

A young man begins exploring his attraction to much older men while working a nursing home. A festival hit the world over, Bruce La Bruce’s unmissable Gerontophilia is arguably his boldest and most accomplished work to date.

What’s the strangest film that you studied at York University? The Ceremony, by Nagisa Oshima. What’s the most extreme film that you ever saw? Bambi. Does film censorship help society in any way? No. What’s the sexist film set that you’ve ever been on? My short film, Purple Army Faction, because it had a three-way between Francois Sagat, Arad Winwin, and Dato Foland. Who’s the most underrated film director? Richard Fleischer. Who’s the most overrated film director? George Lucas. What’s your favorite film that you made? The latest one that I’ve made. Other than one of your own films, what’s your favorite film? Looking for Mr. Goodbar. Other than yourself, who’s your favorite film director? Frank Perry. Who would you love to work with? Beatrice Dalle. What story would you love to tell that you haven’t been able to get off the ground yet? The Wilhelm von Gloeden story. Considering your short film Scotch Egg, have you ever run into a bachelorette party at a gay bar? Yes, at a defunct gay male strip bar in Toronto. There were two floors, so I could escape to the gay section.

Who’s your favorite punk or hardcore band? Feederz. What’s the best punk or hardcore show that you ever went to? Husker Du at Larry’s Hideaway in Toronto, in 1985. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during the quarantine? Wanking. Will you ever retire? No. What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked you? Is “Bruce LaBruce” your real name? What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Karen Black. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Porn. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Bogota. What are you an expert at? Procrastinating. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? Take me where…? What do you want to live long enough to see? Teleportation. What’s your current state-of-mind? Horny. What were you doing before you saw this email? Sleeping. What’s your idea of perfect happiness? Good dick. What’s your greatest fear? Simulation hypothesis. Either living or dead, who’s the greatest political figure in America or Canada? Judy LaMarsh. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That you don’t have to worry so much.

What did you learn from your parents? Love. Who’s your favorite performer? Kembra Pfahler and Ron Athey. What’s your best characteristic? Resilience. How do you enjoy spending your time? Existing. What celebrity do you have crush on? Bryce Dallas Howard. Who do you admire? My Mom and Dad. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? River Phoenix. Where would you go in a time machine? To 1972. What would your last meal be? An egg salad sandwich. What do you worry about? Homelessness. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A cymbal. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who depends on you, and for what? My family, for just showing up. Who are you closest with? That’s classified. What would your autobiography be called? I already wrote a premature memoir called The Reluctant Pornographer. The next would be called Wondering. What’s on your bucket list? To visit mainland China. What’s your greatest regret in life? Everything. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I’m not an exhibitionist. Where can we see you? In your dreams!

August 23, 2020August 25, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

DIXIE LONGATE

Country girl Dixie Longate debuts her new show in Fort Lauderdale next month. Get ready for booze, tales of sordid life, and displays of domestic acumen.

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? In Mobile, Alabama. I was born and raised there. It’s a great place to come from, but it’s an even better place to leave. That’s why I like going on the road. I can’t wait ‘till this virus is gone so I can go back to not being here. When you’re not in Mobile, what do you miss about it? When I leave, I do miss the people, the honky-tonks, and the fact that you can drink from your car, as long as you don’t get caught. Oh, and Mardi Gras. It actually started here, you know. What were you arrested in L.A. for? I actually have never been arrested in LA. But I had to leave Alabama as part of the conditions of my parole, so I went to L.A., figuring if Nicole Kidman can get famous and marry Tom Cruise, why can’t I? We’re both red heads. Are you still on parole? Currently, no. I only see my parole officer socially these days. Did you have anything to do with the death of your three ex-husbands? Not according to the court. Just because you’re holding the ax, doesn’t mean you have used it. What are you children doing now? Wynona is looking for a job, because the Hooters where she used to work doesn’t have outdoor seating, since they never got the patio awning fixed after the last hurricane. Dwayne is making llamas. Absorbine, Jr. is lying face down on the floor, and has been for a few hours. He’s three-years-old. That’s what they do.

Why did you move from L.A.? I’d been on the road for so many years with my show, that it didn’t make sense to keep paying the rent in L.A., when I could just move my life and the kids back to Mobile. Plus, the moving boxes keep my kids thoroughly entertained and busy while I’m gone for months at a time. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? I think that everything sort-of prepared me for it. Cashier at the Piggly Wiggly, collection-plate coin-counter at the He is Risen Baptist church, pole-cleaner at the Snazzy Beaver—I’m using skills from all of those jobs to help me get where I am today. Did you ever go to the Tupperware headquarters in Orlando? Of course I have. Every year I go to the Jubilee. It’s right by Gator World. What theater would you love to bring your show to? I’m hankering to get my show back to New York City, where it all started 13 years ago. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during the quarantine? I’ve been doing Live Facebook Happy Hours several days a week, where I make myself a cocktail and sit and share stories with people online. It has kept me busy, and has kept people smiling, which is important during this crazy time. Will you ever retire? From entertaining, or from drinking? What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? Someone asked me to do a shout-out video for the “Corn Dog Association of Houston, Texas.” It was different, but it made me laugh. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Do you know who I got so excited by in my audience one night? Gedde Watanabe came to see the show. He was “Long Duck Dong” in Sixteen Candles. I just remember always loving him in that movie. He was such a source of joy growing up. I was beside myself that I got to be the one making him laugh this time.

