Written by:
Kristin Egener
Had a fantastic time today with Jude and Kimmy and Juan, but without slimy Melanie tagging along for once. It's Sunday; we went to "drag brunch" at this little restaurant downtown (Mom thinks I'm getting religion suddenly, as I haven't been to our church for months but expressed inexplicably strong interest in attending a service with a "friend's" family. After ascertaining that it was the service of an acceptable denomination (Baptist), she said, "Well, you know, I think that's a very good idea."
Today, I learned salsa steps from a dyke in a three-piece suit named T.R. and practiced the protocol for drag shows: If you want special attention from a performer, you crease a dollar bill, put it between your teeth, and make "come hither" gestures. I got good at it; Jude just shook her head and grinned at me as I allowed myself to be wooed. "Shameless!" she shouted over the din and an ear-splitting lip-synched rendition of Cher's "Believe."
I think I could definitely develop an obsession with drag shows. Maybe I'm not a lesbian at all; maybe I just subconsciously decided I was so I'd have a chance to go to drag shows. Love 'em all: Cher impersonators, Tina Turner impersonators, Elvis impersonators (those were the drag kings -- very sexy).
Loved it especially when Tina Turner flung open door of restaurant and strode into street, where she danced ferociously and defied traffic with one upheld hand, as in, "Talk to the hand." Several of the other performers did it, too.
"They love it when the church down the street lets out," Juan told me. "Watch -- they'll all go out and dance then." They did; we joined them. Lots of fun; now clear who I was in my past life. Think I embarrassed Jude by shouting "Re-re-re-re-GINA!" during "Respect." Oh, well. Dignity is overrated, especially when surrounded by so much spangle and sequin.
Seriously, though, sometimes I wonder: as fun as learning about this queer subculture is, am I getting too far into it? Will I be able to relate to the straight world when I have to? I guess I don't want to feel like I can't go back. But then, everyone could use a little more diva in their lives, in my opinion.
*smooches*
Regina
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