2012 was … interesting. In the drag world we saw drama, cheaters, drama, liars, drama, pageants won, drama, pageants lost, drama, threats made, drama, brotherhood, drama, bullying and did I mention drama? Actually, if you were to replace 2012 with any other year it would really be about the same. Some of the above shocked me. Some of it didn’t. Some of it didn’t shock me, but the extent of some of it did. A lot of what happened last year left the Arizona drag king community fractured, and it will be a long time healing.
There were some highlights in 2012, however:
In June I planned a show that was such a hit, it turned into a monthly themed show, featuring title holders and award winners, and some of the best kings in town. The Spotlight shows will continue into 2013, and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling on it, raising the bar higher and higher as we go. We performed at Rainbows Festival and received an amazing response!
I received 3 community awards that meant a great deal to me as an entertainer, and as someone who has been a part of this community for so long; the Echo Readers Choice Award for Outstanding Drag King, the Brandon Packer Spirit Award from Phoenix Pride and the Arizona Drag Diamond Crystal Award for Male Impersonator of the Year. As I mentioned in a previous blog, awards like this mean far more than a title won in a pageant, and I’d like to thank this community again.
During the summer I was the first king to take the stage during Celia Putty’s Freaky Friday at Friends, which was an immense honour. She was a queen I admired before then, and my admiration has only grown since.
I have seen so many true colours in people, some positive, some not so positive, and made the conscious decision to cut out those out who served no positive purpose in my life. I decided that drama and negativity will no longer be tolerated and I would be more vocal about it. Basically, in 2013 I will start calling you out on your shit. This year is a year full of possibilities and I plan on making the most of as many as I can. Who knows, there may even be a competition or two in my future.
I’m ready to take this year by the horns.
While I cannot see the future, I can see a few things on the horizon, and what I see is a little scary, but good. I’m ready for whatever 2013 decides to throw at me, and I’m coming out swinging!