What do you want to do when you grow up? When I grow up, I’m going to be a
hair and makeup artist. I want to be a judge onRuPaul’s Drag Race really bad. I also want to keep being an LGBTQ advocate. I might want to get married and have kids – but that sounds expensive and right now I’m broke. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? If I could change one thing in the
C.J. DURON EMBRACING HIS RAINBOW by joel martens
We think C.J.’s story is an important one. It’s special because his situation is unique,
yes, but to us it’s not because of the way he dresses or identifies. We think it’s because of the way he lives his life and how his parents are brave enough to love him just as he is and support him as just the person he is. Being unique adds color to the world and without people who think differently,
there wouldn’t be great art and music, scientific discoveries, space travel or any of the other things thought impossible. All of which were done because someone saw the world differently…It’s all about possibilities, not about limitations. Albert Einstein once said, “The person who follows the crowd will usually go no
further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever seen before.”
We had the chance to chat with C.J., now 11,
about what it’s like to be “gender fluid,” what the future holds and what it feels like to be the Orange County Pride Grand Marshal for 2018.
What is your favorite thing about being C.J.? My favorite thing about being myself is my personality because it’s weird, funky, crazy, different and fun. I like all sorts of things – mainly unicorns and anything rose gold color. If you were my friend, you would think I was crazy, funny, outgoing, talkative and not your average person. What has been the most challenging thing for you? The most challenging thing for me are bullies
and people who are conservative. Bullies are mean, they make me feel sick, sad, depressed, like I have no power and like I’m worthless. No one likes to feel the way bullies make them feel. Conservative people give me dirty looks if I’m
wearing a rainbow pin or dancing in the grocery store or correct them when they misgender me. Do you feel that you are unique, or are you just being you? I feel both. I feel like I am just being me and I
am unique. Everyone is unique in their own way. I think I’m just unique in a way that people can see more. What do you want people to know about you the most? I want people to know that I’m a good person
and that I’m proud of who I am. I am gender creative and a member of the LGBTQ commu- nity. I want to be an advocate and a leader and change things for the LGBTQ community. I want to change how people view us. Is there something that you hope people will “get” by having heard your story? I hope people learn that it’s okay to be
different…no matter how you are different. Having people who are different in your life is fun, not scary or bad.
world, it would be that all LGBTQ people would feel safe and be safe and have equal rights. How much fun is it being at the LGBT Pride events? Pride events are so amazing, it feels
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I’M A GOOD PERSON AND THAT I’M PROUD OF WHO I AM. I AM GENDER CREATIVE AND A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY. I WANT TO BE AN ADVOCATE AND A LEADER AND CHANGE THINGS FOR THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.”
like you are inside of a rainbow and unicorns are singing and dancing and throwing glitter in the air. In other words, Pride is extremely fun. Pride events are 10 out of 10 on the fun scale. I’m very excited to be a Grand Marshal. I hope I get to meet a lot of people and take pictures with them. Do you have a favorite story from any of the events you’ve been at? I had the best cotton candy at O.C.
Pride last year. It was HUGE. You can have any color you want and you can have edible glitter on it. My dad got me rainbow cotton candy with so much glitter.
THE FUN STUFF: Favorite color?Rose Gold Favorite television show? RuPaul’s Drag Race. Something you do every day that makes you happy? Being creative. I like to make up routines on the silks, make up dance routines and pretend like I’m in the circus or at Pride. Who is your hero? Harvey Milk, Bob the Drag Queen, RuPaul and my parents. If you could meet anyone to hang out with, who would it be? RuPaul and Harvey Milk. If you could pick anyone as a best friend, who would it be? My best girl friends who I already have.
JUNE 2018 | RAGE monthly 27
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