An event designed to teach children about inclusion and diversity through literature has drawn the ire of local conservatives. Drag queen Harmonica Sunbeam had organized a Drag Queen Story Hour at the Port Jefferson Local Library in which she aimed to help students learn about love, acceptance, and tolerance by reading to children ages 4-8, making crafts with them, and taking photos. Unfortunately, the not-so-loving/accepting/tolerant right showed up holding signs such as “Honk to Oppose Drag Queen Story Hour,” and “Where Is Bible Story Hour?”

“I don’t think we should push this ideology and statements to a 4-year-old,” said Pastor Julio Carrion, of Port Jefferson. “But if they want to continue the conversation with an adult, I’m here now.”

Said counter protester Roland Hoffman, of Manorville:

“If they don’t want their children to be read to by a character—not even a transgender woman—by a drag queen which is a character, like Spiderman, then go away.”

via News 12, Long Island:

Employees at the library say they expected some backlash when they booked the event. They say some people who are against the event have been calling more than two weeks.

Despite the protests outside the library, children who took part in the event seemed to enjoy it.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” said 8-year-old, Rachel Robedeed.

Library officials say they considered the first event a success and plan on having more of the Drag Queen Story Hour in the future.

(via LongIslandChannel12)

A drag troupe comprised of performers with Down syndrome held a handful of underground events this summer around East London, promising “drag mayhem” during “extra Chromosome Drag night with our royal Queens and Kings.”

It was part of a project of the London-based Culture Device, which receives public funding from the Arts Council of England.

“I think it’s new for contemporary culture to include people with learning disabilities in avant-garde culture or in high culture – or in high fashion,” LGBT activist and event organizer Daniel Vais told ITV.

Vais now plans to take Drag Syndrome to a global audience, having had numerous clubs across the world already making offers to host the night.

“It’s quite new to everyone, but from what I see – it works really well, really, really well actually.”

Watch the teaser trailer below.

It was Ariana Grande night last week at San Francisco drag legend Heklina‘s weekly party “Mother,” and the star of the evening was a queen named Florida Man who bowled over the crowd with his brilliant Lady Voldemort performance. Yes, that would Lord Voldemort of Harry Potter fame… in drag.

“A few months ago I produced a Harry Potter tribute show called She Who Must Not Be Named and did my first number as Lady Voldemort. It was so fun and so absurd that I knew I wanted to bring the character back in wilder situations,” Florida Man told Teen Vogue. “So when the Ariana night popped up everything just clicked. It had to be ‘Dangerous Woman’ and it had to be a burlesque number.”

The clip of Florida Man’s performance has gone viral, racking up more than 20,000 likes and 8,000 retweets on Twitter.

“Part of what I’m doing with Lady Voldemort is reimagining a universe where the canon of Harry Potter is queerer and weirder, and I think that speaks to a lot of queer people and Harry Potter fans alike,” Florida says. “It’s also just ridiculous.”

LOVE IT! Watch the “Mother” performance below (and keep watch for the epic battle with “Hairy Otter” that ends in an hysterical makeup sash!)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

dat bussy dat must not be named lady voldemort flies again

A post shared by Florida Elizabeth Man (@floridamaniac) on Oct 6, 2018 at 10:55pm PDT

Have you been booked for a Drag Queen Story Hour at your local library and HAVEN”T GOT AN IDEA of what to read? I mean: Dr Seuss has been DONE TO DEATH, and nobody cares about Amelia Bedelia anymore.  Well, Mrs Kasha Davis is coming to the rescue. She’s written an absolutely MARVELOUS children’s book: Little Eddie P Wants to Be a Star. It’s all about a little boy (who may or may not be the young Mrs Davis) who dreams of being a QUEEN, who is teased for wearing an orange blouse to school, and disappoints his father when he says he wants to be a star when he grows up. Thankfully, he has a wonderful friend in a poodle named… wait for it… KASHA, who helps him through his many hardships. And you’ll be happy to know everything works out just fine in the end. There won’t be a dry eye in the audience.

