So as you all know my hometown has birthed the country’s first drag king troupe –Bros B4 Ho’s earlier this year. If you’re not in the loop, click here. Show your love every Thursday at Bubbles Bar.
A few months ago we wondered if Cape Town had any drag kings and we had an intimate gathering/pow-wow/drinks with friends at home to talk about the possibly of a culture of drag kings being cultivated in the city/village of our Mother City.
We have a thriving drag queen culture (hey Jujubee even came down to judge one of our drag queen pageants last year). Cape Town’s first drag bar was the Brunswick Bar that was around only in the mid-90s and working behind the bar there just happened to be my first job, fresh out of school.
But drag kings. Lets just say that drag kings are unheard of round these here parts.
Ok, so some of the buddies we had over were open to performing and those who were sceptical were of the thinking that: Yes, I a lesbian but that doesn’t translate into me wanting to be a male impersonator!
BUT
Since then we’ve seen the birth of St Dude, who goes by the tagline of Cape Town’s smoothest live rapping drag king. He writes his own lyrics and now has a regular Friday night slot at Cape Town’s only drag bar – Bubbles.
St Dude - "Cape Town's smoothest live rapping drag king"
Our one and only Johnny Deep, who was the poster king for our original call for drag kings, has since graced us with an act that is backed up a voice so unique and talented it is breathtaking.
Johnny Deep
Then we had a one-night-only spoof Barry ‘Jas Right’ White act by Yvette Fredericks who shed her homemade fat suit afterwards to break out some moves as Chris Brown in a rendition of Deuces.
Barry 'Jas Right' White
Daniel Fox also got in touch to say we should expect a comeback show soon.
NOW…St Dude is looking to form a troupe! If you’re in Cape Town on 1 April (haha, no really) and think that this could be up your alley, you can discuss the idea with him at this gathering.
Drag kings have a rich and fascinating history:
Click on the pic to see more pics from the same era.
Hetty King (real name: Winifred Emms)
Olive Thomas in a man's suit.
Supermodel Christy Turlington butching it up.
Wouldn’t it be awesome for this legacy to re/born in Cape Town and for you to be part of it, whether through supporting the acts or getting on stage yourself?
Janine and Kelly
I love Pride! I march in gratitude for all those who came before me – for it is their determination that paved the way for my lifestyle and the liberty of it. I march for living in a country where my rights are recognised and I do not have to suffer any persecution for it. I march to show solidarity with my community. I march for safety for all – against prejudice, inequality, hate-crimes and corrective rape. I march to show queer youth they are not alone.
Cape Town Pride Parade 2011
Cape Town Pride ‘in an ideal world’ belongs to everyone and as a NGO it should operate in a transparent fashion. For Cape Town Pride 2012 this is not the case. I attended a planning meeting last week and in the circles of Pride’s organising team it was discouraged to reflect on last year(?!) Why, when a committee was elected last year and should be held accountable? The information as to WHY it is in debt of more than R100-000 is privy to those considered higher up in the city’s LGBTI food chain. I encountered this at last week’s Thursday’s meeting. In a room of less than 30 people I sat in disbelief. If we, the people, are signing up to make Pride happen this year why can it not be disclosed what we are up against with the current debt? This did not sit well with me. Why keep some of us in the dark? A year has gone by and I can certainly not believe the books have not been balanced yet.
Media partners have been established with the exception of radio but no sponsors. A proposed event planner has been listed to meet print media deadlines. No community organizations or NGO’s have committed thus far.
Most events are focused on the gay village and city centre currently. Events include the customary kick-off PRIDE POOL PARTY at The Glen Boutique Hotel on 25 February. This is Out Africa Magazine’s baby to draw the crowd’s attention early to the fundraising plight. Then it’s THE RED PARTY on 2 March. The concept is based on the venue donating the door charge of R30 to the Pride fund or doing cocktail specials in non-charging venues. Last year R40 000 was raised – the money spinner. Why on the official Cape Town Pride website are only the gay village venues mentioned when in the meeting the two venues outside of the village that cater for the LGBTI community were also mentioned as confirmed for inclusion?
My mother at Pride '11 as The Queen of Hearts
THE PRIDE PAGEANT will be held on 3 March. The venue and prizes to be confirmed. Last year’s pageant queen Zilin Zhang heads up the team with Pride’s Dominic Kessell and city drag diva Odidiva. This annual event is a call for all drag queens and muscle mary’s 18 years old and up for the MR and MS titles. I love it! Do however wish it evolves to include drag kings in the near future. I think drag events should also require a time keeper. “Drag-time” is scary! Last year, I was at the event on time, waited another 1,5 hours for it to start, only to get out 5 hours later! No wonder it is popular belief the drag queens don’t make it to the city’s clubs after the event –THEY ARE EXHAUSTED!
