03x02 - Jackson, Mississippi

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> Thank you.

Thank you very much.

♪ ♪

>> Okay!

Come on, this looks cute.

>> Oh, I left my guitar.

>> They got some in here, girl.

>> Are y'all ready to join the

Party?

>> Are they all ready for us?

>> How are y'all?

>> Hey!

>> Oh, my goodness.

♪ ♪

>> Hey!

[Applause]

>> The hoochie mamas.

[Cheers and applause]

>> Deep in the south.

>> I am from georgia.

And mississippi.

>> I am a hug or.

>> Get my t*tties near you.

>> You can be a drag queen.

>> Are we the first drag queen?

>> Amazing, I love that.

>> The blues don't discriminate.

>> May be a slower song in my

Heart.

♪ Down to jackson, mississippi,

♪ You know I made you a

Sandwich ♪

♪ And a little bit of sweet tea

Tea ♪

♪ I will be your sweet tea ♪

♪ I will be your sweetie ♪

♪ Sweet, sweet, sweet tea ♪

♪ ♪

>> Mississippi.

>> There is definitely this feel

Of the '50s, '60s, blues,

Jazz, you can tell there's a lot

Of music here.

A lot of art.

>> There is definitely a mix of

People here, but I don't always

See the people mixing.

♪ ♪

>> Mississippi has a history.

Very long and torrid history

With racism, with oppression,

And it is not just history, by

The way.

It is still and a lot of forms

Today.

Even though we are in jackson,

The biggest town in mississippi,

It is still in mississippi.

[Laughs]

♪ ♪

>> My name is mark payton.

I am 27 years old, and I live in

Jackson, mississippi.

I came here to jackson for

Graduate school, to obtain my

Masters in vocal performance and

Pedagogy.

I grew up pentecostal, which is

Very conservative religion.

[Laughs]

Both of my parents were

No-nonsense, no b.s., They are

Very direct, they are not really

Emotion-based.

And with my older brothers, they

Kind of were molded to be these

Tough, like, manly guys, and

Here I come flamboyant and

Emotional and I cry a lot.

I like bright colors.

With my dark skin, I think it

Will look great.

>> I was deemed as soft, so

There was not really room or

Permission for me to live my

Truth.

It was really hard.

>> Taste if it needs anything.

>> I don't know if my parents

Support my gayness, because we

Never talk about it.

That is why I take it upon

Myself to make sure that I have

My chosen family.

That's what I am trying to

Create here in jackson,

Mississippi.

Community.

♪ ♪

[Knocking]

>> Hello!

Oh, my god.

Hi!

>> Hello!

>> Oh, this is awesome.

>> I am so happy you are here.

>> Are you from this area?

>> No, I am from louisiana.

>> And you are a singer?

>> Opera singer.

>> Oh, really?

>> Being that I moved from a

Very liberal school, coming to a

Very southern baptist, private

Christian school, I was like,

What did I just stepped into?

I felt so out of place.

There were not a lot of people

Of color within my department

Fearful I was literally be,

Like, chocolate spec in a glass

Appointment.

>> Wow.

Did you shield parts of yourself

In order to keep the peace?

>> Absolutely.

Black, g*y boy seen as a myth.

People think we are all thin and

Femme and flamboyant.

>> I am femme and flamboyant and

Extra and loud.

>> Right, and that is perfectly

Okay.

But I feel like the majority

Tolerate g*y white males more

Than they do g*y people of

Color.

If you are black and we have to

Be hard, you have to be tough,

You have to be straight passing.

>> So you don't feel there is a

Place here for the black g*y

Experience in jackson that is

Supported?

>> Jackson is very black, but it

Is still racially divided.

Even within the lgbt community.

I am all about diversity and

Inclusion, and so I started to

Get involved with jackson city

Pride, all of these

Organizations trying to make

Mississippi more equitable for

Everyone, and I am like, what

Can I do to eradicate this

Problem?

Because most of my friends are

Mixed.

Like, I have black friends,

White friends, and that is why I

Do the work I do, so everybody

Is comfortable being themselves

Come authentically, that they

Don't have to put on a show.

>> Well, just in this short time

We have been able to connect, I

Can tell you now, the fact you

Are who you are, as an

Intelligent, black, g*y, leader

In this community, and a very

Talented artist, as well, you

Get to represent that here.

That means something.

We going to do this.

>> I mean, hallelu!

[Laughs]

♪ ♪

[Knocking]

>> Hi!

How are you?

May I come in?

>> Yes, you may.

>> How are you?

I am bob.

Nice to meet you.

>> Nice to meet you, too.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

I am so excited.

Hey, I am so excited to be back

In the south.