Little Eddie P Wants to Be a Star is available now at KashaDavis.com

A children’s book loosely based on the childhood memories of Ed Popil AKA Mrs Kasha Davis.
Written by Ed Popil AKA Mrs Kasha Davis
Illustrated by Jason Dorofy

And at just $20 it’ll make FABULOUS stocking stuffers this holiday season!

It’s the perfect choice for kids of all ages!

Omgomgomg… Did you see it?! Are you gagged?! Are you still vibrating with excitement! This morning, the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4 was ruvealed on Entertainment Weekly – and it was a shocker! So many fab fan favorites returning this winter…. And we got an amazing live stream with Trixie, Katya, and Detox. Watch that here:

So set your DVRs, hennies! Friday, December 14, 8PM Eastern! on VH1!

And if you missed out (which you did if you weren’t watching, hennies) we’ve got the full All Stars 4 cast list below. Starting with…

Naomi Smalls

Trinity The Tuck

Manila Luzon

Latrice Royale

Jasmine Masters

Monet X Change

Gia Gunn

Farrah Moan

Monique Heart

Valentina

RuPaul’s Drag Race season 8 & 9 fan fave Cynthia Lee Fontaine dropped a music video today for her new single “Pegajosa” (which, I’m told, translates to “sticky” – HA!)

Writes the goddess on her Instagram:

Sky is the limit! Show your passion to the universe !!! I’m proud to announce my single “Pegajosa “ is available on @iTunes !!! Thank you for your love and support !!! Muy feliz de compartir con ustedes que mi nuevo sencillo musical “Pegajosa “ esta disponible en @itunes !! Descárgalo ya y disfruta de la pegajosamania !!! Los amo !! #rupaulsdragrace #pegajosa #happy #feliz#llenadevida #cucu #amor #miel #chicle#ugh

Watch the ultra-fabuloso video below, then add the song to your cardio/getting ready playlist here.

The absolutely adorable season 10 fan fave Yuhua Hamasaki stopped by the #Transformations studio to give us an update on life after Drag Race, share a glass of holiday cava, and give ma a fabulous Yuhua-inspired makeover (complete with those ENORMOUS spike lashes she’s famous for!). The episode quickly descends into chaos (as they often do) when I get increasing punchy and dissolve into a fit of giggles that completely unnerves her. “WHAT IS GONG ON?” she helplessly scream into the camera. Ha! Mission accomplished. Watch below on either WOWPresenys Plus or Youtube!

Brooklyn drag performer Shaquanda (a good friend of wowlebrities Linda Simpson and John Polly) also happens to be a plucky entrepreneur who’s been making her own hot sauce for the past couple of years. “It’s sexy, delicious, spicy and super good” says Mr Polly — and gotten a lot of fun media attention. “The sauce launched when Shaquanda made bottled batches that she pushed around at the big Bushwig drag fest a couple of years ago serving out of a cart, while also serving some Caribbean-inspired drag!”

Shaquanda (aka Andre Springer) was born and raised in Bed-Stuy in a Barbadian family, and learned the art of cooking from his grandmother. This hot sauce project has united her love of drag, cooking, and bringing joy and flavor to people.

Anyway… The communal kitchen Andre used to make the sauce abruptly shut down recently, cancelling all means to make sauce for this holiday season (also affecting over 100 other small businesses in Brooklyn that relied on the space too). So there’s a Kickstarter to assist as they find a new home to make the sauce and get back in business.

Wit seven days left of her Kickstarter, she’s so far gotten $14,000 of her $80,000 goal. Go here to contribute.

From her Kickstarter:

Why Shaquanda needs your help!

We were recently left without a home. Our shared kitchen – Pilot Works – abruptly went out of business, and in doing so left us and many other companies without a commercial kitchen to work in. We had to cancel all of our holiday markets, and are unable to fulfill our orders to our vendors.  Because of the unforeseen closure of our kitchen, we did not have enough time to catch the window of pepper produce, and more importantly, apply for a new location license and prepare for our winter stock. Shelf stable foods are regulated, and as a result we are required to make our products in regulated spaces – for good reason.

