INDULGENCES performologyby jared cox FOR X-TRA RETARDED: RATED X
LADY BUNNY
With her glitzy outfits, sky-high wigs, and false eyelashes long enough to embarrass even Tammy Faye Bakker, Lord rest her soul, multi-talented drag superstar Lady Bunny would turn heads even if looking glamorous was her only talent. However, this isn’t just another dude in a dress; Bunny is a successful comedienne, emcee, singer, songwriter, actress, DJ and, most famously, the founder, organizer and hostess of Wigstock, the outrageous festival of drag and music that delighted up to 40,000 New Yorkers every Labor Day for nearly 20 years!
A FEW OF
1. Favorite Food Pad Thai
2. Favorite Place to Shop Any wig store.
3. Favorite Place to Hang Out in L.A. Baja Fresh! I have never eaten better food from a chain.
4. Favorite Movie The Killing Of Sister George—a largely forgot- ten, very twisted dyke drama from the same director as Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?
5. Favorite Book Little Me by Patrick Dennis (who wrote Auntie Mame)
6. Favorite Drag Queen I love many queens for many different rea- sons, but if I had to choose one that I wanted to see a whole show by it would be Jackie Beat. She’s hysterical and very smart. (And big-headed so don’t tell her I said this.)
BUNNY’S FAVORITE THINGS:
Talented, glamorous, and funny as hell, The “Lady”
Bunny is a glittering comet hurtling toward planet Show Biz. Brace yourself for impact.
The Rage Monthly: How did you get started in the “drag world?” Lady Bunny: As a child, my dad wouldn’t let me blow him unless I got in drag. KIDDING! I dabbled in drag throughout my childhood and I was involved in theater and ballet. So there was always an affinity for costumes and make-up. I moved in with RuPaul in Atlanta in 1983, so she was really my drag mother.
Rage: What are you most proud of? LB: I’m proud of founding and organizing Wigstock,
the NYC outdoor drag festival that ran for about 20 years. And my favorite thing about the event was that it wasn’t a competition. America is so obsessed with who is the best singer, dancer, chef, who can lose the most weight, who can shove the most bugs in their mouth. Every other show deals with this played-out format. At
Wigstock, queens would definitely strive to do their best because they were performing for a larger audience, but I’m glad that it wasn’t about competition. I prefer to think that different performers excel in different ways—one doesn’t have to be the winner.
Rage: What is your most embarrassing moment as an enter- tainer? LB: Is this a feature-length article because there are so many! I once slipped on some liquid onstage while performing the theme from Wonder Woman. I got up and finished the number with outstretched arms. Well, one arm anyway. The other was broken!
Rage: Who is your idol? LB: I don’t really idolize people the way others do but
my favorite performer is Patti Labelle. She’s a real show- stopper with an amazing voice and stage presence. Having met her a few times, I can honestly tell you that the warmth she radiates from stage is real.
Rage: How would your friends describe you? LB: Before or after I pay back the money I’ve borrowed
from them?
Rage: How did your family react to “Lady Bunny?” LB: My family is quite liberal and has always supported
equal rights for gays, so they couldn’t really turn around and slam me when I turned out to be a big flamer. They always told me that I could be anything I wanted when I grew up. I sensed the pressure that other kids got from their parents and kept asking mine “Don’t you want me to be a doctor or lawyer?” They always repeated, “Do whatever makes you happy.” Now they say, “Boy, you really called our bluff!”
Lady Bunny will be in West Hollywood for a very special edition of Sassy at Here! Lounge on October 11. Doors open at 9:00 p.m.
Lady Bunny actress, deejay, singer/ songwriter, comedienne, ho
ladybunny.net/ or
myspace.com/ladybunnymusic
70
RAGE monthly | OCTOBER 2010
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