GAY PRIDE-GLADYS BENTLEY

 Gladys Bentley, one of the original and iconic gender bending performers and singer of the early 1900's. It's important to note that although Bentley was billed as a "male impersonator" in the 1920's, there's every possibility that she would have identified as trans or non-binary had those terms existed at the time. But since they didn't she chose the term male most times. Bentley's early life was spent in Philadelphia before settling in NYC where she added to her already packed repertoire as entertainer and pianist, during the Harlem Renaissance. Her career skyrocket, one of the few drag kings to do so, with her appearances at Harry Hanberry's Clam House, as not only a female and black performer, but a open lesbian, performing as a male.  Talk about shattering may barriers! How's that for brave and ballsy? She often headlined in the early 30's at Harlem's Ubangi Club and at the legendary Jewel Box Revue where she was often backed up by the infamous chorus line of drag queens at each venue. She always dressed in men's clothes played piano and sang her own material , often raunchy lyrics to popular tunes of the day, in a deep, growling voice while flirting with women in the audience. Bentley was among one of the first to live open and publicly  as a open lesbian. What a role model she would become.