HARLOW

Children, if you're in the LGBTQ community, unless you lived under a rock, or very young, then you most likely know who Rachel Harlow is. This legendary drag queen and tran woman, originally from South Philly, first appeared in the 1969 documentary The Queen, which I highly recommend viewing, especially if you want to see a drag show and competition like no other, where many legends started and many taglines and manners were born... and one where she got read for filth by co-legend queen Crystal LaBeija, when Rachel Harlow won the show and many thought it was because of her being white...of course Crystal left the system and started her own shows, which was the start of ballroom. But unlike the short life Crystal had, Rachel Harlow...better known as just Harlow the world over went on to have a glorious life.

After a brief stint in Hollywood where she made one movie with Jack Nicholson, she returned to her hometown, opened Philly's first and greatest Disco of the city Harlow's and was feted by the local press and treated like one of the city's most exciting citizens. She appeared on talk shows and did modeling. Her gender confirmation surgery made huge headlines. Then she made even bigger headlines again when she entered a very public relationship with Princess Grace of Monaco's brother Jack Kelly,, who was a local golden boy and a city councilman. His political opponents, his mother and Princess Grace all threatened to make a big stink about the relationship and after time they split up. They were quite the couple from recounts

There's much more to her story. After the relationship feel apart with Jack Kelly, Harlow fell mostly out of the public eye after that or rather walked away from it. Eventually Harlow's closed, and she took a job at the perfume counters of the legendary John Wanamaker's. It wasn't till 1989, a Philadelphia Inquirer article popped up, of an update she had married chef/baker Gerard Billebault in 1980 and took his name, opening a restaurant, again called Harlow's, with him in 1988. However, the restaurant closed in 1993, and their marriage ended alongside it. 

Who knows all the intricacies of what she experienced in the gay world, in the gay bars, in the straight bars, in the drag contest green rooms and hotels, in the banquettes at Harlow's or at the parfumerie...but finally... the Philadelphia Inquirer has said a memoir might be finally coming and is only in the proposal stage. It will be the first time she's spoken about her life in over thirty years. The memoir would promise the ups and downs of living a public life as a trans woman over fifty years ago, and will no doubt spills some beans and backstory of all the exciting things she experienced. She seems ready to tell her story finally at almost 80. I saw where she recently commented she quite rightly feels there's power in reminding people that a city like Philadelphia embraces and continues to embrace trans women and the trans community for over a half century and they elevated her as one of its leading citizens, in a time when it wasn't acceptable. Sometimes a trailblazer is a trailblazer simply because she was brave enough to demand a life on her own terms. It's bound to be an excellent page turner.

SANDERSON SISTERS

Just leave it to some Queens. You want to see a drag treat, Hokus Pokus Live will be for you this fall. It took flight in late August and stars Ginger Minj, Sapphira Cristal, Jujubee and drag king Landon Cider. But Minj is doing triple duty, starring, writing and directing this production, and one of the biggest touring productions to date for any of these queens, crossing the country into 29 cities. This version of the play is a love letter of sorts to the classic film, and Ginger herself was told by Bette Milder, and even encouraged by her, to take the movie and see what she could do with it. Bette even told Ginger she loves seeing her take on the part Milder played. I don't know I'll have time to see this in Philly, but I understand they all nail the parts they are playing, and audiences are leaving very entertained and spellbound by three queens and a king.

THE MAGIC HAPPENS

 

Drag, and drag queens have always been part of my life in some form for as long as I can remember, whether doing drag, friends and sisters who are queens, and still supporting local queens, and attending events, or at times assisting queens. I loved doing drag in all the 27 years I did it. It opened up my personality and believe it or not, helped me get to know my male self-more, and learn to be more comfortable with my body, as in, getting over shyness when it came to my body. Not once did I ever get tired of the transformation of getting into drag. When friends would be "hanging out" with me even they would be amazed as the Mistress would emerge, and my male side would disappear step by step. Nope. It never gets old. Lots of time spent getting ready? SURE. But it never got tired. And it was even better when your concept and look came to creation. As step by step would get compete, I could also feel "the Mistress" personality emerge more and more. I recently came across some old shows that were in my saved video tab on YouTube, of a series, drag queen and salon owner, Quency Valencia documented. Quency who is from DC, had gotten together 10 ordinary guys from all over, and filmed the transformation from start to finish, from getting to learn drag, the walk, the heels, the talk, to the make-up, wigs and frocks, to the attitude honey. Not only were the guys all adorable, but it's fun to see them embrace drag and have the balls to get into it. You can go here to view more episodes of Quency's channel for more of the series. I enjoyed rewatching all these again. 

Enjoy kids!

