03x05 - Florida, Part 1

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: girl, the existence

Of drag is activism.

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: hi, I'm shangela.

>> Bob: bob.

>> Shangela: this is bob.

>> Bob: I do drag because it has

Helped me understand who I am,

It's given me a sense of

Community, it's helped me become

Proud of my queerness.

>> Are you really that tall?

>> Eureka: I am big as hell.

>> Shangela: drag is saying,

Listen I'm gonna be me.

>> Bob: you see something you

Like?

>> Eureka: it's an expression of

Everything that you're not

Supposed to be but you love

About yourself.

>> Bob: we're out here doing a

Drag show.

>> No.

>> Shangela: yeah.

>> Shangela: a lot of people

Love that.

>> Eureka: hi.

>> Shangela: but a lot of people

Hate where drag is right now.

They hate that people are being

Empowered to be themselves no

Matter who they are.

>> Shangela: what does this say?

Free drag queen repellent

Prayer.

>> Eureka: this past year has

Been kind of shocking and

Surprising.

>> You need to repent sir,

You're an abomination.

>> Bob: me?

>> Shangela: in this country

Right now, oh baby, they don't

Want us.

>> Shangela: I'm going in here

To read to the kids.

>> They got a call and the call

Was threatening.

>> Shangela: we are a target.

>> Shangela: is this on

Facebook?

>> Bob: it is on facebook.

A&m coming next week dragging

Queens through the sage bush.

>> Shangela: and they're not

Afraid to tell us they don't

Want us either.

>> When it comes to the drag

Show, I think that grooming kids

Isn't right.

>> Shangela: and they're not

Just doing it vocally.

>> You probably like little boys

Don't you?

>> Bob: oh you all are, man: you

>> Shangela: they are putting

Into action.

>> Florida senate passed the

Bill the critics have dubbed,

Don't say g*y.

>> Shangela: baby, this vacation

As paradise has become a

Battleground for lgbtq rights.

>> The lgbtq plus center of

Orlando is canceling a big

Event,

Reporter: after receiving

Online threats from nazis.

>> They did not feel comfortable

Moving forward knowing at least

Seventy-five children would be

In attendance.

>> If you're gonna come play in

Florida you better know florida

Rules.

>> Shangela: and girl, it's

Happened before.

>> If h*m* are allowed

Their civil rights then so would

prostit*tes or thieves or anyone

Else.

>> We also have to uh, protect

People uh, and protect our kids.

>> These very young kids had a

Quote, "drag show" they want to

Do sex change operations for

Minors.

>> Bob: drag is visibility and

Right now we have to be seen.

♪ ♪

>> Bob: so here we are at the

Intersection of anti-q*eer

Hysteria and family friendly

Entertainment.

>> Bob: this is gonna be great.

Honestly, I can't imagine

Anything going wrong.

>> Eureka: this is the time to

Be out and proud.

Cuz if we hide, we die.

>> Eureka: f*ck you!

♪ ♪

>> Bob: I'm not gonna lie, I

Don't ... And I'm not trying to

Take it out but florida is a

Scary place.

>> Bob: florida has a reputation

In america, it is a very odd

Place.

There's a reason why, when you

Say "florida man," everyone

Knows who you're talking about.

>> Eureka: there's something in

The water?

>> Eureka: more than gators,

There's more than gators in the

Water.

>> Eureka: we used to do the

Gigs here in orlando a lot like

At the parliament house and...

>> Shangela: I think once in the

Touristy places it's really fun

And open.

>> Eureka: a little more

Diverse, yeah.

>> Shangela: but once you get

Too far outside of the range all

Of a sudden you're in like,

Don't say "g*y" land.

>> Eureka: yeah.

>> Shangela: so much is rooted

In fear and they know that

People will act upon their fear.

Like, scared to the polls and so

They're like protect the

Children from the gays.

There's not a big agenda to harm

Children from the g*y community

There just is not.

>> Bob: well the g*y agenda I

Mean there's nothing on the g*y

Agenda but brunch.

[School bell]

>> Reporter: a bill here

In florida is sparking national

Debate.

>> As the so called don't say

g*y bill would limit

Conversations about sexual

Orientation and gender identity

In classrooms.

>> There is an assertion that

Lgbtq people simply by existing

Are a threat to children.

>> We do not want children to be

Learning about any type of sex

Education.

There's just no place for

It.

>> Then we're doing the

Mushrooms, quarter of a cup,

Then we're doing butter.

>> Fattening, all this butter.