Specifically mississippi.

I kind of have a love-hate

Relationship with mississippi.

I think it is most we love.

>> You think so?

>> We're going to find out.

[Laughter]

>> Have you lived here your

Whole life?

>> Majority of my life, yes.

>> Mississippi has been a

Whirlwind.

Depending on how you want to

Look at it.

>> How do you identify?

>> I identify as q*eer.

I always use q*eer because it is

Just so all-encompassing.

I don't know how I identify come

Honestly, I just know I like him

And it is nobody's business if

Identify to you are not.

>> Mm-hmm.

Have you ever said to yourself

Or anyone that you are a man?

Or a q*eer person?

>> People, they know I am a mess

End.

>> Msm?

>> Men who sleep with men.

>> I never heard that before.

>> They don't use g*y or

l*sbian.

>> Does g*y or q*eer make you

Feel uncomfortable, those terms

Or phrases?

>> It use to.

Being q*eer, raised in the

Church.

>> Baptist or pentecostal?

>> Pentecostal.

My childhood was very, very hard

To, very dark.

I've tried a lot of years trying

To forget.

About a lot of things that

Happened.

And my family found out I was

g*y, I got an exorcism.

>> They tried to exorcize you?

>> All through my childhood,

Tried small things to have a

Late night prayer, just all type

Of things, and I did not

Understand why.

I didn't know I had ... I didn't

Know any of that.

Going to that church, talking

About, "you got to get out of

Here!"

He was praying for me.

Up there like this, praying for

Me.

I was like, you know what, I am

Done.

>> How old are you?

Are you a teenager or?

>> When I left home, I was 16

Going on 17.

>> You ever seen your family

Since then?

>> I have seen them once, and it

Was a bad run in.

We get there, me and my

Fiance ...

>> Who?

>> James, my fiance.

>> Got it.

>> I walk in, my grandfather

Know my grandfather behind me,

What is that?

I don't want no punk sh*t in my

House, y'all f*ggots have to go.

>> In front of everybody?

>> Yes.

>> No one ever stood up?

No one in the family was like,

Hey ...

>> No.

Not one.

>> I think that, a lot of times,

As black southerners, we are

Really taught, family above

Everything.

Blood no matter what.

>> No, I don't believe that.

>> I agree with you.

>> I was vulnerable as a child,

Had no other choice to be

Vulnerable, now as an adult I

Have a choice and I want to

Protect my vulnerability and

Peace at all cost.

I'm not going to give you the

Opportunity to hurt me or make

Me feel less than again.

That's not going to happen.

>> When you feel like the people

Who raised you, they are

Supposed to be the ones who are

There for you no matter what.

When those people, not just shun

You, but shun you with threats

Of violence, just for being

Yourself, that has to have a

Massive impact on your psyche.

It has to.

>> So where do you go for family

Business?

>> My cousins.

>> Are you close to your

Cousins?

>> Yes, very close.

>> Do they know?

>> Yes.

>> Have they met james?

>> No.

>> It sounds like ... It sounds

Like a lot of people from your

Past, it seems like you didn't

Really have any positive q*eer

Influences or takes on queerness

At all.

Does that sound accurate?

>> Yes and no.

My fiance does drag.

>>!

>> But he didn't tell me until

About four years into a stating.

>> How do you hide drag for four

Years?

>> Oh, he did.

>> You didn't find lipstick,

High heel, rhinestone?

[Laughs]

>> He tried to bring it to me.

After that I did not talk to him

For two or three months.

>> Why not?

>> I was afraid of drag queen's

Vehicle used to be scared of

Them.

>> Why are you so scared of drag

Queen's?

>> So over-the-top, I do not

Like over the top.

I like simple, classy.

>> We are doing drag, obviously,

But it is really not about the

Drag.

It is really just about

Amplifying your voice, telling

Your story.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> You can find this by

Yourself.

>> It is an emotional

Roller coaster.

I'm not going to lie to you.

>> Do you have any fears about

This week?

>> Um...

I don't know.

I don't know what to expect.

♪ ♪

[Engine revving]

♪ ♪

>> Those are always hungry.

>> What's up?

My name is chris valentine, I am

34 Years old.

Honestly, my brand is

Respectfully giving zero f*ck.

I love to ride motorcycles,

sh**t g*ns, smoke weed, you

Know, wrapping and singing, and

Also drink a lot of beer.

[Laughs]

>> sh*t smells good.

Definitely got a punch to it,

You know what I am saying?

>> I am just comfortable with

Myself and my sexuality because,

Like, I mean ... Me specifically,

I like women.

[Laughs]

But I think early on, I didn't

Understand or know how to be

Open-minded, especially in a

Really small town.