Shaquanda’s Hot Pepper Sauce was invited to participate in several markets this holiday season.  These included the holiday market in Union Square, the Brooklyn Museum, other boutique food pop ups, and private vendor meetings with distribution opportunities. Unfortunately, we had to decline these invitations because we were not prepared due to the closure of our shared kitchen space. Its like being invited to the ball, and you have no statement earrings and not even a cute dress! Shaquanda became Cinderella without any of her rodent friends or magical fairy godmother.  This would’ve been our biggest year, but we had to cancel.

Who is Shaquanda? 

My name is Andre Springer and I am the creator and founder of Shaquanda Will Feed You LLC.  I was born in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, of Barbadian decent and grew up in a household focused around the love for all things food. My Grandmother and I pickled peppers and made sauces together in Far Rockaway, Queens. She was a second mother to me and even though she has left this plane of existence, she still continues to be an inspiration to me.  As I grew older, I fell in love with creating art.  As an artist, I began investigating symbolism within the African Diaspora, creating work about found and lost objects. I studied Fine Arts at Parsons School of Design at the New School, and at the age of 20 I took on one of my first hospitality jobs – bartending – at a place called “The Slide,” on the Bowery in downtown Manhattan. There I met the infamous, beautiful, and incisively clever drag queen legend Linda Simpson. Shaquanda made her first appearance at Linda Simpson’s weekly Gay Jeopardy event, and soon thereafter began hosting and performing for the people. As an artist, lover of food, and drag queen, I needed to make something that was most authentically me – hot sauce seemed like the natural next step. And now at the ripe age of none of your business, I have accomplished this feat.

What is Shaquanda’s sauce?

Our first product is Shaquanda’s Hot Pepper Sauce, made from all natural ingredients. It is pure tasty goodness – a perfected amount of heat and flavor. Enhance and spice up any meal without destroying your palette. No added starches, fillers, or artificial anything.

Shaquanda’s Hot Pepper Sauce is an enchanting combination of onions, chili peppers from the Capsicum chinense family, tomato paste, ginger juice, lemon juice, horseradish, mustard powder, turmeric, demerara sugar, and sea salt – all blended and hot pickled in apple cider vinegar.

“A very unique and delicious sauce, simply one of the best”  –  Chef Ginger Pierce, Jams Restaurant

“This hot sauce is the diggity bomb diggity” Paula Davenport, Bed Stuy native and resident

We are located and available to taste at the restaurants Fat Radish and Post in lower Manhattan, as their hot sauce of choice.

Other places where our product was available:

• Archie’s Pizza
• El Vez
• Pheasant
• Belle Reve

These amazing places are helping take us in our sauce adventure. Literally riding on a bike to deliver this yummy goodness.

• Campbells Cheese
• Lella Alimentari
• Belle Reve
• Heatonist 
• Lancelotti kitchenware and gifts
• Otherwild
• Court Street Grocers
• Bedstuy provisions 

Season your mouth with this condiment – use it as a marinade or rub – there’s no wrong way to enjoy Shaquanda’s Hot Pepper Sauce. Barbadian cuisine nuanced in a Brooklyn way. This sauce is a reflection of my childhood and life in Bedford Stuyvesant.

This is what we need to do

Our first step is to locate a commercial space true to our ethos in Brooklyn. We will build out the perfect Shaquanda kitchen for spicy product development and fun-size production runs. The space will be divided into an office and a saucy storage area.

Scaling is one of the most difficult transitions in a company’s growth. Prior to our shared kitchen closing down, we were limited to making small batches of up to 500 bottles at a time, and were having trouble fulfilling demand at that capacity. With a larger private kitchen space, we can retain the same great quality as before, but increase the volume we are able to make, and grow even larger.

We are looking to start making 10,000-20,000 bottle batches. This requires more capital, storage, license fees, legal fees, insurance, and many other costs and expenses to enter food shows and larger markets.

After we have established a private kitchen and storage, we will register the working space with the Department of Agriculture. After passing inspection we will be able to use the space for product development, small line production for new products, and a home base for Shaquanda to successfully run a business.

Our mission is to be visible on shelves, for all age ranges. We want to make change for those who don’t see themselves in the supermarket. Let us spread a message of love, camp, and acceptance.

