JACK SCREW
(Jack) Absolutely. I am thinking a lot about the early studying I did of drag. I was so fortunate to have learned from Lahore—I just love, oh, I do love her.
And she, in and out of drag, is so brilliant. And, you know, she instilled in all of the children that drag is super political. And it cuts to the intersection of all your identities. I have loved exploring how I can amplify that. My drag mother produces an all–Southeast Asian annual performance that I help out at, and I love to see that. And I think, what can I do that uplifts my culture?
I think Jack is Jewish too, and I want to get into figuring that out more. Yeah. I like to do drag that I feel drawn to do for political reasons.
Like, I wanted to do that performance where I did T for a really long time. I was like, “Yeah, now is the time.” And it felt very much like—oh yes, I’ve been thinking about this, and this is a part of my identity that I want to showcase. And how can I achieve a message through something fun? I wanted to communicate the power of community, and hearing other people’s shared experiences on social media, and using that as power to self-actualize. I wanted to communicate how empowering HRT is—and how easy it is. And doing that through performance felt very ripe.
And that’s something I was really proud of, because that is always what I’m trying to communicate: some form of liberation, or a feeling of freeness. Even if it’s just, look at me doing masculinity in a way—yeah—that is safe, and inviting, and different for us all to experience.
(Jack) Yes. And I think some people take it to heart more than others. And I think, like, the idea of escapism can be powerful. And I love drag that’s super escapist—super just like, mm-hmm. Like, I remember going to see a drag performance after… after Inauguration. Yeah. And—this was at Stonewall—and I don’t remember which queen it was. Oh, one of the usuals. Doing her ’70s disco, windmill-pose, death-droppy shit.
And then she stopped halfway through and was like, “Hey guys…” I don’t even know what she said, but it was essentially like, “Oh, I know—it’s a crazy, weird night, right?” And everyone was like, “Yeah!” And then—oh my god, I forget what song she did. It was so good. I think it was one of those ’80s power ballads.
One of those… like—it wasn’t I Will Survive, but it was something like that. Maybe it was I Will Survive! And it was a thing, because—yeah—it was so… You know, she continued her spiel of the classic drag queen, mm-hmm, whatever—park and bark, lip-sync with your mouth all fucking weird, your glittery dress—but she acknowledged, like, we’re in this tough moment, and I’m gonna sing us a power ballad.
So powerful to just acknowledge, “We’re in this tough time, and I’m gonna do my drag thing, and just sit with the emotions. And we’re gonna escape to the disco times.” So you can do it like that. Yeah. And you don’t have to hit someone over the head with like, “I’m literally doing HRT to prove that it’s accessible and beautiful.” You can just go up there and say, “You know what? We’re having a shit time. Yeah. I look great. Sing it with me now.” Like—I love that.
(Jack) Yeah, on the floor just gazing up. Tears, tears—it was so good. Power drag—the power of drag—and the power of someone being like… You know, I know this is a little silly goofy to do right now, but yeah, fuck it like.