You would know half a dozen, you

Know, g*y people, maybe.

♪ ♪

>> Oh, my god.

Come on, green heart.

>> Yo!

>> Knock-knock.

>> Hey, I am chris.

>> Oh, my god, chris, hello.

>> Nice to meet you.

>> I see marijuana.

>> It is more cbd-based.

>> I love that.

Weed is fun, so is drag.

I am here because you are going

To be joining me for a drug

Performance.

>> Yep.

>> How do you feel about that?

>> Terrified.

>> Why?

>> Well, it is just different.

I am all about having a good

Time.

>> Why do you want to do it?

>> Why do I want to do it?

I wouldn't say I want to do

It ...

>> Okay.

>> I'm going to do it.

>> That is what I want to hear,

The truth.

>> I don't want to do it.

I am scared, I am terrified.

>> I'm not going to make you g*y

By doing this.

>> No, you ain't.

>> You are still a straight man

At the end of the day.

You're just going to be a

Straight man in a week.

>> I am definitely wearing a

Wig?

>> Trust me, you going to be a

Bad b*tch, okay?

How is your family?

Are they supportive?

>> I am pretty close to my dad.

>> Yeah?

>> And my brother.

I just have my dad and my

Brother.

>> You don't have your mother?

>> I lost my mother last year.

>> I lost mine two years ago.

>> I'm sorry to hear that.

>> What was your mom's name

Cosmic >> jane.

>> My mom is eureka.

That is where I got my name.

>> That's awesome.

My mom was a speech pathologist

And her thing was always to say,

I love you.

>> Like this?

>> Yeah.

>> Oh, I love it.

It's okay.

Our moms are so important to us.

Him >> and I feel like I've

Tried to, like, you know, just d

That dominant female energy in

My life, and I have struggled

With it.

So, like ...

>> The good thing is, your mom

Can be somebody that you pull

Into this character, you know?

>> Yeah.

>> So she is behind you.

She is going to be with you.

And you have a new mother.

Not, like, to replace but very

Serious about my roll and such,

And I have a very dominant

Female.

For me, I would love to take

You, transformative lee, away

From the masculinity.

>> Yeah.

>> But it is up to you,

Ultimately.

>> Okay.

No, it's not, I'm going to be

Honest.

You also have to come up with a

Drag name.

>> Is it christina or valentina?

Because that is my first and

Last name.

Christina valentina.

>> That is a great stage name.

>> Ladies and gentlemen,

Ms. Christina valentina!

This meeting was amazing pe.iod

That is your first g*y word,

Slay.

>> I'm going to slay this

Performance.

If yes, b*tch.

>> Yes, b*tch.

>> Yes, b*tch!

♪ ♪

>> Club city lights.

>> I love it.

>> Hi!

>> How are y'all?

>> Welcome to club city lights.

>> Thank you.

>> You have predominate a g*y

Bars in jackson and then you do

Have predominately g*y black

Bars, like club city lights.

>> How long y'all been open?

>> We been here 30 years.

>> 30?

3-0?

>> 3-0.

>> Wow.

>> This is like a staple of

Jackson, I guess.

>> Yes, it is.

We at one point were the only

Club here in jackson.

So that means that everybody

Came.

But once everybody started

Venturing out and making new

Clubs, it was a separation.

>> I feel comfortable going to

Club city lights because I know

That is a safe space for black

q*eer people like me.

Him >> oh, this is what we are

Doing.

>> My friends of color,

Sometimes they will joke or say,

Like, "why do you hang around

Those white people?

They don't care about you."

>> We were supposed to watch at

6:00, It did not happen until

6:15.

>> I feel like I'm caught in the

Middle.

>> I'm friends with all y'all?

What do I true?

Why do

How do I try to bridge the gap?

>> Lets have real talk.

>> What I really want to know,

How come we are having such a

Major challenge with bridging

The gap within the lgbt+

Community here in jackson?

>> As a white man, there are

Times where I feel like, the

More I try, the more pushback I

Get.

>> I started to do the advocacy

Work in jackson to bring

Awareness to the lgbt community

And to create safe spaces for

People of color.

>> At the end of the day, we may

Be different colors, but you

Still g*y.

>> Hi!

>> A lot of my friends have

Always told me that I was

Nurturing and loving.

That I just had a heart for

People.

>> To me, unity feels like you

Can be yourself in any space and

Feel included, accepted.

It is sad there is ... Here.

But I think change is.

But it is very slow.

♪ ♪

>> I struggle a lot, even now,

As an adult.

Just, you know, trying to push

Past certain things that has

Been instilled in you.

>> How was it like meeting bob?

>> It was hard.