Our favorite queens and nightlife superstars spend countless hours crafting their looks and developing their numbers, so having the right person snapping their pictures after the whole picture is absolutely crucial. With everyone in the world now having access to some of the best cameras and lenses right in their phones, true photography sometimes could be thought of as an art in danger of extinction. Thankfully, the photographers profiled feature some of our favorite queens in some truly unique settings, while others get them in their “natural habitat” on stage. Each of these artists have a vision, a talent, and an eye for absolute beauty; without them, the world of nightlife and the way we look at our queens would be that much less colorful.

Shea Coulee by David Ayllon

Trixie Mattel by David Ayllon

Todrick by David Ayllon

Bob the Drag Queen by David Ayllon

David Ayllon and David Ayllon (photographer)

David Ayllon
Drag queens have always been called by many as the “superheroes of our community”. Could there be a better person to capture them in some of their most eye popping moments than the dynamite David Ayllon? Ayllon is a graphic artist and illustrator, but his portraits of some of our favorite drag queens (and drag-adjacent queens) have truly made him shine in our community. Whether it is Todrick Hall paying tribute to his starring turn as Lola in Kinky Boots or Shea Coulee literally tangled up on the phone, Ayllon knows how to take his subject and,in the great spirit of David LaChapelle, make an eye popping almost live action illustration of them. (www.davidayllon.com)

Charlie Hides by James Michael Avance

Alyssa Edwards by James Michael Avance

James Michael Avance and Miz Cracker

Yuhua Hamasaki by James Michael Avance

Monet X Change by James Michael Avance

James Michael Avance
James Michael Avance is a self proclaimed “creative entrepreneur” and if anyone has cornered the market on making your creativity work for you, it’s Avance. He has taken his love for photography and turned it into a full blown career, snapping pictures of some of the biggest drag queens in the business, with everyone from Alexis Michelle to Monet X Change to Alyssa Edwards taking a turn in front of his lens. When he is not snapping shots of his favorite ladies, you can find “JMA” weaving some gorgeous and lush melodies with his guitar, where he is also an accomplished singer/songwriter with some mind blowing vocal talents. Whether behind the photography lens or a microphone, you can count on Avance putting his own patented type of sparkle onto it. (www.jamesavancephotography.com)

Choreographer Richard Schieffer by Preston Burford

Jiggly Client by Preston Burford

Alyssa Edwards by Preston Burford

Acid Betty, Bob the Drag Queen, and Thorgy Thor by Preston Burford

Photographer Preston Burford

Preston Burford
Texas born, New York City based photographer Preston Burford trains his camera on a myriad of subjects, but when drag queens are in front of his lens, his eye for detail and creative vision truly shines. Whether it’s a shot of Yuhua Yamasaki landing on (and taking over) the moon, a post apocalyptic Bob the Drag Queen, or Monet X Change giving X-Men’s Storm realness, Burford takes his love for New York City and the ladies that make that city sparkle and meld both of them beautifully together. (www.virtualpreston.com)

Kennedy Davenport by David Howe

Dusty Ray Bottoms by David Howe

Dusty Ray by David Howe

David Howe with Monet X Change

David Howe
While David Howe (aka “Captain Wonder”) may be one of the most prolific New York City drag videographer, his talents are just as spectacular when it comes to capturing some of our favorite subjects with still photography as well. He is known as one of the best photographers in New York City to snag great on-stage or “in action” shots. Whether it’s a well known queen or one of the girls just starting to take the stage, Howe takes special care to capture the spirit of their performance in his shots, making you a part of the action, whether you were able to attend that late night show or not.
(www.instagram.com/captainwonder)

Lady Bunny by Jeff Eason

Mona Foote by Jeff Eason

Sasha Velour by Jeff Eason

Amanda Lepore by Jeff Eason

Jeff Eason (Wilson Models)
If you have picked up one of New York City’s famed local magazines (who doesn’t remember HX Magazine?) you have seen the vivid and vibrant photography of Jeff Eason. From this year’s Wigstock to Atlantic City’s Miss’d America pageant at the Borgata, Eason is front and center getting the absolute best from the people in front of his lens. Whether he is snapping nightlife notables like Amanda LePore or Michael Musto on the social scene or hitting nightlife spots like Therapy or Barracuda to catch the newest rising nightlife stars, having Jeff Eason is one of the best ways to capture a true “moment” in your career.

