So that was 2014

Another year has flown by, and what a year!

I started off being in a protest advert about the Sochi Winter Olympics (that nobody saw) but did my own little protest song. Had my solo show Sorry I'm A Lady commissioned by Central School of Speech and Drama as well as a special Love Edition run at Vogue Fabrics. Was a mentor for the 8 week long Trannyshack Academy with one of my girls, Ruby Wednesday going on to win the whole thing!

Hosted the official UK screening of RuPaul's Drag Race again and performed with season six winner Bianca Del Rio four four nights at The Meth Lab as well as judging a ball with fellow drag goddess, Michelle Visage.
Played with a new character, Fat Madonna (she's had enough of yoga and macrobiotics, moved to the north of England and got fat. And goes dogging) and was photographed for a book about boobs, Bare Reality.

Was on a panel about fat performers (I'm not one, just a performer who happens to be fat) and Jean Paul Gaultier complemented my wig. I DJed for the Mayor of Camen, Sink The Pink, Songs of Praise, Dalston Superstore, The Black Cap, my nights POP! (which goes monthly from February), Handbag (90s house party) and the final Popstarz at The Coronet.


Closed the Sink The Pink Summer Ball with fellow pop poof Dan Gillespie Sells 
singing Enough is Enough (No More Tears) and did my annual hosting at the Fringe! Queer Film FestivalPopped to Glasgow, Hastings, Bristol and Manchester and discovered a whole plethora of amazing drag at Cha Cha BoudoirManaged to clamber onto the pub drag circuit, leaning that any of my slightly obscure stuff just won't do. They want a familiar sing-a-long, that I can do.
I finally got over myself and took Sorry I'm A Lady to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which was better than I could have ever imagined. Even got a four star review in a national paper
Performed to a few thousand people on the main-stage at Copenhagen Pride and then did my multi task, singing and DJing thing for the wonderful T-Lounge.

Started recording new material with Nessim Molder (coming soon) and writing a concept album. Did a turn or two at Shoreditch House and directed my first panto staring The FamilyyyFierce which was incredible. I worked them hard but my goodness it paid off (so good, it's having a redux, tickets).
The documentary I founded, D.R.A.G. (Dressed As A Girl) about the East London alternative drag scene, has been sliced and diced and will be released in 2015.
Also had a little documentary made about me...


Holestar - The Tranny with ........ from Jonathan Stow on Vimeo.

I appeared in a Vice mag article about Faux Queens (which is odd. I'd never call myself one, nothing fake about me), was interviewed for Out There magazine and Marcus Reeves for his Behind The Mask show and photographed for an exhibition about makeup transformations that will be at the MOMA. In New York. Yep, going to NYC, it's been a while.
2014 was
 closed giving the Alternative Christmas Speech for This Is Cabaret and taking Let's Get Quizzical to the Royal Festival Hall.



For 2015, I intend to take Sorry I'm A Lady on tour to reach more queer people to encourage them to be who the hell they want to (funding and finding a producer who believes in it permitting) and returning it to Edinburgh.
I want to make more more music as well as finish my concept album (based on a theory by art group The Residents and young people's limited capacity to listen to an entire pop record).
After many a false start, hopefully my Dragony Aunt column, 'What's Your Problem?' will finally get off the ground (not having a maternal bone in my body, I'm nobodies Drag Mother but everyone's Drag Aunt.).

Of course my ultimate ambition is still to perform at the Eurovision Song contest. Anyone have contacts in San Marino, Malta or Cyprus? (I'm deadly serious!!!)

It's been ruddy good year. After eleven years of dressing up and parading around like Dolly Parton on acid, I still love it and grateful to anyone who has supported me in any way.
I'm never going to be rich and famous but if I can inspire at least one person to love who they are, then my work is done.

Have a fabulous 2015!
x

Homo and transphobic hate crimes in Soho

Soho used to be a fun filled den of iniquity where gays, prostitutes and drunk legends convened to play side by sideThe law may have become more favorable for LGBTQI people in the UK but there has been a recent increase of homo and transphobic hates crimes in the area.

I used to think Old Compton Street in Soho was Disneyland and found it one of the most exciting places in the world, where anything seemed possible. It didn't matter what you wore or who you chose to sleep with, it was all part of the joyous cocktail of humanity.
In the late 90s, I was sat outside Old Compton Cafe one sunny mid-week afternoon (a 24 hour cafe that was utterly brilliant at any hour to eat, drink, smoke and hang out in various states. It's now Balans Cafe). Three noisy lads came stomping down the street, rowdy, swigging beer cans and started shouting aggressive homophobia once they worked out they were in Gay Town. A man nearby stood up and shouted “no boys, go away, you're on our patch now”. Another stood up supporting him, then another until all of us who were sat outside various establishments joined in. They soon awkwardly shuffled off towards Shaftesbury 
Avenue looking well and truly embarrassed to have been told off by a bunch of poofs. We all nodded and smiled at each other. Justice had been done.
It felt like a bold act of 
comradery that while the world might not tolerate queers just yet, Old Compton Street is sacred gay ground. Gay area, gay rules. Fast forward to summer 2014 and it's not the same place.
Within the past few months alone, there have been numerous homophobic attacks in Soho. Not merely verbal, many physical. Several queer friends have been attacked in an area that used to be our safe zone.

A friend who has done a huge service to London's queer community was told he wa
s a disease and needed to be cleansed before being beaten. Another was pulled around by their hair for intercepting a young queen being abused. Numerous other have been told they're disgusting freaks, called every name under the sun and threatened with violence for being so abhorrent. Simply for being different to the heteronormative norm. What the fuck is happening?

Where are the police and what are they doing about this? Every time an incident happens, people are actively encouraged to report the incident in the hope that there will be some kind of justice. However, the punch on the nose I received for intercepting a transphobic attack 
on New Years Day 2013 has remained in the vaults. We had the guys phone and it happened on Piccadilly, but were told they can't trace the phone and there is no CCTV evidence. One, it was a phone that you'd need a contract for. Secondly, no CCTV on Piccadilly? Really?
The police couldn't be bothered. Some queers get bashed, ah well, too much paper work to be arsed. Yeah, thanks for that.
Despite my own crap experience, we should still report attacks.
I've always been of the belief that the law will act if there are statistics. Well I'd like to think so.

It's not just physical attacks that are the problem. There are numerous hustlers and shady dealers who hang around certain spots in Soho who are openly hostile and verbally homo and transphobic. As are some of the rickshaw drivers who loiter for punters. Same goes for the door staff of various clubs.
I moaned about the lack of police presence in Soho recently on Facebook and was told that they are very helpful regarding gay owned and run businesses. Quite possibly when it comes to box ticking and doing their 'community bit' but where is the on-the-street action? Where the hell are they when these attacks are happening so regularly in such a small area? 
Why hasn't the press picked up on this? If this kind of abuse was regularly happening to any other minority group, there'd be an outcry. 

So what can we do? Rally a queer lynch mob? That sounds fabulous and as much as I'd personally like to spend time in a locked room with a baseball bat with these bigoted arseholes, if you fight fire with fire, you just get more fire.
Look, I'm nobody. Just someone angry with an opinion who thinks innocent people deserve to be and feel safe. 
We need proper action. Do you know somebody who knows someone who can actually do something? Contacts in the mainstream media? A pushy MP? Someone with power and influence?
If there is something in the national press about this, surely the police would have to act or have a visible presence on the streets?
Ultimately homo and transphobia needs to be eradicated but until that happens, we need the law and Westminster to get off their arses and support us.
We need to support each other too. Less apathy, more action.

x

Note. There are numerous homo and transphobic attacks happening regularly all over the UK and this needs to be addressed as a whole.
I've written about Soho as it's an isolated area where many incidents are happening.

P.S.  It's all good and well preaching to the converted but this needs to be more than a gay media issue but a national one for any change.
Many people believe since queers can now marry, all the problems have just magically disappeared when out here on the ground, it seems to be getting worse.

My First Fringe

For many a year, I doubted myself good enough to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It seemed like some far away place where performers were made or broken. Without financial backing or a producer, I never thought it possible.
But I took the risk and turns out to have been one of the best things I've ever done. 

This being my first, I thought I'd ease myself in with an eleven show run of my biographical show 'Sorry I'm A Lady'. 

Edinburgh is stunning, like a chocolate box Danish fairy-tale and the people, absolutely lovely.  My venue, The Street were fantastic to work with. Owners Wendy and Louise are fabulous and always felt like they were on our side. Great food, good drinks deals, pop in if you're in the city.
The audiences were incredible. Besides one quiet night, I had a packed house most evenings. There was one night where a group came in clearly expecting sing-a-long campy drag and the occasional blip but I learned something from every show.

There are numerous tales of people losing vast amounts of money hiring a venue and selling tickets at the Fringe so chose to be part of the PBH Free Fringe where all performances get a free venue and do a bucket collection at the end of the show. As incentives, I auctioned a limited edition 'Holestar Coaster' every night and offered signed posters and CDs. My hope was to break even and I well surpassed that. Some audience members wanted selfies, others hugs, one girl said she loved the show but had no money but would I accept a bag of chocolates? Yes, yes I would.
The show is now exactly how I want it to be. After previously performing it for two, week long runs at Vogue Fabrics, The Cube in Bristol and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, it's been snatched and tightened into a well oiled machine. (Massive thanks to Myra Dubois and Jonny Woo for helping shape shifting it). Hey, it even got a four star review in The Scotsman newspaper.
I love performing it. Yes it's a self indulgent biographical show but I like it. It's got highs, lows, cabaret, performance art, silliness, politics, campness, a lot of singing and a poo story. The basis of the show being if someone like me can go through a bizarre history of leaving school with no education, mental and physical health problems, being in British army, a brothel receptionist, artist, dominatrix, drag starlet and can learn to love themselves and live their dreams of showing off in-front of people, well anyone can. Performing at the Fringe has made me realise I am capable of this kind of thing and can carry a solo show. But writing, directing, promoting and performing the show myself is exhausting so I need to apply for funding, find a producer and take the show on tour, spread the love and concentrate on being fabulous.

During two weeks in Edinburgh, my only regret was not seeing enough shows. So much of the day revolved around painting my face, endless PR, getting into town (from the lovely Alan and Fiona's house) and prepping myself that going to see other work was tricky. Though I did manage to pop into Christeene, The Lipsinkers, Mz Kimberly, Dandy Darkly and Illicit Thrill, all of which were fabulous. Props also to Cabaret Roulette whose show was on at The Street before mine and managed to see some incredible performers.Besides my eleven shows, I managed to squeeze in additional performances at Dive, Church of High Kicks, Musical Bingo, a quick show at Menergy, Glasgow and a four hour DJ set. Tried a deep fried Mars bar (which was hideous, not the crispy, gooey mess I'd hoped for), flyered in the pouring rain, laughed about the predictable abundance of 'straight blokes in a t-shirt' doing observational comedy, drank Pussy Bombs and left the city knackered but sated.

I adored my first Fringe, it surpassed all expectations.
Humbled, grateful. I'll be back.
x


Back to school..Drag 101



Hello dears. How are we? It's been a while.
I'm currently hosting the Official English screening of Season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race and last night, I decided to play a little game of Drag Family Fortunes. One of the questions was "Name a film by John Waters". Neither of the contestants knew ANY films by John Waters. Shocked? I should co-co.


Drag culture does not begin and end with Drag Race and Beyonce darlings. Every drag starlet should be schooled in the basics and know their herstory. You could study gender and be academic about it but this is a lesson in the basics of drag in media and popular culture (all references can be easily found on the internet).

This isn't a definitive guide but an introduction to western drag heritage.
Let's go to school...

This is a given. If you want to know the origins of "shade", "reading" and "realness" you need to watch this 80s documentary about the origins of the Black and Latino New York ball scene (and where Madonna pinched Voguing from).


John Waters
Waters brought the goddess Divine to the big screen. Enough said. Watch Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Polyester, Desperate Living, Serial Mom, Hairspray...


Drag related films
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Cockettes, Stonewall, The Queen, Wigstock, Too Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar, Kinky Boots, Before Stonewall, Squeezebox, Tootsie, Party Monster, Shortbus, Some Like It Hot, The Birdcage, Bent, Flawless, Mirror Mirror, Pageant, The British Guide To Showing Off, Velvet Goldmine, Yentl, The Naked Civil Servant, Lust in the Dust...

Camp films
Grey Gardens, Valley Of The Dolls, Mommie Dearest, Sunset Boulevard, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, Witches Of Eastwick, In Bed With Madonna, Showgirls, Heathers, Mean Girls, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Barbarella, Strictly Ballroom, Abigail's Party...

Musicals
There's a lot of ridiculous cheese in musicals but a hell of a lot of fabulousness and over exaggerated expressions to be learnt, whether in film or onstage.
Victor/Victoria (my ultimate inspiration, obviously), Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Gypsy, Rocky Horror Picture Show, A Star is Born, West Side Story, Singing in the Rain, La Cage Aux Folles, Dreamgirls, Chicago, Sound of Music, Grease 1 and 2, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Hair, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, Oliver!, A Chorus Line, Mary Poppins, Sweet Charity, Thoroughly Modern Millie, My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz...

Trans Stars
I'm horrified when I hear queens being transphobic. Stop it, it's vile. Transgendered people deserve more respect than any ignorant drag queen. Their gender isn't performative and face the world every day. Respect them.

Justin Vivian Bond, April Ashley, Our Lady J,  Buck Angel,  Genesis P-Orridge, Marsha P. Johnson, Amanda Lepore, Paris Lees, Chaz Bono, Laverne Cox...


Divas
Rihanna, Kylie and Britney are not divas. They are pop stars crafted for our entertainment. A real diva is someone who embodies something ethereal. They are bold, full of talent, confidence and embody genuine fierceness, not something appropriated for sales.

Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Bette Midler, Grace Jones, Barbra Streisand, Marlene Dietrich, Aretha Franklin, Maria Callas, Florence Foster Jenkins, Joan Collins, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Mae West, Debbie Harry, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks, Lena Horne, Nina Hagen, Madonna, Carmen Miranda, Bjork, Donna Summer, Josephine Baker, Bettie Page, Tempest Storm, Helena Bonham Carter, Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, Liza Minnelli, Miss Piggy, Shirley Bassey, Eartha Kitt, Dolly Parton, Edith Piaf, Janis Joplin, Courtney Love, Tina Turner, Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Adele, even  Beyonce...

TV
Comedy is brilliant for drag inspiration. Not Miranda and certainly not Mrs Brown's Boys.
Watch the Lucky Bitches sketch by French and Saunders to get going. Most of these aren't drag related but all have glorious performative elements of camp.

Victoria Wood, The Golden Girls, Kenny Everett, Absolutely Fabulous, Queer as Folk, Nighty Night, Girls On Top, Tales of the City, Are You Being Served? Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, Ja'mie Private School Girl, Keeping Up Appearances, Birds Of A Feather, Fawlty Towers, The Good Life, Father Ted, 'Allo 'Allo, Hi-De-Hi, The League Of Gentlemen...

Music and Clubs
As I mention in my hit show 'Sorry I'm A Lady' (that is going to Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014!!), Britain in the 80s was awash with gender benders. Have a look at the history of London clubs Blitz, Taboo, Kinky Gerlinky and Kashpoint.
For New York drag and club kid history, go and watch the videos by Nelson Sullivan.


Boy George, Steve Strange, Marilyn, Pete Burns, CHRISTEENE, Amanda Lear, Jayne County, Hard Ton, Jobriath, RuPaul, Sylvester, Divine, David Bowie, Prince, Liberace....

People
I tend to lean towards the alternative end of drag but it's important to be aware of other styles and innovating gender benders.

Queer
Leigh Bowery, David Hoyle, Klaus Nomi, Joey Arias, Vaginal Davis, The Bloo Lips, Lindsay Kemp,  Jackie Beat, Peaches Christ,  James St James...

Classic Drag/Female Impersonators
Danny La Rue, Regina Fong, Lily Savage, Dick Emery, Dame Edna Everage, Hinge and Bracket, Lady Bunny, Charles Pierce, Bugs Bunny...

Notes

Stonewall
Not just the name of an LGB charity who have excluded the trans community (cough) but a bar in New York. In 1969, on the day of Judy Garland's funeral, it was the drag queens and trans people of the Stonewall  Inn who had enough of police persecution and kicked off modern American gay liberation. More.

Polari
It was illegal to be gay in the UK until 1967 and many "theatrical" men adopted a private language known as polari to communicate in public places. Get the basics here so you can greet your chums with "How bona to vada your eek!" (How lovely to see your face).

British drag
Drag comes from Shakespeare. Women weren't allowed to act onstage so in the margins of the script, men were prompted to be D.R.A.G. (Dressed As A Girl). We also popularised men dressing as ladies in pantomime and ladies as boys in vaudeville.

Other cultures
Gender bending and transexualism isn't a western phenomenon. People have been cross dressing and transitioning since we climbed out of our caves. Many cultures recognise the third gender. In South Asia; Hijra, Thailand; Katoey, Native American Indian; Two-spirit or berdaches.
In India there's a fabulous type of drag called 
Kathakali and Japan, Kabuki. 

So there you go. Not an extensive list but a starter package. If there's something missing, don't pout, share it out.
She you down at Madame Jojos over the next eight weeks for RuPaul's Drag Race and if you want to perform in my open drag competition, all the details are over on the event page.
x