>> James, my fiance, he is so

Calm.

He is just the total opposite

From me.

The total opposite.

>> Mostly just nervous.

People wouldn't understand.

Just people in my everyday life.

>> This ain't about them.

It's about you.

>> And james performs, his

Persona is in your face, out

There, loud.

Whatever he's feeling, he's

Channeling all of that into that

Character.

That affects me a lot because he

Is able to do that and I am not

Able to do that.

I have to protect myself and

Build a wall.

♪ ♪

>> Do you have any pictures of

You in drag?

How long have you been doing

Drag?

>> A long time.

>> Oh, I knew you had something.

Oh, my goodness.

[Laughs]

Okay, so you are not a novice to

This.

You really brought up your drag,

For real, for real.

>> How do you think they feel

About doing this show?

>> He's nervous.

People don't think about.

>> It does affect him.

It does have very real

Consequences to your life, your

Family, and even though he

Doesn't talk to his family like

That, I mean ...

>> They think ... What they think

About you still is a big factor.

>> I think it is a good

Opportunity to show him there's

A lot of people who love

You and support you.

Because of all of your facets,

Without hiding anything.

Love you because of who you are.

Respect you because of who you

Are.

>> We are helping him release

All of his emotions he has kept

Locked in, like, family issues,

Everything.

>> Probably feel better once you

Get that out of your system.

>> You hold up the secrets and

The pain, it just eats you up

Inside.

>> I just want him to be happy.

If this will make you happy, I

Mean, hey, I am here for you.

>> I know the healing powers of

Drag.

It has helped me understand who

I am on a deeper level.

It's given me a sense of

Community.

It's helped me become proud of

My queerness, inexplicably proud

Of my blackness.

And I think that if he were to

Give us a chance come he could

Have the same experience.

>> Do you think he will get it

All of the stuff?

The ground, the big hair?

>> You we can make ... We going

To

Work together.

>> Promise.

This is a drag queen promise.

Promise on your wigs.

[Laughter]

♪ ♪

>> So you say you are a rapper.

>> Rapper/singer, producer.

>> Are you good at spitting on a

Dime?

>> Of course.

>> This is the mix I have had

Made so far for our performance.

You can record a verse for it.

>> Right.

>> Right here is you.

>> Bad b*tch.

I don't give a f*ck, I make

Tracks.

What we going to do, we going to

Get this.

We don't give a sh*t.

We don't give a f*ck.

Take it off the cuff.

Let's do this.

>> Okay, okay.

>> I got you.

I got you.

Your track is safe with me.

>> I love it.

You know, I believe in you.

>> Thank you.

>> Also, don't call me bro.

>> It's a context thing ...

>> Okay.

>> I'll adapt.

>> I just really appreciate ...

>> Sure.

>> Pronouns.

It is hard to put that

Responsibility on other

People ...

>> Thanks for pointing that out.

Because I feel that is

Important.

I just do that subconsciously to

Anybody but I want to be more

Empathetic to everyone.

>> I appreciate that.

>> It means something to me.

>> Honestly, that is an ally

Statement.

You know what I mean?

But it is truth.

There's going to be

Heteronormative men that watch

The show that are going to feel

Them little more comfortable

Being an ally and more

Supportive than ever before.

>> It's like, anything we can do

To bring people together with

Love ...

>> Yeah.

>> We should do.

>> Why not?

>> Why not?

Go for the light.

It is there, you just have to

Look for it.

>> You have a lot of love in

You, chris.

>> Same.

Real recognizes real.

>> Jason.

[Laughs]

♪ ♪

[Knocking]

>> Hey, hey!

>> Hello.

>> Hi, hi, hi.

>> Put your purse down to

Establish dominance.

I told you wanted to be a sexy

Woman.

What about shaving your bra was?

Can we go up and down?

How does it make you feel?

>> Sexy.

>> What would your dad say?

♪ ♪

>> These pieces are going to

Tear off.

And you are going to be in the

Bra and g string.

>> Where do you want to get

Naked?

Get completely naked?

We have to figure out what to do

With your thingy-thing.

>> You have to put a core set

On.

Give me your hand.

Baby's first corset.

>> Remember how I told you you

Have to kind of take the ba*ls,

And you have to shove them up

Inside you.

>> Oh!

[Laughter]

>> And you pull your wiener back

In your butt crack.

♪ ♪

>> Hold it with your legs.

Ready?

One, two, three.

>> Like a hot dog in a bun.

[Opera singing]

>> That sounds good.

We're putting you live in the

Show.

♪ ♪

>> Your future wife is going to

Love it.

>> One, two, three.

Hit it.

Their echo.

Okay!