MS FRANCIS

I have always been one of those queens who, when in their youth, was always more comfortable, and enjoyed time with people older than myself. Even in my 20,s up to the present time, I have many friends razz me for talking to older people and men, within the gay community, but only in jesting. But it used to piss me off when I would overhear younger queens making fun of the older queens who would still go out, or they would always say something along the lines of Why would anyone want to talk to them? Which is why I feel the new generation of LGBT do not know their history, miss out, and a step further, know just the basics. It always blew my mind why any young queen wouldn't want to talk with the elders of our community, to gain knowledge and hear first-hand stories from these folks that you won't get from books or a website. I've had many older friends over the years, or older men I'd talk to in bars, or resorts, that told me some pretty mind-blowing stories. One friend I used to visit in the Village even lived for a brief time over Quetin Crisp. Of course, at the time, he no idea who it was, till I visited once and told him who it was. This all reminded me the other day of a guy named Wesley I met years ago, before ever moving to Bucks County in 2000. I was walking after dinner in Harrisburg the other night, and passed his old house and it reminded me of Wesley. Actually, his name was Benedict Wesley Trautwein.

I recall walking one time and passing by and saying hi. He paused and asked excuse me, and I explained that I had just said hi to him. He looked puzzled and said that no one talked to him let alone give him the time of day. By this time, Wesley was already well into his late 80's, was, huh, extremely colorful and eccentrically dressed, and not "kept up" with hygiene. If you didn't know he lived on the corner, I'm sure people must have thought he was homeless. He could always be seen walking his cocker spaniel, who could also barley walk and when they crossed a street, it was like watching Delilah Stag from Jam and Jerusalem walking. After some walks over time, I got to know Wesley and was several times invited in his house. I was careful as at times, it was like Hoarders. I learned over time he was born in Waldwick NJ. Graduated from the former Harrisburg Catholic High School with honors and was a retired clerk for the PA State Department of Revenue. But what caught this young queen's attention was when he told me of his time as a very accomplished female impersonator in nights clubs all over the country, but ended up mostly in clubs from New Orleans up to Baltimore, before finally becoming a member of the legendary and infamous Jewel Box Revue from 1932 to 1975 and went by the name Ms. Francis Parker. He would regale stories about him and the other "girls", like Laverne Cummings, Lynne Carter, Gita Gilmore, Ms. Titanic, Guilda, and the legendary Storme De Laviere. How could anyone not want to get firsthand accounts of all this? Not to mention the handsome and stunning Ricki Raymonde, who was famous at the time for his opera soprano voice. Sounds like the two hit it off quite well if you know what I'm saying. After a long career with the revue, he moved back to Harrisburg in 77, where he continued to perform and be a regular, at local bars and clubs, ones I have only ever heard of, and were gone before my time, like Johnny Kobler's, The Clock Bar, La Rose Rouge, La Cage, Pegasus and the only one I was familiar with, The Neptune Lounge. Francis I was told was often seen dressed in high glamour, and over the top ensembles for shows, to which the town had never seen. I always found him and his past fascinating because when I befriended him, he was but a former shell of himself and nearly wiped out financially, and often had home health coming in to tend to him and do housekeeping. And girl...... she had some series memorabilia up in his house let me tell you. He was as fascinated by me as I was him. He was tickled that this twink talking to him was also into drag and would be up and coming.  On what would be one of the last visits we had, he bequeathed a pair of his earrings to go with a brown evening gown I had made for an upcoming club party. I was touched beyond belief, and I still have the earrings to this day and will not part with them.

After about 5 of our visits, I stopped going for a while, because upon leaving one night, one of Francis's neighbors, a guy name Joel had grabbed me and dragged me into an alley and started accosting me. When I finally gave in and agreed to go to his house, I booked and made tracks back to my apartment...and never did my after dark visits to Francis's house again for a few weeks. She later on our next visit told me,that Joel had issues, was badly molested as a child and was now doing the same and was even apparently on probation and in therapy for it. Time passed, and I never did see Francis again, as his health went further downhill, and he got even more reclusive than before, and would only be seen walking his dog and that was it. Wouldn't let anyone in his house. It wasn't till I moved away that word got to me that Francis passed at almost 90 in October of 2003.

My point of this post is to not limit yourself to only talk to the in crowd or the pretty boys, the fishy queens... and don't box yourself in, and not talk to someone just because they are old and past their prime.  Here was a very interesting person with some wonderful stories from a legendary piece of the LGBT ...The Jewel Box Revue, at a time when being seen outside of the revue in drag was a huge no no, not to mention knew many of the Stonewall girls and Storme. I will always treasure those few get togethers we had and every time I wore, or get out those earrings, Ms. Francis Parker will be remembered.