>> It's what the recipe calls

For, it's for the sauce.

>> I'm a public school teacher,

I currently teach us history and

Us history honors here in

Kissimmee.

I love the excitement of the

Kids and how much they want to

Learn.

I love my life here and our

Children have only known florida

As home.

>> Youngest goes first.

>> No, winner breaks.

>> I have three children, jaiden

Is sixteen, jackson is going to

Be 14 and dempsey is ten.

>> You want to cut this for dem

She doesn't eat the mushrooms so

Just cut that for her.

: And then of course my

Husband of wow, almost eighteen

Years.

>> All right, do I have a fork

Over there?

>> Help yourselves.

>> We don't do anything crazy,

We like going to the park, going

To a picnic, I mean there's

Jaiden like oh, I want a car.

I'm like you need a job; I'm not

Buying you a car.

>> Really, jackson?

>> What?

>> Can you stop shoving the food

In like that?

>> We're really close knit and

You know, it's a regular life.

>> This one over here is

Grunting at the end like a

Stuffed pig.

>> Throw in a couple of dogs and

Cats and you know gated

Community.

Leave it to beaver is a perfect

Word for it, cuz it's very like

Safe.

Our children, their safety, is

Important to us especially our

Youngest.

>> I usually like dancing, I

Like musical theater.

That's very fun.

>> We could just try to see if

There's any of those type of

Letters.

>> When dempsey was first

Starting to transition, there

Was a lot of hush, hush, like oh

Something's wrong with my kid.

>> I know what it is.

>> What?

>> I just felt like no, my kid

Is perfectly normal and our

>> Pilot.

>> Oh, pilot.

>> It's pilot.

>> I was always an ally and

Friendly to lgbtq community but

I wasn't, like, at parades doing

All these public things, no,

Because I'm a school teacher in

The state of florida.

I'll be punished for speaking

Out.

>> How about a-r.

>> I really love this state; I

Love my life here, but the

Reality of it is that because of

The political climate of florida

I'm afraid for dempsey every

Day.

She's gonna be a target at some

Point in her life, she is

Already a target.

>> Okay, so what is l?

Pile?

>> Yeah.

I'm afraid, I'm afraid for her

Safety and you know I'm

Scared for our family's safety.

>> Shangela: hello.

Hi.

>> Hi.

>> Shangela: nice to meet you,

I'm shangela.

Hi, gorgeous.

Dempsey!

I love your sneakers they're so

Cool.

>> They're dirty.

>> They're dirty.

>> Shangela: that's okay, that

Means you've been having a good

Time in them.

High five.

Ooh, girl, high five, that's my

Home girl.

>> Oh, goodness.

>> Shangela: now tell me about

Kind of your journey with

Dempsey.

>> You know, she was so young

And she was maybe about two and

Everything she wanted was like,

It had to be a girl, a girl toy

Or you know something sparkly.

>> We used to cut her hair and

She would get so upset and it

Was like everything to her was

Hair and that was like what

Signified to her a girl.

And then she'd immediately come

Home and find a pair of pajama

Pants stick it on her head, the

Waist on her head for the legs

To come down like hair.

>> Shangela: really?

>> This was constant.

>> We were like, "okay."

You know, like you know just

Kind of maybe going through a

Phase or you know just, just

Likes that kind of stuff, that's

Fine.

And then when she was about

Five, she was like, mommy i, I

Don't, I think the doctor made a

Mistake, I am not a boy, I am a

Girl, and that's who I am in my

Heart and my brain and how do

You say no to your child when

They're telling you exactly who

They are?

So, all right, let's roll

With it.

>> Shangela: did you grow up

Around any q*eer people, any g*y

People?

>> No, but before I was always

Like an ally.

You know but maybe just one that

Was like on the sidelines and

Not really doing much and so now

I'm like really a big one cuz

Now I'm like constantly doing

Stuff.

>> I knew that it wasn't gonna

Be easy for her.

It's not gonna be easy for her.

And I am here to protect her.

I knew that I was gonna have to

Step up because I'm a mom and

That's what moms are supposed to

Do, because they love their

Children unconditionally.

Because let's face it I mean as

Far as affirming parents go,

We're a minority.

>> Shangela: well you know what,

We are gonna be listening to

You.

When you get ready to do this

Drag show.

>> Yes, yes, yes.

>> Shangela: okay, and it means

Something, I want you to know

You know, drag is rooted in

Activism as well.