What’s the last thing that you looked at online? The website for ALDO shoes. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? I have actually had really good luck finding wonderful things about each place I have traveled to while I’ve been touring. But I have a real love for Texas, Denver and Iowa. And outside the U.S., I loved playing Australia. It was a dream come true. What are you an expert at? Drinking. I’m also pretty good at knitting, and I’ve made a blouse or two on the sewing machine. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? Hopefully people will remember me as a funny, inspiring, no-nonsense kind-of generous soul. Or they will all just come to my funeral with flasks and shove them in my coffin. What do you want to live long enough to see? Affordable top shelf gin. And a woman president. Who would you like to be for a day, and why? Jennifer Lopez, but only during a halftime show. Do you believe in an afterlife? I think that we’re lucky enough to be here in the first place. I don’t want to waste any time here, because I don’t rightly know if we’ll get a second spin around the sun. Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed? Since I have never lived during any other time, I can’t really judge, because they always leave the good stuff out of history books. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? The greatest love of my life is the time I get to connect with audiences after my shows. I get my yearly fill of hugs every single day. I wish everyone could feel that. It’s good for the soul. What talent would you most like to have? I wish I could sing. Singers have the coolest lives. To be able to serenade someone—and not sound like I was just in a horrible car accident and am screaming in pain—would be a total benefit.

If you were a dictator with unlimited powers, what would you do first? I’d give everyone a Bedazzler. The world instantly gets better when you Bedazzle things. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That booze helps. What did you learn from your parents? Good stories to use to get out of trouble from the police. What’s your best characteristic? My sense of humor, I think. I tend to be able to make people smile even in the toughest of times. How do you enjoy spending your time? With booze. What celebrity do you have a crush on? I don’t know a soul who won’t tell you that Chris Hemsworth doesn’t make their Jesus place all tingly. Who do you admire? Anyone who has stood up for what they believe in, even when it’s unpopular. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Cher. Where would you go in a time machine? To the fall of 1976. It just seems like a ridiculously fun and mellow time. What would your last meal be? Mexican food with a giant bowl of chips and guacamole. What do you worry about? My toenails getting tougher as I grow older. What are you afraid of? Lesbians who run out of markers when they have only six hours to make 100 signs for a march. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? The harp, because there’s a lot more surface area to play with. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep, mostly because I’m so cuddly. Ask the FedEx man.

Who depends on you, and for what? My kids for every damn thing. My best friend for laughs. And my momma, because she needs someone to roll her medical bed up the hill when we go for walks, and because she’s a pretty good drinking buddy. Who are you closest with? My best friend, Georgia Jean. She owns the local honky-tonk, so being best friends with her is a win-win. What would your autobiography be called? Well, I’ve seen stories called “Unstoppable,” “Unbreakable” and “Unflappable,” so I guess mine would be called Un-burp-a-bowl. What’s on your bucket list? I want to stay in one of those little bungalows over the ocean that you always see in commercials, but no one really can afford to stay there. What’s your greatest regret in life? That I never got to meet Brownie Wise, who created the Tupperware party. My show is a giant love letter to her. She changed more women’s lives than anyone else on the planet. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I have to look up damn near every drink recipe online, because I can never remember them. Where can we see you? I’ll be doing a brand new show called Dixie’s Happy Hour at the Imax Theater on September 8th and 9th as a fundraiser for Island City Stage. And you can always catch me on Facebook, Instagram or on Twitter. Or maybe standing on the cinder block that you left outside of your bedroom window.

August 2, 2020August 5, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

EDMUND WHITE

In between some amorous comments, legendary LGBTQ writer Edmund White reveals a surprise location that he was cruised at, as well as what he’s been working on during the quarantine.

You grew up in the Chicago area. Is there anything that you miss about the area? The cruisy Oak Street Beach. Where you live now? In New York. Out of all your old haunts that are gone from there, which one do you miss the most? Well, the hottest one was the trucks at the foot of Christopher and under the train tracks along the Hudson. Guys would get into the holds of empty parked trucks and have late night orgies in the 1970s. What’s the best place that you’ve ever lived? Rome. You lived in Paris for a number of years. What’s special about Paris that isn’t common knowledge? The flea markets, and the big uncut cocks.

For more than two decades, Edmund White has been widely recognized as America’s preeminent gay writer. “Commemorating the twentieth anniversary of A Boy’s Own Story, this Modern Library edition presents White’s autobiographical novel together with an Introduction by prizewinning novelist Allan Gurganus and a new Afterword by the author himself.

Sophie’s choice: if you had to live in one place for the rest of your life, where would you live? In London, but it’s too expensive. What’s your favorite gay bar or club in the entire world? I liked The Stonewall in the sixties. It was a friendly dance bar with a jukebox. Which one of your own literary works in the most special to you? Hotel de Dream, because it involved research—which I love—and invention. Other than your own works, what’s your favorite gay literary work? Alan Hollinghurst’s The Folding Star. What’s your favorite overall literary work? Anna Karenina, because it explores the excitement and tragedy of love.