>> This is what it feels like to

Have tvs.

t*tties.

>> Jump up and down.

Yes.

That was fully for me.

[Laughter]

>> I want to do some classically

Beautiful makeup, catching every

Which light we can.

Like, the spotlight always looks

Like it is on your face.

>> What is that hmm?

>> This is something I said I

Would never do, never be around,

Never entertain.

For me, I used to be afraid of

Drag queens, because I was

Taught there were these terrible

Things, you know?

>> One of the things you can do

Is literally try your hardest

And lean in.

You are only going to do it

Once, you might as well do it as

Best as you can.

>> So what are you?

>> g*y.

[Laughter]

It's me, honey, he g*y-g*y.

g*y.

>> What's your name?

>> Bob.

>> Bob.

>> Shut up.

[Laughter]

>> You know how I feel about

Certain sh*t.

>> Go ahead.

>> We've been going through this

sh*t ever since we was picking

On your a*s.

Ever since he was knee high.

Knee-high to a bullfrog asked

Asked.

[Laughter]

>> That's a good question.

>> I was definitely nervous to

Bring james to meet my cousins.

I'm not saying I intentionally

Keep things from them.

It's just, I don't want to do a

Lot that is overbearing, but I

Want to be able to express

Myself in increments.

>> Let me tell y'all something,

Okay?

I am doing this experience for a

Personal reason.

And I'm doing something that is

Totally out of my comfort zone.

I know y'all going to be like

The f*ck?

But I want y'all to be

Open-minded, okay?

I am doing drag for the first

Time.

>> Doing who?

>> Drag.

Y'all know what dragon is?

>> Racing?

[Laughter]

>> A small amount of drag

Racing.

[Laughter]

>> So, yeah.

So I have on a wig.

I have on a dress.

I have on a heel.

Growing up, I never said ...

First time I met a drag queen, I

Was like, what the f*ck?

I never said I would date one,

Be with one, want to be around

One.

So I always adjudged people for

That.

And that is my own thing.

That I have to handle.

So, for me, this is a full

Circle, for me.

>> Hold that.

>> Oh, here we go.

>> Don't nobody say nothing.

Shut the f*ck up.

Is it going to be grandma?

[Laughter]

>> Coming out.

>> I love you.

>> I love you, too.

>> I knew it.

>> What the f*ck is this?

Celebration?

>> No matter what the f*ck you

Got going on, because, we bend

And your family, we still going

To be your family.

This is a celebration to you, to

Doing whatever the f*ck you got

Going on.

>> We will support you.

>> We ain't going nowhere.

I had this specially wrapped.

>> Give me that sh*t.

[Laughter]

>> This quote that says freedom,

And just says, no fear.

No fear.

Really, no fear.

And that is a real thought to

Think about, when you cannot be

Afraid.

I think he has a lot of fear in

His life.

>> My family, they are not as

Accepting.

This, right here.

>> This is your first time

Meeting everyone?

>> This is my first time.

>> Nothing against y'all, I

Promise, I just didn't want the

Experience ... I didn't know how

To handle it.

>> Bring your a*s over here.

When he come, you need to come,

Too.

>> This group right here, this

Is my core.

I have been able to rely on this

Group to come here and do this

And not dwell on my home life.

A lot of y'all don't know things

That went on in my household

When I was younger.

I didn't have nothing.

We grew up reading these books,

Thinking that your family is

Supposed to be this and fact,

And when you realize that it's

Not that, y'all, it was f*cked

Up.

I had nobody.

I wasn't there.

I was an all-a student peer

Court one point I did not care.

I didn't even care what

Happened.

I didn't care what the outcome

Was.

I didn't care what happened.

The things I went through as a

Child...

Y'all have no idea.

[Crying]

I don't want to talk about this

No more.

I don't want to do this no more.

I don't want to do this.

I don't want to do this no more.

I can't.

It's too much.

>> Come here.

>> I don't want to do this no

More.

I don't want to do this.

I can't.

I can't.

[Crying]

>> Listen.

This is making you stronger,

Okay?

You have to tell your story.

>> I can do this.

>> It's going to hurt right

Here.

But you know what?

You got to do it because you got

To get you better.

And the only way that's going to

Happen is if you get out there.

Okay?

♪ ♪

>> This is actually the church

That I attend.

>> Do they know we are here?

>> Yes, they know we are here.

>> Okay, good.

I am so excited about this

Performance.

Basically we are salivating

Sexuality, this femininity.

The most femme thing is ballet

Dancers or strippers, and I

Figured we would be better at

Stripping.

♪ ♪

>> A little boxy.

Very pro-why.

It is kind of about loosening

Your wrists.

