GAY PRIDE-AMANDA LEPORE

We always hear of our brave trans brothers and sisters of yore, and how trailblazing they were and what they did to get where they were. But what of the current trailblazers? Amanda Lepore for me is definitely a trailblazer, and one it seems I have seen many times over the years and into the carnation she is now. No way could you go out in NYC clubbing in the late 80's and 90's and beyond and not seen or met Amanda Lepore. You would not forget her eye-popping looks and style. To me she was brave. She made and set her mind to be who she wanted and no denying she forged her own signature style. Growing up in suburban NJ during the 70's while often being bullied at school for being different, Amanda left home, and at 17 she used a legal loophole to marry a male bookstore owner who helped her get and pay for her early gender-affirming surgeries. However, the relationship, was unhappy and turned abusive, as her husband wanted to keep her locked away. Over time she would stash grocery money to escape and eventually did and move to NYC. By the early 90's she was swiftly embraced by the city's most out there nightlife and fashion scenes. She freaked out America on the talk show circuit when many trans would not even still come out in the light so to speak. Proving she is not just a Warholian embodiment of famous for being famous, hard-grafting Amanda started getting paid to just show up at clubs and parties, and appeared in the music videos of other artist, while breaking into a spokes model position with MAC and the Heatherettes, not to mention became a huge muse for David Lachapple. It was soon after her appearance with surgical enhancements would eventually morph into a more extreme vision of an old Hollywood, high glamour prototype. And a body akin to a work of art. But it works.

Spending the past 28 years gracing or performing her own music and cabaret routines at just about every notable niterie in NYC and beyond, she also found time to write a bestselling autobiography in 2017, entitled Doll Parts, and launched her own line of infamous lipsticks. I have the upmost respect for her and admiration for being that brave, leaving home with almost nothing, and NOT HIDING she was trans. Normally I'm also not into plastic surgery on people, but for some reason her Marilyn Monroe meets Jessica Rabbit works, I mean, only Amanda can pull this off. Such dedication to style and image...I mean her wigs are absolutely stunning and she always does her own make up btw. I had the pleasure to meeting her in NYC and New Hope on several occasion and she is about the most approachable, gentle and good-humored natured person you'll meet. Our clan's own Preston was even in the same yoga classes as her and said you wouldn't believe it...Amanda was there in sweats and her own hair and still looked glam! Not bad for a scared, picked on trans sister with a few bucks starting out huh? Think of the roads and inspiration she gave to future scared trans people and youth.

That is all to say, Amanda is such a fabulous one -off.