Other than yourself, what writer are you a fan of? Henry Green, because he’s so sly and funny. What LGBTQ civil rights leader do you admire? Sarah Schulman, because her politics are so enlightening. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Public relations for an evil chemical company. What would your drag name be? Butch Cassidy. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during the quarantine? I’ve written 150 pages of a new novel, in which I appear as a character. Will you ever retire? No. I have retired as a teacher, but I’m still writing. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? “Why do you call this a novel instead of a memoir?”

Who would play you in a movie? Madonna. What are you superstitious about? Saying goodbye. Do you believe in aliens? No. What’s the gayest concert that you ever went to? A recital by a famous pianist when I was in my twenties, and he cruised me the whole time—I was in the third row. What’s the most times that you watched a movie or read a book? Key Largo, with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. I’ve seen it at least five times. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? The website for the Netflix series, Hollywood. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Urbino. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a friend and a writer.

What do you want to live long enough to see? Trump’s imprisonment. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? To be more diplomatic and discreet. What did you learn from your parents? To be of service to others. Who’s your favorite performer? Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain. What’s your best characteristic? Even-temperedness. How do you enjoy spending your time? Entertaining other. How do you take your coffee or tea? I take coffee, and with milk. What celebrity do you have crush on? Renée Fleming. Who do you admire? My ex, who’s a great doctor and a brilliant musician, and who’s generous to everyone he loves. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Marilyn Schaefer, who was my friend for 60 years.

Where would you go in a time machine? To the1890s in Paris, if I were rich. What would your last meal be? Pasta alla Norma. What do you worry about? Dementia. What are you afraid of? Bad reviews. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A grand piano. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep. Who depends on you, and for what? My husband, for support. Who are you closest with? My ex. What’s on your bucket list? A last affair. What’s your greatest regret in life? That I was too timid. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I’m a talent snob. Where can we see you? At virtual readings, here and there.

July 5, 2020July 14, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

WALT CASSIDY

An artists’ domain is essentially a solo one. From his studio in Brooklyn, artist and ex-club kid Walt Cassidy discusses his predilections, as well as the release of his new book.

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? I grew up between Southern California and the Missouri Ozarks. Is there anything special about those areas that isn’t common knowledge? No. What was the best club kid party of them all? Disco 2000. What outlaw party stands out the most to you? The Highline. What club kid was the most underrated? The ratings were pretty accurate. What club kid surprised you the most with his or her career? None. Everyone was distinctly talented. The people who were less talented did less talented things. What’s the scariest or weirdest thing that happened to you during those club kid days? Doing time-traveling experiments at the Chelsea Hotel was the most eccentric experience. Who’s your favorite hardcore band? The Plasmatics.

New York: Club Kids is a high-impact visual diary of New York City in the 1990s, seen through the eyes of Walt Cassidy, known as Waltpaper, a central figure within the Club Kids. Known for their outrageous looks, legendary parties and sometimes illicit antics, the Club Kids were the embodiment of Generation X and would prove to be the last definitive subculture group of the analog world.

What’s the best show that you did with your band BOOB? All the shows at the Westbeth Theater were fantastic. It was the perfect setting for our style of performance, and our show and music had really gelled at that point. What New York venue that’s gone do you miss the most? The Palladium is the most tragic loss because of the architectural achievements that were erased by its destruction. It should have been deemed a historic landmark. Everyone knows that New York isn’t what it used to be, but what’s still special about it? The parks and the beaches. If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? In Paris. I love the North African influence in the city. Who’s your favorite visual artist? I will say, “myself.” Otherwise, the list is too long and detailed. What’s the most special art opening that you’ve had so far? My first solo show at Invisible Exports.

How do you describe yourself? As an interdisciplinary artist. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? I’ve gotten something out of every job or project in life so far. Will you ever retire? There is nothing to retire from. My life is built off of my creativity, and I would never want to put that down. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? Someone once insisting that I had sex with them, when I did not. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? None. Celebrity has never impressed me. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? News on The Guardian. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Paris. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As unique. Who would you like to be for a day? No one. I’m very happy being myself. Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes.

CASSIDY AS HIS CLUB KID PERSONA, WALTPAPER; PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL FAZAKERLEY

Do you think that this is the most amoral time that’s ever existed? There is an ebb and flow throughout history. Who or what is the greatest love of your life? My creativity. What talent would you most like to have? I‘d like to have better computer skills. Particularly, with Illustrator. What have you been doing to keep yourself busy during the quarantine? I’ve remained extremely busy negotiating and developing additional projects related to my book, New York: Club Kids. I have some very exciting things in the pipeline, so stay tuned. If you were a dictator with unlimited powers, what would you do first? I’d abolish the police force and the electoral college. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? How to meditate, and the knowledge that creativity will get you over every obstacle in life.

What did you learn from your parents? Independence. Who’s your favorite performer? I missed the emergence of people like Frank Ocean, Drake, and Tyler the Creator, since I was too focused on my own world. So I’ve been enjoying catching up on their work recently. What’s your best characteristic? Intuition, honesty and courage. How do you enjoy spending your time? Doing creative problem-solving. How do you take your coffee or tea? I don’t drink caffeine. I start my day with lemon, apple cider vinegar, and ice cold water. What celebrity do you have crush on? Mahmood. Who do you admire? People with courage. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? My dear friend, Anita Pallenberg. Where would you go in a time machine? To Babylon.