>> Shangela: I know that jaime

Has some concerns about doing

Our show because she's a teacher

In the florida public school

System, and right now it's

Dangerous to be vocal about

Anything g*y.

Well, being a part of our show

Is very vocal.

But I think it's so

Important for someone like jaime

To be involved in this show cuz

It is a part of her protest,

Wanting to like stand up for the

People who don't always get

Stood up for, especially a

Nine-year-old little girl.

>> There's some hunky old men

Driving around here tonight,

Holy sh*t.

♪ ♪

>> I'll point you out a bob when

I see one.

>> What's a bob?

>> A bob is a hunky old man,

It's a code word for there's a

Bob without being like real

Obvious.

>> My name is mark and I am

Fifty-eight years old.

I mean I am probably a lot

Younger than ninety-eight

Percent of the people but I like

That.

You know I prefer older

Mature people, so I mean you

Know like a kid in a candy store

Here.

>> Woo, that, that was a bob,

Did you see him?

And they're always with the

Wife.

>> It's all about the eye

Contact, the extended eye

Contact.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, then you

Almost hit the guy in front of

You but sometimes that happens.

It's kind of fun this whole

Cruising thing in a golf cart.

>> Bob: hi.

>> Hi, how are you?

>> Bob: how are you?

This looks so suburban.

Did you do any of this art

Yourself?

>> No, that's all my partner's

Art that passed away, vernon.

Yeah that's his stuff.

>> Bob: vernon was very

Talented.

>> Yeah.

I have a whole storage unit

Full of work, he was an artist.

>> Bob: oh, nice.

>> Bob: so how long you been

Single now?

>> Vernon died 2017.

>> Bob: and you've been single

The whole time since his death?

>> Been single since, yeah.

>> Bob: where'd you move from?

>> I moved from cincinnati ohio.

>> Bob: cincinnati, that's a

Pretty big city.

>> Chin, chin, yeah I love that

City.

>> Bob: and what, what, what

Made you come to the villages?

>> Well vernon passed away and

My mother moved down here.

>> Bob: how'd your family take

Your, your q*eer identity?

>> Oh, they, yeah, no, no

Problem, you know I don't know

If ... There's never been an

Issue really.

>> Bob: you never had a single

Problem?

>> No.

>> Bob: that's so, that's,

That's wonderful.

>> No, no, no.

>> Bob: that's a, that's a

Blessing.

>> But I never did you know get

Up and say hey, everybody I'm

g*y or whatever I don't, you

Know just.

>> Bob: is it like an

Understanding kind of thing?

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> I mean they put two and two

Together.

>> Bob: so you brought vernon

Around you never like this is

My, this is my partner, you were

Just like,

>> Well no, yeah

He just came around and we

Never,

>> Bob: how did you introduce

Him?

>> This is uh, good friend of

Mine, vernon.

You know and he just if you

Would have met you know he just

Fit right in with everybody,

Just...

>> Bob: so you two didn't like

Hold hands or kiss or anything

Like that.

>> No, no, no we didn't do

Anything like that.

>> Bob: why is it so funny,

What's so funny about that?

>> No.

I don't know that's funny.

I just, no I was thinking about

Him, he would never you know

He's, you know he lived in the

Straight world his whole life

Too so.

>> Bob: oh, so that sounds to

You maybe a little outrageous

Maybe?

>> I'm not interested in you

Know the public affection kind

Of stuff, you know.

>> Bob: so you've only been in

One relationship?

>> Yeah.

I never thought about that

Though, yeah you're right.

Yeah.

>> Bob: do you have a picture of

Him?

>> Uh, on my phone.

>> Bob: I would love to see him.

>> You want to see a picture on

My phone?

I'll show you.

>> Bob: if you don't mind.

>> No, not at all.

All right, I talked to him all

The time.

What picture do you want me to

Pick vernon?

>> Bob: oh, that's so cute.

>> I like this one.

That was one when we were older.

>> Bob: there's a bit of an

Age gap.

>> Yes, yes, yeah, not a little

Bit, there was thirty-nine

Years.

>> Bob: wow.

>> He was sixty-seven and

I was twenty-eight.

>> Bob: oh wow.

>> Yeah, that's something.

>> Bob: you have been single

Since you were in your, in your

Twenties, like what's that like

I mean, has anyone tried to hit

On you here?

Any suitors?

>> Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I

Mean there's a lot of

Interaction that goes on here.

Hooking up.

You know a lot of I guess

Hooking up.

>> Bob: so something that often

Happens is the community kind of

Like of hush, hush thing?