Whaaaaaaat? You don’t follow Drü Holiday on Instagram? ARE YOU MAD, QUEEN? He’s only one of THE most innovative drag artists on the scene. Those EYES! Complete game changers. And OUT of drag, my goodness. “A daddy in the making” as one commenter put it. Drü stopped by the transformation studio to work his magic on my face, and, oh, we had a ball. You’ll have to watch the video below.

Hold on to your wigs, squirrel friends! Two superfab DragConLA parties have JUST been announced, and you aren’t going to want to miss EITHER of them! First up: “World of Queen”s on Saturday, May 25 – starting at 8PM – featuring Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kameron Michaels, Detox, Eureka O’Hara, Bob The Drag Queen, Manila Luzon, and Naomi Smalls. Why, it’s almost TOO MANY queens!

The next night: The Battle on the Runway on Sunday hosted by THE GODDESS Michelle Visage (with MORE QUEENS to be announced!)

Tickets go on sale 12/12 at 10am abut there’s an ultra-exclusive PRE-SALE for friends of WOW (that’s YOU!) on 12/10 at 10am using code DRAGCON19

Go HERE for World of Queens tickets…
And HERE for Battle on the Runway…

The venerable PGA (Producers Guild of America) has spoken! RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10 was FAAAAAAAAAABULOUS! So fabulous, in, fact, its producers (THAT’S US!) have been nominated in their Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television category. We’re up against some stiff competition… but nobody we haven’t beaten before in other arenas, so I’m confident we have a definite chance! Here’s hoping! All the nominees (and a few other interesting categories) below.

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television

The Amazing Race (Season 30)

America’s Got Talent (Season 13)

RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 10)

Top Chef (Season 15)

The Voice (Season 14, Season 15)

The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program

Fuller House (Season 4)

PJ Masks (Season 2)

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Season 2)

Sesame Street (Season 48)

Teen Titans Go! (Season 4)

(Funny to me, pitting Series of Unfortunate Events against Sesame Street lol, and Fuller House against Teen Titans Go!)

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television

30 for 30 (Season 9)
Producers: Connor Schell, John Dahl, Libby Geist, Erin Leyden, Adam Neuhaus, Jenna Anthony, Gentry Kirby, Marquis Daisy, Deirdre Fenton

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (Season 11, Season 12)
Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (Season 3)
Producers: *Eligibility Determination Pending*

Queer Eye (Season 1, Season 2)
Producers: David Collins, Michael Williams, Rob Eric, Jennifer Lane, Jordana Hochman, Mark Bracero, Rachelle Mendez

Wild Wild Country (Season 1)
Producers: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Josh Braun, Dan Braun, Juliana Lembi

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television

30 for 30 (Season 9)
Producers: Connor Schell, John Dahl, Libby Geist, Erin Leyden, Adam Neuhaus, Jenna Anthony, Gentry Kirby, Marquis Daisy, Deirdre Fenton

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (Season 11, Season 12)
Producers: Anthony Bourdain, Christopher Collins, Lydia Tenaglia, Sandra Zweig

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (Season 3)
Producers: *Eligibility Determination Pending*

Queer Eye (Season 1, Season 2)
Producers: David Collins, Michael Williams, Rob Eric, Jennifer Lane, Jordana Hochman, Mark Bracero, Rachelle Mendez

Wild Wild Country (Season 1)
Producers: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Josh Braun, Dan Braun, Juliana Lembi

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

Black Panther
Producer: Kevin Feige

BlacKkKlansman
Producers: Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, Jordan Peele, Spike Lee

Bohemian Rhapsody
Producer: Graham King

Crazy Rich Asians
Producers: Nina Jacobson & Brad Simpson, John Penotti

The Favourite
Producers: Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Yorgos Lanthimos

Green Book
Producers: Jim Burke, Charles B. Wessler, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly, Nick Vallelonga

A Quiet Place
Producers: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller

Roma
Producers: Gabriela Rodríguez, Alfonso Cuarón

A Star Is Born
Producers: Bill Gerber, Bradley Cooper, Lynette Howell Taylor

Vice
Producers: Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Kevin Messick, Adam McKay

Read the full list of nominees in every category here. (via Deadline)

Starting tomorrow: Our new WOW Presents Plus web series “Reading Queens with Psychic Char Margolis.”