>> I love that.

On this one, don't go too high

Up.

♪ ♪

>> Hand over here.

One hand on one hip.

Click.

Dadadada.

Three, four, five, six.

>> Body roll.

>> Oh!

Okay, b*tch.

You caught me off guard.

>> A transformation.

>> She came on and she was like

Like ...

>> First of all, how was last

Night for you?

>> Um...

At first, I was like, I am not

Doing it.

So.

The more I thought about it, I

Was like, I need to do this

Because I keep running from

Stuff.

I would never feel like I

Accomplished or overcame any

Thing.

So, that's why I am here now.

>> Okay.

I really think it's going to

Be ... This might be one of the

Best performances in the show.

>> We going to find out.

>> I mean, drag queens, we will

Subvert what a song is about,

Make it about whatever we want

To emote and feel in that

Moment.

This is an opportunity to make a

Declaration about how you are

Strong.

How you do overcome.

And how, despite you having

This, like, hard time with,

Like, your family and stuff,

Feel like they are breaking

Down, that doesn't mean I'm

Going anywhere.

Throughout adversity, you have

Found a way to still remain.

And not just remain, but

Flourish and thrive and be

Successful and find love and

Find community.

And I think that you can use

That in this number.

>> I see the potential.

>> Okay.

You see all the stuff?

They got fanfare, dancing.

We are relying on what is in

Here.

This is what is going to tell

This whole story.

There is no people running

Around you doing, you know, the

Article ... No, it is all you.

You know, I think ... I wouldn't

Tell him to get rid of them.

They probably saved him in some

Situations in life.

But I do think that breaking

Down the negative connotations

That come with queerness and

Being a punk and a f*gg*t and a

Sissy and realize there can

Actually be a lot of power in

That, I think that can be

Cathartic.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> We are walking toward ...

>> Oh!

Let's get some sh*t.

>> The clown.

>> Good to see you, pal.

>> My drag mother.

>> Don't pull any punches on me.

>> Is that you?

>> Excuse me, I had chipotle

Today.

>> Can you dance?

I bet you can dance.

>> My dance is like...

Is that pretty good?

>> Are you coming, too?

It's a date fear I will see

Y'all there.

You know, I am allergic to

Latex.

That's not true, I made that up.

[Laughter]

>> Have you ever been to a drag

Show?

You have not?

>> Tomorrow night.

>> Your show.

>> I really want a a and

Ice cream.

I just like there would be

Ice cream.

>> It is a sin, it is an

Abomination for someone ...

You are an abomination.

>> Me?

>> An abomination, sir.

Shame on you.

Shame on you, sir.

>> He don't even know what I am

Up to.

>> This.

The bible says it is a shame, it

Is a sin, it is an abomination.

To wear clothing of the

Opposite sex.

Stay away from children, sir.

Stay away from children.

>> Y'all are ...

>> Get this on your cameras,

Folks.

Turned to jesus.

>> It seems like more people

Know of g*y people in their

Lives in jackson because

g*y people are more comfortable

Coming out, but there is still a

Lot of fear.

I don't think the hesitance to

Change is specific to jackson.

I think it is an american thing.

I think it is a worldwide thing.

>> h*m*.

Pedophilia.

Speak what they really wanted to

Talk ... They don't want to talk.

They don't want to talk to

Anyone.

They just want to insult people.

I'm going to get ice cream.

>> Your lord god.

Jesus.

♪ ♪

>> It is very oxymoronic when

You hear "southern hospitality,"

But if you're not straight,

Christian, and white, you can't

Be in the circle.

I am hoping that the experience

In the drag show will show the

People in jackson, at the end of

The day, inclusion and diversity

Is important, and representation

Is important.

I have definitely been really,

Really dark places.

And, like, I know how little it

Takes to just be able to make

Someone feel more grounded and

Okay when they are feeling

Terrible.

Man, that is so important.

So you best believe I will go

Through life and I will correct

People that are wrong.

I am going to keep it real, and

I am not going to be quiet.

>> At this point in my life, I

Have lost so much time.

Falling up my emotions.

I will no longer allow other

People to dictate my level of

Comfortability and self-love.

♪ ♪

>> Next stop, womanhood.

♪ ♪

>> Your new eyebrows are coming

In.

>> New eyebrows, who dis?

>> Here we go, thoughts and

Prayers.

Usa♪ ♪

>> Oh, my god.

>> Professional.

♪ ♪

[Laughter]

>> Oh, my god, why?

>> What are you laughing out

Over here?

>> We are here.

♪ ♪

>> Who are you?

>> Tina, b*tch.

♪ ♪

>> Wool, that was a hard tug.

>> You're welcome.

