Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret by Leila J. Rupp Verta Taylor

Author:Leila J. Rupp, Verta Taylor [Leila J. Rupp, Verta Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780226326566
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 2015-08-24T00:00:00+00:00

Kylie, “Queen of the Night” (photo by the authors)

Kylie dancing on a table (photo by the authors)

The shows are profoundly political (or politically incorrect, as Scabby’s show is billed), and this is no coincidence. “What we’re gonna do is try to open these people’s minds,” Kylie announces at the “Sex Show.” He asks a German tourist if he is straight, and the man replies that he’s normal. “Normal!” cries Kylie. “I’m normal; you’re weird.” David tells us that he introduces “I Am What I Am” in the way that he does in order to educate straight people. “I think by seeing what they see and being there, they see a part of the gay community they may not in their own towns or even cities. ’Cause they’re not gonna go to gay bars.” He also does the number for the gay audience. “Most of the time, what I do is, I’ll look at straight people, but I focus on the gays and lesbians in the audience. And I watch their reaction, and it’s terrific, ’cause you see, there’s pride—this is an anthem of sorts.”

They talk about “Queen Nation,” and one of their backdrops depicts the New York City skyline and the Stonewall Inn, with “Queen Nation” scrawled on the side of the building. Margo’s show “Stonewall Tuesdays” opens with a little historical lecture. On June 29, 1999, Margo begins:

Welcome to the “Stonewall Show”! As you know, thirty years ago this past Sunday, there was a revolution in New York City at the Stonewall Bar. At that time, gays and lesbians were harassed by the police every night—taken up in paddy wagons and arrested. One night the patrons said, “We’ve had enough.” And they rebelled. That rebellion led to the modern gay and lesbian revolution which continues to this day. Because of those brave men and women back in New York on June 27, 1969, we are able to sit here tonight—gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, transsexual, transgenderal, whatever, and enjoy a show. Ladies and gentlemen, this show is dedicated to the people thirty years ago who said, “We’ve had enough!”

Three days later Sushi gave her version. “You don’t know what Stonewall was? It was a bunch of drag queens back in 1969, a whole bunch of drag queens were at this club and they said, ‘Screw you. We’re gonna be drag queens,’ and they tried to arrest them. And the drag queens revolted. So it was my people who got the movement started. So don’t forget about the drag queens.”

One Christmas night Sushi was especially irreverent, claiming Jesus as a drag queen and calling for Christian love. “And whose birthday is it?” he would say, raising his eyes to the heavens. “Did Jesus wear pants? No, he wore a frock. And did he hang out with a bunch of men? Yes!” And later: “Now remember, it’s his birthday. It means you love everybody, no matter where they stick it.”

They talk about the gay and lesbian movement, AIDS, gay marriage, discrimination. Milla

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