What would your last meal be? I’m into frozen fruit at the moment. What do you worry about? I don’t worry so much about anything, but I am haunted by some memories. What are you afraid of? Getting to a point where I no longer change and evolve. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A sax. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who depends on you, and for what? The present day does, because I am present. Who are you closest with? My creativity. What’s on your bucket list? To go to Morocco. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? I don’t keep secrets. What’s on the horizon for you? There are a couple projects related to the book on the table. Where can we see you? On my website, or Google “Walt Cassidy.” I’m easy to find.

June 13, 2020June 21, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

PATRICK HAGGERTY – PART 2

In the second part of this two-part interview with Patrick Haggerty, the reissue of Lavender Country’s eponymous album is just the start of things, as there are plans to immortalize Haggerty’s life in more ways than one.

How did the resurgence of Lavender Country happen? We were ostracized by everyone in music, for like 40 years. And then, “boom,” Lavender Country blew up in 2014 when they reissued our music that year, and my life changed. The very fucking thing that made me poison, now made me prominent. And now they all want to play with me, so go figure. How has your life changed since the resurgence? We’ve done about 150 to 200 shows in the last five years. There have been multiple documentaries. They even turned Lavender Country into a fucking ballet for the San Francisco Ballet. I sang live while they did the ballet—it was fabulous. They’re even talking about doing a Broadway musical about me. Also, someone in the industry is shopping around a screenplay that he wrote about my life and Lavender Country.

2014 deluxe reissue of the 1973 album widely recognized as the first openly gay country music album-and cited as such even by Nashville institutions like the Country Music Hall of Fame and CMT-the landmark self-titled Lavender Country album stands as nothing less than an artifact of courage, a sonic political protest document of enormous power, clarity, and grace.

What are your thoughts on fame? It’s getting to the point where I’m getting recognized by the scene. Particularly, in the gay scene. I get to be the activist that I always have been, and I get to get my message out to a much larger audience. And who wouldn’t like that? But I don’t like being idolized. Certainly my husband and my children don’t idolize me. What song or album would you like to be remembered for? I guess, “I Can’t Shake the Stranger Out of You.” The song is about the difference between hot sex and real intimacy. What’s the last song that you wrote? It’s a song called, “Sweet Shadow Man.” It’s not about me. The narrator of the song in a young white guy in Bogalusa, Louisiana, who’s on an adventure to have a secret affair with a black man. The narrator has all this racist baggage, but he has the affair anyway, out of lust. Are you working on a song now? Yes, it’s called, “Big Silver Bird.” It’s a song about my son, and it’s about my attitude about being white and gay, but raising a black child. It’s about some of the inadequacies that I had in raising him. The “big sliver bird” is the airplane.

Speaking of music, who’s the best male country singer? Hank Williams, followed very closely by Johnny Cash. Who’s the best female country singer? Pasty, darling—that’s a given. She’s from my generation, and I understand her story… Her story is very poignant. Who’s your favorite county artist of all-time? Patsy’s my favorite. I do like Dolly, too. My dream is to get on Dolly’s radar and record a number with her. I could just die after I do that. Do you do any Patsy numbers live? Yes. I sing, “Walking After Midnight,” but I preface it with a little story. I say, “Now Patsy. What do you know about walking after midnight, trolling for men? Sorry, darling, but let me handle this one.” Who’s your favorite gay artist or activist? Well, certainly Harvey Milk is an inspiration to us all. I actually met him once. If I had to pick a gay hero, it might be someone you never heard of. His name is Faygele benMiriam. He was the first person to apply for a marriage license for a gay marriage in 1971.

Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Selling bibles in the San Francisco East Bay area. I was desperate, man. It was after I got kicked out of the Peace Corps. I didn’t last too long at it. Will you ever retire? Probably not. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? “Have you ever had sex with a woman?” What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Darling, I don’t think that I acted like a fan around any of them. The closest answer would probably be Joan Baez. I admire her activism. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? It was called Press Valley, and it’s in the Olympic National Park. It’s a rain forest, and it’s deep in the heart of the Olympics. I took my brother there once, and we dropped acid before we got there. But even if you’re not on acid, it looks like something out of a fairy tale. What do you want to live long enough to see? Revolution. A transformation into international social revolution. I want to see capitalism die.

What were you doing before we talked? I was talking to a friend who was “boo-hoo” about not getting tenure. She’s a professor. She feels that she’s being discriminated against, so I walked her through it. Either living or dead, who’s the greatest political figure in America? Malcom X. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Oh, my dad. Oh, of course. My dad, my dad, my dad. And all of my girlfriends who died in the AIDS crisis, too. Where would you go in a time machine? Back to a peep show. Who are you closest with? My children are way more important to me than anything else, including Lavender Country. And my husband is second-important after them. What’s your greatest regret in life? I have a lot of regrets, but I don’t spend much time regretting. One that comes to mind was that I met a very good looking man at a peep show, but I didn’t go home with him. I regret not going home with him. The sex that we had in the peep show was fabulous (laughs). And finally, where can we see you? Hopefully, on the road soon!