Watch superstar psychic Char Margolis do readings of multiple Drag Race alum including Jiggly Caliente, Mariah Balenciaga, Nina Bo’Nina Brown, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Kimora Blacc, Miss Vanjie… and ME!

In the first episode, Jiggly arrives for her appointment with an open mind, not knowing what to expect. After a quick introduction, and an explanation of how Char only uses her psychic powers for good, they begin the reading. Within minutes, a surprising connection is made and Jiggly’s world is ROCKED.

Watch the sneak peek below.

Reading Queens with Psychic Char Margolis premieres TOMORROW Tuesday, Jan. 15 on WOW Presents Plus.

It’s another episode of our new WOW Presents Plus web series “Reading Queens with Psychic Char Margolis.”

In it, superstar psychic Char Margolis does readings of multiple Drag Race alum including Jiggly Caliente, Mariah Balenciaga, Nina Bo’Nina Brown, Jaidynn Diore Fierce, Kimora Blacc, Miss Vanjie… and ME!

In the spine-tingling third episode, I arrive for my appointment with an open mind, not knowing what to expect. After a quick introduction, Char begins the reading and – I KID YOU NOT – within seconds, Char zeroes in on a number of dead relatives, dead friends, and completely bizarro coincidences. You’re going to get chills, I guarantee it.

Check it out on WOW Presents Plus HERE.

Check out a new episode of Reading Queens with Psychic Char Margolis every Tuesday on WOW Presents Plus.

Whenever one of our favorite New York City queens leaves for greener pastures, it is with mixed feelings that we see them off. While we always wish them tons of success, we know that we won’t be able to pop into one of their weekly gigs to see them whenever we’d like and grab a cocktail.

Seeing Sherry Vine leave New York City (she is relocating to Los Angeles for some amazing new opportunities) is bittersweet to say the least. While we all are anxious to see what amazing productions she can make Hollywood-style, Sherry Vine IS New York City. From her videos to her drag itself, the influence of Manhattan itself is felt throughout Ms. Vine’s entire storied career.

With Sherry Vine leaving New York City for sunny Los Angeles, a true piece of New York City nightlife is leaving us. I thought it was only proper to sit down for one final New York style coffee klatch with her, where we could catch up about her past, her future, and where she thinks the world of drag aims to go.

MICHAEL COOK: It’s the end of an era; Sherry Vine is leaving New York City. Was it a hard decision to make?
SHERRY VINE: Yes; very hard! I love New York and I’m not leaving to escape or get away from anything. I’m going to something new- a new chapter! Once I made the final decision-“I’m going”-it was easier and I know that it’s the right time.

What do you think you’ll miss the most about New York City?
I know I will miss walking (laughs)! You can walk in Los Angeles, but here I literally walk everywhere! I’ll miss running into people on the street, my friends and family of course. I know I’ll be back often and I’ll probably see people I never see more often!

Your final show in New York City was at Industry and brought out an all star cast of people to see you off properly. Now-tell me about your first show.
Oh My God!…I know I did a few things when I first got here like Star Search (still running, but then hosted by Mona Foot) and a lot with Mistress Formika, but my first solo show was at Linda Simpson’s Channel 69 at The Pyramid, It was Lower East Side Lesbian Jungle Fever starring me and Ebony Jett. It was a big hit and got the ball rolling!

You started drag in NYC during a legendary era. What are some of your best memories of working & living in New York?
It really was an exciting time for drag and I feel like I was part of a wave of new queens who are still performing today; Varla Jean Merman, Coco Peru, Hedda Lettuce, Shequida, Candis Cayne and Lina! It was sooooo much fun to go out, It makes me sound old, but I don’t know if a lot of young queens go out now for fun. We would get dolled up and bar/club hop for free!

