AND NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON :: “I’m a trans feminine queer person in the US. Where one party’s whole election campaign has been about the extermination of me and my community… The successes I’ve experienced … I did not think possible. Now these things are happening, and it’s this weird dichotomy of being the talk of Broadway but to walk down the street after a show and feel like I could get murdered. It’s scary to walk to your show where you know you’re the star, and be like, ‘I am not safe on this ten block walk because there are people who are emboldened by this political party who are encouraging them to take all of their aggressions out on me and my community.’ I can’t believe the hype about me right now, because it’s dangerous for me to walk down the street confidently because I might attract the attention of the wrong person.” – Jinkx Monsoon
So began our pre-US election conversation with drag superstars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme as they readied themselves to hit the road, touring their riotous annual holiday show, “The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” (click here for cities and dates.) Jinkx was referring of course to the insane trajectory her career has had post winning both her RuPaul’s Drag Race seasons: A villain on Dr. Who; breaking box-office records during her time in Chicago; starring in Little Shop of Horrors; slated to appear in concert this coming Valentine’s Day at Carnagie Hall … all juxtaposed against the reality of living life as a trans person.
The conversation wasn’t all bleak, however, the pair talked about why they are boldly taking their tour to notoriously red states (“we go where we’re needed”) and how working together has made them better all round, as well as what to expect in this year’s iteration of their universally loved holiday spectacle. Watch now:
Image credit: Jacob Ritts