May 25, 2020May 26, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

PATRICK HAGGERTY – PART 1

In the Pantheon of gay country music, Patrick Haggerty, and his band, Lavender Country, have no peer. In the first part of this two-part interview, Haggerty reveals the impetus behind his groundbreaking band.

By Mike Jeknavorian

You’ve lived in the Seattle area since the 1970s. What’s unique about Seattle that isn’t common knowledge? People think that San Francisco is the hub of gay land, and, in some ways, it is. However, Seattle was ahead of San Francisco at every turn. Seattle had the very first counseling service for homosexuals in the world. It was also the first to pass a gay non-discrimination ordinance. Again, for that one, we were ahead of San Francisco by a few years. Where did you hang out in Seattle? The Double Header I think was the prominent bar that comes to mind. It was an old-time, near-the-water-front, big bar, with an actual dance floor. The beer, and the dancing, was the draw there. In its heyday, Seattle actually had about ten to 15 gay bars. How did you enjoy spending your time when you lived in Seattle? I enjoyed a lot of sexuality, I have to admit. I stacked them up like corkwood. I was the queen of the bathhouse (laughs). But I regret the lack of intimacy with it all.

Where do you live now? I now live in a town called Bremerton. It’s about a half an hour ferry ride from Seattle. It’s been a navy town for about the past 120 years, and I married a navy man. But before that I lived in Seattle for almost 30 years. In terms of natural beauty, the area is like a doubly-blessed place. However, Seattle is pretty white. But, having said that, it’s mitigated by the fact that the minorities permeate the larger population. You mentioned that you’re married. Do you have children? My parents had ten children, so I grew up in a very robust family. I grew up with a kid on my hip. And when I came out as gay, and they said that if you’re gay you can’t have kids, that got me angry. But I made very good friends with a lesbian woman, and she didn’t want to raise a kid on her own. So, I screwed my courage to the sticking place, and I had sex with this woman—one time. And she got pregnant the first time. So I have a daughter, Robin. And, believe it or not, she has a son. So, I’m “Grandpa Patty.” I also have an adopted son. I adopted him when he was about eight. I was in a platonic relationship with his mother for a decade, but she always had custody of her son. We raised out children together, and she was a parent to my daughter as well. So, yeah, I did the whole dad thing—twice.

What does you son do? He works in the film industry—he’s a successful independent videographer. He moved to Brooklyn for his career when he was about 23-years-old, and I bawled every morning for six months. But he lives in Cuba now with his bride, who’s from there. She’s a leading stage actor. Raising a cis black man, as a white gay activist, had its challenges. But we remain quite close. He’s a disciplined and well-read Marxist, like me. And how about your daughter? My daughter’s also very successful. She’s a civil-service employee. She approves grants for people doing medical research on human subjects. She’s very busy now with all the Coronavirus studies coming through. What’s the most special experience that you had when you were in the Peace Corps? The one thing that stands out was when I got kicked out. That was very painful, particularly, in the memory of my father’s eyes—he was five years in the grave at that point. My father was just like Pa Kettle. I was just a screaming sissy, and my father figured it out when I was five. But he supported me, and he loved me in my sissiness. But he went a step further, because he loved me more and better because I was a sissy. It’s very hard to talk about him without getting emotional—I lost him when I was 17. So when I got kicked out, it was a very rude awakening. How dare you do this to me. Fuck you… It made me so angry.

Is Lavender Country the gay-rights achievement that’s the most special to you? Not really. I would say that Lavender County is a radical, socialist, political, homosexual band, and I put a lot of my ideas into it. I mean, I call for revolution in the songs. I’ve done it several times. For example: “Rise up, and rip this goddamn system down. ‘Cause there ain’t no hope, until you tear it down.” And I wrote that in 73’. What gay-rights achievement is the most important to you then? I might pick the two times that I ran for office in Seattle. One time I ran for city council, and the other time I ran for state senate. I ran both times with the backing of the National of Islam, if you could imagine. We did it as a form of protest, but I still got almost 20 percent of the vote. It was very challenging, but it was also rewarding and interesting. How was Lavender Country formed? I didn’t produce Lavender Country. The collective Stonewall experience in Seattle is what created the idea. The collective people gave the ideas for the songs, and they raised the money for both studio time and for publishing. But when we did it, we knew that it was the world’s first gay country album.

And then what happened after the first album? From 73’ to 2000, we had no recognition whatsoever. We ran around the country doing a few prides here and there. But the band died, and we went on with our lives. I mean, there wasn’t a market for radial queer country music. I had a family to raise and money to earn. The band wasn’t even on my mind; it was dead. I was actually living with my husband for, like, three years before he even knew I was in a band before. Speaking of your husband, how’s the Coronavirus affecting both of you? The Corona is driving me crazy, and it’s not like I don’t have an underlying condition or two. And my husband is black, and near 80, so we’re scared shitless. But if I do get it, hey, I had a great run (laughs). I had a really interesting… really engaging… really hot… life—the whole way. I’m very happy with the life that I’ve led. So if I go, I go. But once this is all over, I intend to get out on the road and do some more Lavender Country shows.

January 21, 2020February 23, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

ERNIE GLAM

In the vein of those who have parlayed themselves from that rare moment in time known as New York Club Kids, Ernie Glam is no exception to that rule. From portraying the infamous Clara the Chicken in the 1990s in the club kid scene, to a successful career as a journalist, author and fashion designer, Glam did it all in the glow of the nightlife.