Happy Pride.

PRIDE MOOD

 

My lands, what a weekend!!!! The New York City Pride was yet another packed event! Luckily the weather wasn't bad at all and it was a very enjoyable experience with me enjoying myself so much after the parade in the Village with the Clan and the Lumbersexual, who joined me at Penn Station, I got caught up in the festivities that I may have missed my train and got in very late.  Oh hell, you only live once, right? And the silly queen who sat next to me on the way back, he kept the flannel flying, and I swear didn't come up for air. I could only think of one thing that would have kept him quiet, but there were far too many people present. But glorious weekend none the less. We even got to take part in the Drag March on Friday evening, and Dyke March on Saturday, and then partook of the parade on Sunday, forgoing the festival, but heading to the Village for some libations, then the Piers for the Pride Concert. The Clan was all present, in addition to Lumbersexual, who attended his first Pride! That was exciting to be part of with him.  The concert was great, and unbeknownst to me, had an impromptu Kylie Minogue present for a 5-song performance. Across town Preston attend another music event, Lady Land Festive where the queen herself, Madonna was the headliner.  After our respective concerts, the Clan converged in the Village at the Stonewall for our traditional pride cock-a-tails, where we take a moment to toast our past LBGTQ heroes, and give toast to our current, fabulous friends and queens. The numbers were there again too. So important to get to these events and show our number I swear. If we give in and not show up, I truly think we will be cooked. Every Pride I attended so far has had huge numbers and getting larger every year, I swear. What a Pride Month!!!! Never give in...Never give Up!!!!  Some sites fromm the Pride festivities.... 

Rockefeller Center , I admit looked very festive.

Member of the Clan, Luiz

Start of the Dyke March

This cracked me up! Especially the Elton part.

Preach Queen!!!

Peppermint!

Drag sister and friend Nina West sang a very moving song in the Stonewall Memorial Monument.

 

This cow!

Clan members Kio, Holly Dae and the Lumbersexual! Whores!

I may have organism a bit when this picture came from Preston, popped up on my phone. The Queen herself, headlining the Lady Land Festival!!!!!! I was ok, we saw Princess Kylie at our concert.

After work on Friday, I even got into almost full drag for the Drag March on Friday evening in the Village. I knew I wouldn't have much time once there to get ready I went on the train just like this which got many looks. Some loved it, and others must have thought I was nuts, but a queen must do what a queen must do. The finished Pam looks were in the previous post. LOVED those lashes!!!! Oh, I did wear a shirt up. I didn't want to shock to many people after all.

Happy Gay Pride!🏳‍🌈

THE MAESTRO

I think it is safe to say, that the Queen of Queens, the ultimate winner over all queens, Jinkx Monsoon just might be the biggest success yet to come off Drag Race. Her talent and range seem to know no bounds, and I'm here for that. She was belittled and not a favorite in the workroom, I dare say even picked on a bit by the other queens, but who's laughing now? Jinkx Monsoon who is a two-time winner of Drag Race has landed her biggest role yet, as recurring guest star in the new season of Doctor Who. Jinkx plays the evil, twisted Maestro, a malevolent force that attempts to abscond with all the world's music if the new Doctor Who and his sidekick, Ruby Sunday can't stop Maestro's nefarious efforts.

I have never been a huge viewer of the show, mostly only seeing that of the original series, but I did stream some of the new season, and I'm here to tell you Jinkx NAILED this part...she played it will such twisted, crazed, and disturbing talent. I had goosebumps watching her. What a delicious character this Maestro is and played beautiful by Jinkx, of course.

Russel T Davies from the past Doctor Who, created the Maestro role and wrote the episodes specifically for Monsoon after seeing her stage show, Together Again, Again. I even read the producers invited Monsoon into the conversation about Maestro's look early in the process, which Jinkx considered a show of respect for her as a drag entertainer and transfeminine actor. She had input from the wardrobe to the wigs and right down to the make-up, having plenty of experience in that area. I think it's great to see a queen like Jinkx take drag in a whole new direction. This may be one of the biggest parts yet for a drag queen in such a huge and reputable franchise as Doctor Who. I tell you; she was phenomenal. I can relate to the part of Maestro too, I'm a bit crazy. Critics are already hailing her performance as "blistering and "an absolute scene-stealer." I would agree.

And there is no slowing down. Jinkx is about done wrapping up her turn as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors on Off Broadway, and has just learned she will be reprising her role as Mama Morton in Chicago, back on Broadway, as well as make her grand debut in February of 2025, with a one night only show at Carnegie Hall.

Look out! The drag queens are taking the Hall kids!!!!

Now, a small sample of Jinkx's amazing, if not crazed performance.