On 4 March there’s a BOYS-ONLY TRIP to Tulbagh, Priscilla-Queen-of-the-desert style, I think with Gay Flag SA involved. Malmesbury was also mentioned. Taking Pride to neighbouring small town folk. This should do well running on the success of their trip through the country last year that ended at Jo’burg Pride. Beefcakes will be hosting a PRIDE COMEDY NIGHT on this day.
The week ahead has 3 shows titled DAMES, DIVAS AND DRAGS at the city’s firstand only drag bar, Bubbles Bar. This of course is going to be fabulous, featuring the dame of the house, Lola Lou, the winner of the Golden Heel Award, Sonja, and a rising drag king, St Dude. Rumour has it previous venue On Broadway did not hand over the cash so graciously. Naughty naughty!
Dragging it up
On 6 March there will be THE INTERFAITH SERVICE followed by the BEACH SUNSET PICNIC at Clifton. Lara Aucamp heads up THE PRIDE BOOK AFFAIR on 8 March. The same day Beaulah Bar will be hosting its girls-only open mic session. THE PHOTO EXPO is at Switch Dance Bar on 9 March. This calls on community photographers to donate work to raise funds. Amsterdam Action Bar does their boys’ night on the same night.
The PARADE and OFFICIAL AFTER-PARTY are taking place on 10 March. In the meeting at this point the politics raised its ugly head. One of the owners of Crew Bar made the suggestion to make the parade later, as opposed to midday. He was met with strong opposition as it goes against the principle reason why we march –TO CREATE AWARENESS. By moving it to say 6pm how would we achieve this objective? We will be excluding the greater community, who sadly are opposed to what Pride is and is becoming. We may as well only have an after-party. Have we really come to that? This is also the same owner who apparently did not know what happened to R27 000 worth of alcohol left over from last year and stored on his premises just before Christmas. Before departing the meeting he raised a very important point –The Pride Shelter. There was no mention of it from the organisers. The Pride Shelter was started a few years ago from the money that was raised but unfortunately in the current climate there has been very little support.
As for the After-Party, I sense the village gay venue owners may push their weight around but I haven’t heard of any financial commitments in this regard. It is leaning toward a closed-off street party in front of Crew Bar & Bronx bearing in mind cost and city regulations. The Pride calendar closes with The Pride Service at Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church the next day.
Just over an hour later, the meeting was drawing to a close as we put our names down on various lists made up of what was still required to do – sponsorship, working the door at the Red Party, the Parade and the After-Party.
Cape Town Pride '11
I am most grateful to the souls Luiz Delaja and Dominic Kessell for putting up their hands to save Cape Town Pride. To the partners getting it off the ground – it is truly admirable. And I understand it is no small task. Especially being handed over the huge debt with no committee and very, very little time. This is evident in the lack of creativity of the line-up since it seems as if there is no time to explore. There is so much to do that this year’s Pride is comfortable not to look beyond the city centre’s walls. This I fear may in time to come ensure a divide very similar to Johannesburg hosting separate Pride calenders eg Soweto Pride.
I am up to doing my bit and this is not – as I was asked at the meeting – in managing or, better yet, manning a food stall at the After-Party. That is SO not how this is going to go down. I am confident I have more than my hands to offer. I’m still putting my ducks in a row and hope to finalise my plans soon. Something for the community I call home –as a butch woman living the lifestyle as part of the queer family. Something that I hope will encourage inclusion, participation and not draw lines of segregation. Keep you posted…
Johnny Deep spotted at Bubbles Bar
Ok, so Cape Town is overflowing with stunning drag queens but where, oh where, are the drag kings hiding? Johnny Deep came out of the woodwork and made a visit to Bubbles Bar last week but I know sexy Johnny can’t be the only drag king out there.
So here’s the deal: Even if you have NEVER done drag kinging before, I’d love to see more drag kings surface before Cape Town Pride next year. Send me photos of yourself as a drag king, videos of yourself performing or questions you may have about how to start and I’ll share them here if you give me permission. I’ll try to get the best answers to your questions from practising drag kings and promise not to let anyone jack off to your pics/vids! Let’s all repeat after me kids: *nurturing space*nurturing space*nurturing space*
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there were enough submissions for the best ones to be part of a first-of-its-kind drag king performance at the same time as Cape Town Pride next February?
TheButchLife 