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? In Sacramento, California. What do you miss about it there? The warm, sunny weather. If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? In Paris or Berlin. What’s special about New York that most people aren’t aware of? The various styles of Chinese food. Since you’re a writer, what’s the “interview that got away” from you? As in, the interview that I never got, and now they’ve passed away? Right before our book, Fabulousity: A Night You’ll Never Forget… Or Remember, went to print, I was supposed to interview my co-author, Alexis DiBiasio, but he suddenly died before that could happen. What interview is most special to you? I interviewed a low-income immigrant couple who worked hundreds of hours for a failed nonprofit, in hopes that they would receive an affordable apartment in one of the buildings they volunteered to renovate. They never got the affordable apartment in the buildings they renovated. When the failed charity’s buildings were to be auctioned, my story was published and the auction administrator announced that the couple would receive monetary compensation for their volunteer work.

69 Hangovers chronicles a year of partying by journalist and nightclub personality Ernie Glam, who moved to New York City in 1984 and immediately began clubbing. Ernie Glam has a preference for flamboyant scenes and 69 Hangovers is a photo-documentary of parties where DJs played house, techno, EBM, goth rock and pop.

Who’s your dream interview? Iggy Pop. What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you during an interview? The battery on my recorder died within two minutes of starting the interview, so I got nothing and had to request a repeat interview. What article or expose are you the proudest of? An expose on school-cafeteria cleanliness violations, because it forced a school district to properly clean its cafeteria kitchens. What piece from Project X Magazine is the most special to you? A fashion spread with Milla Jovovich and Tony Ward, for which I wrote a narrative that was a poem in the spirit of Dr. Seuss. What other journalist do you admire? Ofeibea Quist-Arcton from NPR, because she sounds so polite, and I love her accent. Other than yourself or Michael Alig, who’s the most important club kid? I don’t consider myself very important. I’d say Richie Rich, because he was most successful at monetizing the club kid phenomenon.

What club kid is underrated? Onyx Noir, because his designs for Kanae & Onyx in the early 90s were brilliant and fun. Other than yourself, who’s your favorite designer? I’m not even in my top-10 favorite designers! I love Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? My first job as a teenager washing dishes in a restaurant. How did you come up with your name? I’m sure you’ve recounted that before, but I can’t quite recall. Sorry, I was a big fan of glam rock from the early 70s. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a fun man. What do you want to live long enough to see? Recreational cocaine decriminalized. Will you ever retire? I’m legally retired from my 20-year news-reporting job, but I may never retire from nightclubbing. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? I’ve spent most of my adult life surrounded by people who can be considered very weird, so consequently, nothing seems weird to me.

What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? David Bowie. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Job ads. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Ephesus, Turkey. Who would play you in a movie? Desmond is Amazing. I’m in Party Monster for about two seconds during the outlaw-party footage in the subway. What are you superstitious about? I’m not. Do you believe in aliens? If that means microbes on other worlds, then yes. What’s the gayest concert that you ever went to? Grace Jones’ one-man-show in 1981 in Philadelphia. She licked my hand towards the end of the show. What’s the most times that you watched a movie or read a book? I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’ve watched it enough times to know most of the song lyrics. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? How to compromise in romantic relationships. What did you learn from your parents? Good manners. Who’s your favorite performer? David Bowie. What’s your best characteristic? My sense of humor.

How do you enjoy spending your time? Dancing. What celebrity do you have crush on? Most of my celebrity crushes are dead. Who do you admire? Salvador Dali. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Leigh Bowery. Where would you go in a time machine? To my college years to correct all my bad choices. What would your last meal be? My mom’s chiles rellenos. What do you worry about? I don’t worry about anything. It’s a waste of mental energy. What are you afraid of? Donald Trump. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A castanet. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who depends on you, and for what? My family, for moral support. Who are you closest with? My husband. What would your autobiography be called? Dizzy Chicken. What’s on your bucket list? Visiting assassinated-presidents’ resting places. I only have one left. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not being able to say “I love you” at a younger age. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I vacationed in Southeast Asia hoping to try dog or cat meat. Where can we see you? In nightclubs.

October 15, 2019December 29, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

HEKLINA

What does a tambourine, rats, Iceland, and a Halloween party in San Francisco have in common? Answer: Heklina!

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? Iceland, Minnesota, New York, and Boston. What do you miss about any of those places? I miss Iceland, because it’s the one place I can relax. What’s something special about San Francisco that’s not common knowledge? This is a hard question, as the city is a mess right now. A lot of the special things have been drained away, but it’s still the city I look forward to getting back to whenever I travel. If you had to live somewhere other than San Francisco, where would you live? Well, I bought a house in Palm Springs, so there for sure (laughs). Also, Iceland, and perhaps Puerta Vallarta. What’s the most outrageous thing that you’ve ever seen at Trannshack? Oh my god, there were so many things, it’s impossible to narrow one down. But perhaps the first most shocking thing was when the club first opened in 1996. A queen named RunRig popped popcorn off a hot-plate on her head, and immediately after her performance had to be rushed to the hospital for life-threatening burns to her scalp!