Drag has changed so much during your time here. What do you think has changed the most?
I get asked this a lot; I don’t know if it’s changed all that much. I think nightlife in general has changed more than the queens and the queens have to evolve with it. Certainly the internet and social “dating” apps have changed it. Drag shows were more of a destination and you had to go out to socialize, get laid, see a show etc.;you don’t now. I’m always amazed at how many talented young queens are out there. I filled in for Shequida at Drag Wars last week and there were twenty five contestants-twenty five!!! And they were great; I was really blown away!

So you’re off to Los Angeles. What prompted the move? And what can we expect to see from you out there?
My BFF Jackie Beat and I have been working on theatrical productions out there and touring with our show Battle of The Bitches for about four-five years now and I have been threatening to move there for that long (laughs)! The seeds we have planted have started to sprout and it’s time. I really don’t work a lot in New York or make money here, I’m always on the road (keep it comin’ goddess!) and I even shoot most of my videos, etc in Los Angeles. It’s just the right time for my next chapter.

What keeps inspiring you to keep pushing forward in drag and entertainment in general?
Honesty, and I really sincerely mean this, it’s the only thing that makes me happy and fulfills me. I still love performing in drag as much today as I did in 1991! I am still inspired by other queens, people, buildings – whatever. I still have one million things I want to do as Sherry! I am a show whore and that will never change. I can hear one song and it starts a chain reaction of ideas that turns into an epic show (laughs)! Which is why I love working with Jackie and Joey Arias and Bianca Del Rio and the like – we are all cut from the same sequined cloth!

There’s a queen out there right now who wants to become the next Sherry Vine. Advice for the new crop of queens coming up?
I always say – Find your unique voice, what makes you different, and then explore, expand and exploit it. It’s great to be influenced by others, but always make it your own.

Her goodbye show at Industry was filled with the expected New York City luminaries, and I caught up with some that were in and not in attendance and had them share their favorite thoughts and memories of our favorite glamour puss.

Alexis Michelle (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9)
The second competition that I ever competed in New York was Drag Me To Hell, hosted by Michael Formika Jones; Sherry was one of the judges. I won that night, and Sherry was so gracious and sweet afterward, and wondered where I had been that she had not seen me. Now post Drag Race years, I have had the pleasure of working with Sherry and I tell everyone when her name comes up: Sherry Vine is the nicest, most lovely, most professional queen to work with and it’s an honor every single time

Bootsie LeFaris (New York City hostess extraordinaire)
Sherry Vine gave me one of my first jobs performing at Vig 27. She has continued to guide me along the same path as she; becoming a better performer and person each and every time we step onstage

Daniel Koye-celebrity hair stylist, founder DKoye
I met Sherry when she hosted a pageant in Delaware and we bonded immediately and from there, we were friends. She hired me for my first official New York gig and I made a wig for her. She came backstage when I was working on “Love Letters” and was like a little school girl. She always has a loving smile and is a great, caring person; Sherry is the best!

Marti Gould Cummings-New York City queen and political activist
Sherry Vine has always been a support and someone who has inspired me. Ten years ago when I was barely wearing an eyelash, I would always come to her shows at Barracuda and Vlada and she always had kind words of encouragement for me. Sherry never judges, always loved, and helped. In between songs about poop, she would show me the ropes from the stage as I looked on wide eyed and in amazement. She is a true legend and a leader in drag.

Richard Schieffer; Choreographer
I don’t really call her Sherry; I call her “mama”.-that’s what she is for me. When I first met her, I was terrified. It was her and Epiphany at Oscar Wilde’s for “The Blonde Leading The Blonde”. Giant men in dresses sing off key; any guesses which one was singing about poop and crab patches? Sherry has been there for everything New York City has thrown at me; she was there even when I gave up on myself. Sherry talks about leaving a votive candle for lighting when guys come over, but it is more than that. It is the light in the darkness for so many of us younger New Yorkers needing to find our way. Sherry stuck by me even when it was at an arms length; I will miss my mama and our selfies; basically because we know the angle and filter for her age (laughs)!