♪ ♪

>> All right, jackson,

Mississippi, what's up y'all?

[Cheers and applause]

You guys, I am jason with

Capital city pride, I am so glad

You are here tonight, jackson,

Get those fans out.

Come on.

Everyone welcome to the stage

Ms. Shangela!

[Cheers and applause]

>> You are part of the group

That does not get a chance to be

Center stage, build your own

Stage.

Queerness is beautiful.

Your blackness is beautiful.

Never stop being yourself.

Make them see you.

♪ ♪

[Cheers and applause]

♪ Break my soul ♪

♪ Won't break my soul ♪

♪ Everybody ♪

♪ Everybody ♪

♪ Now I just fell in love ♪

♪ I just quit my job ♪

♪ I'm going find new drive ♪

♪ They worked me so damn hard ♪

♪ Work by nine, then off past

Five mobile they work my

Nerves ♪

♪ That's why I cannot sleep at

Night ♪

♪ I'm looking for motivation ♪

♪ I'm looking for a new

Foundation ♪

♪ You won't break my soul ♪

♪ You won't break my soul ♪

♪ You won't break my soul ♪

♪ I'm telling everybody ♪

♪ Everybody ♪

♪ Everybody ♪

♪ There's a whole lot of people

In the house ♪

♪ Trying to smoke with the yak

In your mouth ♪

>> Stop!

♪ ♪

>> One, two, three, four!

♪ ♪

♪ Round in circles come around

In circles ♪

♪ You won't break my soul ♪

♪ You won't break my soul ♪

♪ You won't break my soul ♪

♪ Everybody ♪

[Cheers and applause]

>> Hello, everybody!

We are here in jackson.

Also known as the city of seoul.

[Applause]

And I know that here in jackson,

Y'all got a lot of love, and

Sometimes, those of us in the

Lgbtq+ community and our allies,

We also have a few haters, don't

We?

Sometimes, we have a few people

That say "we don't believe in

Your way of life."

Let me tell you something.

We don't need anybody else to

Believe in our way of life.

We believe in our way of life.

[Applause]

Is a musical >> I did not see

Myself as someone to do drag,

And to be completely frank, I am

Terrified.

♪ ♪

This is out of my comfort zone.

But, like, any opportunity I can

Go to bat for the community and

Bring more love into this world,

I'm going to do.

At this point in my life, I've

Got nothing to lose.

[Cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

♪ Walk a mile in these loopy

Times ♪

♪ But they don't wear these

Shits where I'm from ♪

♪ I'm not hating, I'm just

Telling you ♪

♪ I'm trying to let you know

What the f*ck that I've been

Through ♪

♪ 2 Feet in the red dirt, school

Shirt ♪

♪ Sugarcane, back lanes, three

Jobs took years to save ♪

♪ But I got a ticket on that

Plane ♪

♪ People got a lot to say, but

Don't know sh*t about where I

Was made ♪

♪ Or how many floors that I had

To scrub just to make it past

Where I am from ♪

♪ No money, no family, 16 in the

Middle of miami ♪

♪ 16 In the middle of miami ♪

♪ I've been up all night ♪

♪ Trying to get that rich ♪

♪ I've been work, work, work,

Work ♪

♪ Working on my sh*t ♪

♪ Work, work ♪

♪ Now get this work ♪

♪ Now get this work ♪

♪ Look at me, b*tches ♪

♪ I'm still here ♪

♪ All I need is tonight ♪

♪ If I could save one life ♪

♪ Despite the hate and the

Trauma, as I walk straight down

The runway ♪

♪ Louboutins ♪

♪ I'm swag all day ♪

♪ Bad b*tches in my ♪

Those that don't understand ♪

♪ We don't give a f*ck ♪

♪ Working on my sh*t ♪

[Cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I've been up all night ♪

♪ Trying to get rich ♪

♪ I've been work, work, work ♪

♪ Working on my sh*t ♪

♪ Now get this work ♪

♪ Now get this work ♪

♪ Working on my sh*t ♪

[Cheers and applause]

>> I love this chick right here.

This is my mom, for real.

This has been a really amazing

Experience, and I think more

People should see the light of

What goes on through this, and

This community is amazing and it

All comes from a place of love.

In your life, if you are

Inspired to do something, just

Go for it and know there is

Somebody out there that loves

You.

So just search for that love.

We just want to dedicate this to

Our moms, for real.

They are watching us in heaven,

And this is an amazing moment.

[Cheers and applause]

>> It was fun.

You had me cry and, b*tch.

>> You had me crying, what are

You talking about?

>> I'm like, I thought we were

Going to be all tough and butch,

I was even doing my ...

How do you feel?