Who’s the most underrated drag queen? Anyone not on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Has drag become too mainstream and lost its send of the irreverent? Yes. Of all the films spoofs that you’ve been in, which one was your favorite? The favorite thing I do is our Golden Girls LIVE production! Who’s your favorite film performer? Wow. I guess Elizabeth Taylor… Or Divine. What’s your favorite film? The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a film I can watch over and over. It’s clichéd, but true. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Data processor in the navy. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? For the things that I’ve created—Trannyshack and Oasis—and the fact that I never fucked anyone over or was dishonest in getting where I am.

What do you want to live long enough to see? The death of Donald Trump of course! Will you ever retire? Yes. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? Nothing seems weird to me. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Bjork. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Porn. What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Rio De Janeiro. What politician don’t you like? I don’t like any of them! What’s your favorite drink? Coffee. What’s your most treasured possession? My cat, Dexter. Do you believe in ghosts? Absolutely. Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with? Judy Garland. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? Don’t sweat the small stuff, and—for god’s sake—don’t try and solve arguments online.

What did you learn from your parents? What not to do. Who’s your favorite performer? David Bowie. What’s your best characteristic? I’m loyal, if you don’t fuck me over. How do you enjoy spending your time? Going to shows—concerts, theater and films—and traveling. What celebrity do you have crush on? Chris Evans! Who do you admire? David Bowie. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? David Bowie (laughs). I love Bowie. Where would you go in a time machine? Back to 1975. I was just a baby, but I’d like to be an adult during that era. Glam rock, disco, and punk! What would your last meal be? Barbecue! What do you worry about? Climate change. What are you afraid of? Rats and heights. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A tambourine. I don’t wanna be bothered too much.

Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf, for sure. Many boys who cross my path can vouch for that. Who depends on you, and for what? My cat Dexter does, for the obvious things. My employees do, for a livelihood. My audience…? Who are you closest with? Pippi Lovestocking, Peaches Christ, and Matthew Martin. What would your autobiography be called? That’s It? What’s on your bucket list? An African safari. What’s your greatest regret in life? Wasting all my time as a youth taking drugs and clubbing. But it’s also the thing I remember most fondly. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? I’m actually a really nice person. Never trust anyone who is not a cunt. Where can we see you? At Oasis! Also, at the Victoria Theatre this December for Golden Girls LIVE!

August 12, 2019December 29, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

TODD VEROW

As a nod to the upcoming Halloween season, meet another famous resident from Bangor, Maine, other than the city’s infamous writer. One who has fascinating ties to Carrie and Pet Cemetery. Introducing a pioneer of New Queer Cinema, filmmaker and actor, Todd Verow.

You grew up in Bangor, Maine. What do you miss about it there? The beauty and the strangeness—there is a reason why Stephen King lives there. Did you ever interact with King? Yes. My father is a politician, and Stephen is a big Democratic-Party supporter, so I’ve been to his house several times, and I went to high school with his children. My high school is the one that Carrie was based on, and my classmate started the real Pet Sematary. If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? Probably somewhere in Maine. What’s special about New York that most people aren’t aware of? That it’s a great place to wander. If you had an unlimited budget, what kind of film would you make? A period-piece horror film.

A man pursues his sexual obsessions to their darkest and most dangerous extremes in this gay-themed drama based on a novel by Dennis Cooper.

What performer would you love to work with? Willem Dafoe, because he’s fearless and sexy. What film director do you admire? George and Mike Kuchar, because they make movies all by themselves, and did it for the fun of it—and they didn’t care whether they ever showed anywhere. What’s the sexiest film shoot that you’ve ever worked on? Frisk, because it was a blast. What’s your favorite film? The Shinning. Can a film go too far, such as in, for example, Salo or A Serbian Story? No, because real life always goes farther. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Working in a paper mill. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As someone who made films on his own terms and never cared about money. What do you want to live long enough to see? The end of the patriarchy. Will you ever retire? No.

What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? “Can you mail me your shit?” What’s your guilty pleasure? Dynasty. What’s your favorite band? New Order. What’s your fondest childhood memory? Summers at our camp. What were you like in high school? A party animal. What’s your favorite quote? “I love doggie chow,” from Showgirls. Have we reached the point where there are too many people in the world? We reached that decades ago. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Catherine Deneuve. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Vegan pizza in Paris. What’s the best place that you’ve visited? India. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That nothing really matters, so relax.

What did you learn from your parents? To love unconditionally. Who’s your favorite performer? Prince. What’s your best characteristic? Quiet. How do you enjoy spending your time? Watching movies. What celebrity do you have crush on? Erik Estrada. Who do you admire? Fassbinder. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Warhol. Where would you go in a time machine? To 1977. What would your last meal be? Indian food. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A violin. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who are you closest with? My hubby. What would your autobiography be called? Just Call Me Scott. What’s on your bucket list? To travel more. Where can we see you? On Instagram, on Facebook, on Vimeo, or just on the streets of New York City!

June 30, 2019December 29, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

FRANK DECARO

Frank DeCaro has interviewed them all, from Mel Brooks to Robin Williams to Bea Arthur. But on the heels of his new retrospective book about drag, what old job did DeCaro have that he said was a “real” drag?