Honey Davenport (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11)
I became a back up dancer for Sherry and Peppermint when I was twenty one and am in most of her Gaga inspired videos. Sherry has been the most supportive and encouraging big sister ever. One day I asked her how to do drag successfully; I wanted to travel the world just like she was. “Hang in there” was her advice. Not two weeks later, she called promoters in Berlin and helped me plan my very first tour in Europe, which turned into my first of four self produced European tours. I would never have had these opportunities without her. She is always so supportive and available to her community. And she will always be thinner than all of us.

(Pictured with BOB the Drag Queen, Miss Guy, Raven, Epiphany, Monet X Change, Pattaya Hart, and Richard Scheffer; Top image by Joshua David)

“The time has come for [Canadian} drag performers to sashay into the spotlight”

America, Thailand, Chile, and – VERY SOON! – the UK all have Drag Race variations, of course. Now, add to that list Canada’s a Drag, a series of short documentaries that teamed up filmmakers from communities across Canada to profile local drag performers — both kings and queens. Check out the two fabulous seasons below, featuring 22 unique performers from 11 different Canadian cities. (Click on their names to watch the mini-docs!)

Says Peter Knegt, Canada’s a Drag producer:

Legendary legend Detox has a marvelous 18-minute mini-doc Detoxification: Portrait of a Queen in which she walks you through every moment of RuPaul’s Drag Race season five, All Stars 2, and her life both before and after finding fame. We revisit her sister, see her new Illinois home (which she bought while drunk!), and watch her thought process as she gets ready for a ig gig. All in all, pretty fascinating stuff. Watch below.

Eighty-five-year-old drag star Dame Edna says comments she made in 2016 regarding transgender women were misinterpreted.

“Nothing has been more grotesquely interpreted,” Barry Humphries (Edna’s alter ego) told The Sunday Times Magazine. “Edna carefully said she thought that men who had themselves castrated did not become women, and that got taken the wrong way.”

The defense came in regards to a 2016 interview in which Humphries–in his Dame Edna persona–agreed with Australian writer Germane Greer that transgender women are merely castrated men. “I agree with Germaine,” Humphries said at the time. “You’re a mutilated man, that’s all. Self-mutilation, what’s all this carry on? Caitlyn Jenner—what a publicity-seeking ratbag.”

Humphries, it should also be noted, is a hearty Trump supporter.

Aaaaand he plans to take his Dame Edna character out on the road later this year in a new tour.

Yeah, lets see how THAT goes….

(via Queerty; Photo: Avalon)

I’m sure you saw last week when New York drag queen/activist Marti Gould Cummings went viral with a video of her performing “Baby Shark” for a toddler at drag brunch. Well, what’s a drag queen to do when she hits social media pay dirt? GO BIGGER, of course. Here she is enlisting some local New York queens like Desmond is Amazing, Lemon, and Jan Sport, (as well as a few of her non-draggy friends) to lip-sync to the now-ubiquitous earworm at the Seaglass Carousel in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.

Martin explains to NewNowNext:

“The team behind Shade: Queens of NYC and I decided to make a music video for kids with the song and use the video as a way for the grown ups watching to find ways to help LGBTQ youth, so we put in links to the Ali Forney Center for Homeless LGBTQ Youth and the Hetrick Martin Institute, home of the Harvey Milk High School,”

“The Seaglass Carousel was so gracious to donate their venue to film and I hope people love the video and take the time to share joy and love and help out these two incredible organizations fighting for our young people.”

Watch below, doo doo doo doot doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doot:

It’s an all-new season and all-new episode of Judge Jackie, with the LEGENDARY Jackie Beat as the eponymous Judge, recent LA transplant Sherry Vine as the bailiff, and an extremely litigious Alaska Thunderf•ck as the defendant – furious she was served a vegan hamburger.

When Alaska goes to a BBQ, she wants to eat the sizzling meats of dead animals. Her friend Victor had nothing but vegan treats at his BBQ and gave Alaska a Boca Burger which totally upset her personal ecosystem. She is suing Victor for $500 for false impersonation of a real burger and pain & suffering.

Hysterical! Watch below: