By Max Jimenez
This year’s Pride will be different for all of us. For most, it will be a solo celebration happening in living rooms and bedrooms around the world. That doesn’t mean it has to be any less of an occasion or less meaningful. The show will go on! We spoke with some of the gay talent who will be performing the digital pride events to see how they will celebrate this different but still awesome Pride year.
What are you most proud of this year?
David Hernandez, American Idol:
I’m super proud of the community of artists that have come through to support each other during this difficult time. Most of us make our money off of touring so we have had to adjust our ways of expressing ourselves and doing business.
Xcellence, Out Rapper
I’m proud of the love, perseverance and humanity I’ve seen from the community during this pandemic.
Lady Bunny, Comedian, “Cuntagious”
The recording studios I normally record in are closed until who knows when. So, I’m very proud of myself for buying a mic and learning Garageband’s software! It may not sound like much, but I’m the least tech-savvy queen there is. The only apps I know are appetizers!
Project Moses, Out Singer, “Better Man”
I’m proud of how my team and I accomplished and album that’s really beautiful and I can’t wait to share it with the world.
Jay MaQ, Out singer, “No Love”
Two things. One that I prepared for this year with plenty of music to release, and two, that I have been using the lockdown to create even more.
Michael Fairman, Out Singer, “Other Side”
I am most proud that I remained strong and vigilante during the coronavirus pandemic. I took the anxiety and threw it into my work with some cool music projects I would have never expected.
Big Dipper, Out Bear Rapper
I’m most proud of the fact that I’m still putting out music and videos. I’ve had to adjust how I perform, how I get to engage with my audience, but I’m proud that I was able to roll with the limitations and keep going.
Has the fight for LGBTQ equality advanced or fallen behind in the last year?
David Hernandez
I think in many ways we have advanced but we need to be more proactive in the voting process and elect people that have our LGBTQ rights at heart. People are still being killed or taking their own lives because of who they are.
Xcellence
When I can turn on HBO and watch Shangela break down barriers and walls all over Trump’s America on We’re Here, I would say yes, advances have been made. Of course, the battle is far from over!
Lady Bunny
I hear very few LGBTQ people making demands. They repeat catchphrases like #loveislove and think they’re being political. Around half of the states permit discrimination against LGBTQ folks in housing and/or employment. I hear more passionate pleas about Drag Race contestants from gay men than equality
Project Moses
The gay rights movement has had a lot to celebrate, but many anti-gay hate crimes are on the rise, and most likely under counted. I experienced it myself recently on the subway. I asked a man if I could take a seat next to him. He got up, punched me, and ran out the door shouting, “faggot”.
Jay MaQ
TV, music, politics, and social media are saturated with diversity so that is true advancement! It’s harder to discriminate against someone whose narrative you understand. We have to keep living out loud
Michael Fairman
I am worried how anti-gay bias has emerged through the COVID-19 pandemic. There are Supreme Court battles going on right now over frontline hospital workers in our community. The outbreak has been hard on LGBTQ African-Americans as well. Our country’s leadership has not helped.
Big Dipper
Our current landscape is grim and leadership is bigoted, but that doesn’t mean I’m not optimistic for big strides to come in the near future. Progress will happen, the bigots will die out, and change will continue to happen.
What is your pride message to the LGBTQ community this year?
David Hernandez
Stand tall, stay strong and be proud. Remember that we are always better in numbers and you can’t be protected if you hide in the dark. Be an advocate for change.
Xcellence
One word: “feel”. Everyone needs to feel again. Do what feels right, vote for who feels right, listen to the music that feels right. Don’t be fooled. Make them give you something you can feel!
Lady Bunny
Staying connected with members of our community is extra important now, if you’re going through it, text me your number. I have no counselor training whatsoever, but I guarantee that a few minutes on the phone with me will make you feel sane by comparison.
Project Moses
I was someone who struggled with my sexuality so my message to the community is to show compassion for those who are still trying to find themselves.
Jay MaQ
Never stop being who you are. That visibility is a part of our progress.
Michael Fairman
Let’s be good to each other and set an example as a unified front.
Big Dipper:
It’s important to stay home and be safe, but that doesn’t mean we need to be isolated emotionally. Reach out digitally to your communities, and be confident that we will come together again next year in person to really make some noise and have fun.
With November’s presidential election around the corner, what is your advice to the LGBTQ community?
David Hernandez
PLEASE F***ING VOTE!
Xcellence
Buckle up, buttercup!
Lady Bunny
Healthcare is a huge issue for our community due to expensive PREP and AIDS treatments, gender reassignment surgeries, and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. Time to hold politicians’ feet to the fire.
Project Moses
Get out there and make your voice heard!
Jay MaQ
It is time we reclaim our beautiful country!
Michael Fairman
VOTE! We have to change the course of America and get a true ally in the white house who does not discount the LGBTQ community or any other minority groups.
Big Dipper If you’ve never voted before, get registered. Find out who your representatives are, your local leadership positions, and vote for those who you believe will represent us fairly and equally. Your voice is important and your vote matters.
Catch Lady Bunny’s Infectious Humor in a New Downloadable Comedy Special
Debuting June 5th
By Matthew Blanco
In her new comedy show, Cunt-agious, demented drag diva Lady Bunny shamelessly interrupts your isolation in an attempt to give what may be your last laugh before the apocalypse. Premiering Friday, June 5th at 8PM at VossEvents.com, Bunny’s raucous Laugh-In inspired joke routine will go from deranged to filthy, with Bunny showing off her signature dance moves (well, the ones the old gal didn’t forget decades ago). With an emphasis on COVID-19 humor, expect brand new song parodies from artists as varied as Lizzo, Justin Bieber and Madonna. Drag sensation Christeene will join Bun-Bun for a duet of her updated version of Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is” and Bunny’s gal pal RuPaul will get worked over in a parody of “Sissy That Walk” called “Sissy That Cough.” Three new skits will show off Bunny’s comedic chops in non-musical ways and showcase the hilarity of co-writer Beryl Mendelbaum. Can Lady Bunny’s COVID clowning be categorized as too soon or too early? Only one way to find out!
Lady Bunny is best known for creating Wigstock, the outrageous festival of love, peace and hair grease which became the subject of two documentaries: Samuel Goldwyn’s Wigstock The Movie in 1995 and HBO’s Wig in 2019.
While she has enjoyed hosting both of Werq The World’s livestreams with Bianca Del Rio, Cunt-agious is Bunny’s first full-length online offering during self-isolation. “I’ve downed some special loads, but I’ve never downloaded a special!” she quips. “When your income involves audiences and dance floors packed together tightly, then your income has stopped for the foreseeable future. And my wigs are too mammoth to permit me to fit onto a Facebook live video format.”
She’s trying something new with Cunt-agious; she even wrote a theme song for it! And as viewers will soon see in this new “viral” video, Bunny’s hefty talents have grown even larger—thanks to the fact that she’s an excellent cook. Get ready to laugh your masks off! And for all those dying for a glimpse of Bunny out of drag, this is your moment.
Masks and mascara make a great combination, along with four giant wigs and twelve costume changes packed into 35 minutes. This floozy offers unhinged Tips to Survive A Pandemic, and a visit to a fake newsroom for headlines we’d all like to see.
Laughter, not Clorox, is the best medicine, so tune in on Friday, June 5th at 8PM for an overdose of it. Tickets are $9.99 and available at VossEvents.com.