>> I feel so good.

This is such an awesome

Experience.

>> What are you going to do now?

>> Keep going.

>> Yes!

>> I do have a little bit of

Trepidation about it because

I've just never done it.

But I feel like it is important.

I want to say g*y, black, q*eer,

Lgbt individuals, it is okay to

Be you, just live.

[Cheers and applause]

[Opera singing]

[Cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

♪ Girl, I'm about to have a

Panic attack ♪

♪ That lovey-dovey sh*t, not a

Fan of it ♪

♪ I'm good of my friends, I

Don't want a man ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ To be loved, to be loved ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ To be loved, to be loved ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ 'Cause I want it ♪

♪ That's what I'm talking

About ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ To be loved, to be loved ♪

♪ You found me, I was fed up

With the fantasy ♪

♪ Think you like that ♪

♪ When I clap back like that ♪

♪ I don't know why ♪

♪ Am I ready? ♪

♪ And I don't know why ♪

♪ Don't know why ♪

♪ But I'm ready ♪

[Cheers and applause]

>> Give it up one more time for

My daughter!

>> For this, me being in drag, I

Was not expecting this response.

Oh, my goodness.

Honestly, tonight is not about

Me, it is about jackson, right?

Showing unity, showing how damn

Beautiful we are, we are a

Gorgeous city, with so much

Diversity, so much life, and we

Get slept on, this is not for

Me, this is for y'all.

>> You know what?

You committed.

They got your message.

>> Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

>> How you feeling right now?

>> Nervous.

>> Excited?

>> Yes.

Just ready to see what happens.

>> I am so proud of you.

So proud of you.

I'll see you out there, okay?

>> Okay.

>> Like, oh, my god.

What's going to happen?

It takes a lot to get up there,

To put on all of this stuff, to

Do all of this in front of

People, but I don't want to be

Invisible forever.

>> Jackson.

[Cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

♪ You're the best man I'll ever

Know ♪

♪ There's no way I can ever go ♪

♪ No no there's no way ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way I'm living

Without you ♪

♪ I'm not living without you ♪

♪ I don't want to be free ♪

♪ And I am staring and you ♪

♪ I'm not leaving without you ♪

♪ There's no way ♪

♪ Push, strike, and k*ll ♪

♪ I'm not going to leave you ♪

♪ There's no way I will ♪

♪ And I am telling you I'm not

Going ♪

♪ You're the best man I'll ever

Know ♪

♪ There's no way I could ever,

Ever go ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way ♪

♪ No, no, no, no way I'm living

Without you ♪

♪ I'm not living without you,

Not living without you ♪

♪ I don't want to be free ♪

♪ I'm staying, I'm staying ♪

♪ And you will, and you, and yo

You ♪

♪ You're going to love me ♪

♪ You're going to love me ♪

♪ Yes, you are, yes, you are ♪

♪ Oh, love me, love me ♪

♪ Love me, love me, love ♪

[Cheers and applause]

♪ You're going to love me ♪

♪ ♪

[Cheers and applause]

>> Now, that's how you shut down

A m*therf*cking show!

[Applause]

>> Y'all have no idea my

Struggles from a child's denial.

Y'all don't know the bridges I

Had to climb, the walls I had to

Jump over to get here.

[Applause]

One thing I realized in this

Whole process, I've allowed

Others to make me invisible.

I won't be invisible anymore.

[Cheers and applause]

This experience has taught me a

Lot about myself.

I have allowed my society, my

World put me in a box, telling

Me what I can and cannot do.

How am I supposed to act, how am

I supposed to look come how am I

Supposed to do this and do that.

I am my own person.

[Applause]

>> Yes, honey.

♪ ♪

De'bronski, you don't know, that

Was, that was next level.

That was next level.

You blew the roof off of this

Place.

I mean, I am, that was just ...

That was so special.

Thank you so much for, for

Trusting me.

Thank you for going there.

You have given ... I mean, you

Have given everything.

Everything.

Even when you were terrified,

You stood there.

I am so f*cking grateful.

So f*cking grateful.

>> Congratulations.

>> Thank you.

I feel so good.

>> Oh, my god.

That was so good.

>> Yay!

>> I'm excited.

>> It's a special night.

>> It is.

It's because of you.

Go forth and don't be afraid.

I love you.

You are fabulous.

>> I can't even process it.

I can't even.

It's a lot.

I can't even process it.

I don't ... I don't have the

Words for it.

>> Does it feel like anything

You've felt before?

>> No, it's like reopening

Wounds, but now you a open those

Wounds that you never got time

To process.

>> I feel like a free bird.

I got my voice back.

>> I got t lipstick on you.

>> I don't care.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