If you had to live somewhere other than New Jersey or Los Angeles, where you would live? I wish we still had a Manhattan apartment. When I’m in New York City from morning until night—which happens a lot—there’s never anywhere to nap in the afternoon. I miss that. What’s special about L.A. that isn’t common knowledge? Not everyone knows that the best underground drag theater in L.A. is literally underground. It’s at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater in the basement of a Mexican restaurant called Casita Del Campo in Silver Lake. I’ve had more fun there than the law allows. What’s the “interview that got away”? Liberace. When I get to hell, I hope he’s the first person I see. Which interview is most special to you, and why? Mel Brooks, because he’s my comedy idol. And at the end of our chat he said, “No bullshit. I really enjoyed this.” My hour with Robin Williams was pretty special, too. We compared our ridiculously hairy arms, and he said, “You’re wearing the Quest for Fire opera gloves, too!” I loved talking with Bea Arthur, too. She swore like a sailor, just as I hoped she would.

Drag celebrates the fabulous current and historical influence of drag, and its talented and inspiring performers.

Who’s your dream interview? I want to write a first-person piece called, “My Year of Living with Cher.” What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened during an interview? When I was doing my satellite radio show, Alan Arkin came on to promote his memoir, and then—when the red light went on—he decided he didn’t want to talk about it. His publicist was mortified. Other than Bob Mackie, who’s your favorite designer? I wrote about fashion for many years, and I adored getting to know Gianni Versace, the man as well as the designer. He was very funny and very big-hearted. Franco Moschino was a hoot, too. I shouldn’t pick only Italians, so, while I’m namedropping, I’ll say that Karl Lagerfeld and Jean-Paul Gaultier were always pistols to chat with. But, yeah, Bob Mackie will always be my favorite. The book he and I did together in 1999 is a real treasure. Other than RuPaul, who’s the most important drag queen, and why? The brilliant playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein has done so much to not only entertain audiences, but also to educate them. Thanks to him—and Mama Ru—drag queens can be more authentically and gloriously themselves. He’s a true LGBTQ icon and activist, and I love that we’re pals.

Which drag queen is the most underrated? More people need to know about the great Charles Pierce. He was an amazing female impersonator whose signature bit was Bette Davis and Tallulah Bankhead reading each other to filth. He’d do them both at the same time! He’d say things like, “You’re so old, you need moisturizer or wood filler!” It was genius. Do you think that drag is too commercial now, or is that a good thing? No! I love how mainstream drag is now! It’s about time everyone got with the program. But, thank heaven, there’s also plenty of subversive drag for the snatching, too. You just have to look harder to find the really wigged-out stuff—but you should! Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? My two-day stint at Burger King. It was a real drag. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As someone who was really funny and really smart and a really good kisser. What do you want to live long enough to see? Me, back on TV on a regular basis! Will you ever retire? No! My work is too fun to ever retire. Plus, there’s this pair of Gucci glitter sneakers… What’s the weirdest question that a fan ever asked you? In high school, a classmate asked if he could paint my nose. Not on canvas, my actual nose. He was not a fan.

What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? I was star-struck when I said “hello” to Michelle Williams last week at a Fosse/Verdon event. She’s so fantastic as Gwen Verdon that I was in awe just to breathe the same air! What’s the last thing that you looked at online? My latest “Drag Moment of the Day” post! I post them every day at @frankdecaroshow on every social media platform but Scruff. What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Hawaii. And the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. What’s your favorite movie? Imitation of Life—the 1959 Douglas Sirk version. What drives you crazy? A lack of curiosity, poor grammar, and bad teeth. Not necessarily in that order. Do you like zoos? I like a good sample sale. They can be a real zoo. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That the only way isn’t up, it’s forward. What did you learn from your parents? My mother always said, “Nobody’s better than you, and you’re no better than anyone else.” She was right. Who’s your favorite performer? Elton John. What’s your best characteristic? That the littlest things can bring me total joy. How do you enjoy spending your time? Laughing. What celebrity do you have crush on? Idris Elba. I’d like him to you-know-what me in half.

If you’ve ever fantasized about feasting on Frank Sinatra’s Barbecued Lamb, lunching on Lucille Ball’s “Chinese-y Thing,” diving ever-so-neatly into Joan Crawford’s Poached Salmon, or wrapping your lips around Rock Hudson’s cannoli – and really, who hasn’t? – hold on to your oven mitts!

Whom do you admire? My husband, Jim Colucci. He’s the author of Golden Girls Forever, and just a swell guy. And my drag mother, Bruce Vilanch. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Divine. Where would you go in a time machine? The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 29, 1989. I want to be in the room when Rob Lowe and Snow White sing their duet together on the Oscars. What’s your favorite recipe? Bucatini pasta with garlic, anchovies, and breadcrumbs. It’s my best dish, although my chocolate chip cookies with pecans and Heath Bar chips rock, too. What would your last meal be? A double Shack Burger, fries, and a Concrete from the Shake Shack. What are you afraid of? Stupid people in positions of power. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A kazoo. Who are you closest with? My husband, my dog, and my “wife.” What’s on your bucket list? Seeing the Taj Mahal and the Sydney Opera House in person. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not learning to tap dance or speak fluent Italian—yet. What’s something secret about you that people don’t know? I find doing laundry extremely satisfying. Where can we see you? On my social media platforms, on my website, and at book signings!