>> Yeah, oh yeah, yeah.

Absolutely, yeah it's all hush,

Hush around here when it comes

To anything other than the

Straight, you know, stuff.

>> Bob: how did it feel for you?

>> Um, doesn't really bother me

Any.

You know hush, hush my whole

Life really so I'm, I'm used to

That.

>> Bob: can I ask you a

Question?

>> Sure.

>> Bob: so, what would make you

Say yes to doing something as

Outrageous ... Cuz you seem, you

Seem like such a calm, tame

You're like ... Cuz this is,

It's, it's, it's a little

Outrageous what we do.

>> Mmmhmm.

>> Bob: what would make you say

Yes to this?

>> Uh, it's something different,

Something new.

Never had the desire to dress up

Like a woman ever, you know, I

Never even thought about it.

Starting to get a, a little

Nervous about that.

Yeah, that's the only thing

That's really got me really kind

Of...

>> Bob: what makes you nervous

About it?

>> Dressing up like a woman?

>> Bob: mmmhmm, what, what makes

You nervous?

>> You know I guess um, family

And friends seeing me look like

A, or dress like a woman, you

Know kind of thing, you know.

>> Bob: what do you think they

Would, they would think if they

Saw you?

>> Oh they'd be laughing, they

Would be, oh gosh, they're gonna

Be in, in hysterics.

>> Bob: this show feels like,

Like a definitive declaration.

>> Yeah, I never thought about

It like that.

You know I mean I don't uh, yeah

Identify as just being sexual

That's ... You know I mean it's

Not necessarily a g*y thing,

Just a sexual thing.

>> Bob: is there a q*eer hangout

Here in the villages?

>> No, you have to go down to

Orlando or something for that I

Guess, I haven't really.

>> Bob: would you, would you

Come out to the club with me?

Just one time?

>> Uh, sure.

Sure, I would.

>> Bob: well don't get too

Excited.

[Laughs]

>> Yeah, no, I mean I'm not, you

Know i, i, I uh,

>> Bob: mark is like sweating,

Oh my god what did I sign up for

>> Uh, sure.

♪ ♪

>> Eureka: I mean florida's all

Over the place, let's be honest,

Like, you've got like theme

Park, tourist vibes, little

Country towns, like you might be

Completely accepted and

Celebrated in one area but then

The other area you might need to

Worry about getting shot.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> I think we need one more, got

It, here, turn, no turn it the

Other way.

>> Mandy and I met in 1968.

It's hard to remember that far

Back.

>> It folded.

>> Especially duct tape.

>> I can remember the first time

I saw lori, drop dead gorgeous.

>> I was invited on a blind date

By some friends they forgot to

Tell mandy that she was going on

A blind date, so she brought a

Date.

Which was a little awkward

For uh, for everybody but

Especially me.

>> My date went to sleep I

Walked over and said, hi.

>> And the rest is history.

>> Yeah.

>> We'll be married fifty years

This year.

♪ ♪

>> Hi.

>> How are you?

>> I'm doing good.

How about you?

>> Doing well.

>> I like it, these are

Beautiful.

>> Yeah, they are.

>> Dragon.

>> Yeah, well here it is.

>> Oh, there it is.

>> As far as a safe space to go

In ocala, no.

There's nothing.

>> We've got a lot of people

That look at us like they'd like

To k*ll us.

I don't care what they do to me

But I don't want anybody to hurt

Her.

>> I care what happens to you.

>> What?

>> I care what happens to you.

>> Oh, I know you do.

>> This one right here and will

You, can you hold it for me?

>> I can.

>> This is a terrible habit to

Buy art.

>> Your name?

>> Mandy mckenzie.

>> Okay.

>> Okay.

Thank you.

>> Thank you.

>> It was a long process but the

Transition process just really

Happened about five years ago.

>> Yeah.

>> Eureka: hello.

Hi.

How are you?

>> Oh, my god.

>> Eureka: are you lori?

Oh.

>> So good to meet you.

>> Eureka: good to meet you too.

Show me around, let's check it

Out.

>> Okay, well let's, let's go.

Let's go this ... There's muffins

And...

>> Eureka: I have to follow you;

I don't know nothing about it.

>> Eureka: so this is ocala,

Right?

This is what it's called.

>> Yeah, this is ocala.

We come down here all the time.

>> Eureka: oh good.

>> I'm very open.

>> Eureka: I love that.

>> We don't let that bother us.

>> Yeah, we don't let it,

>> Eureka: yeah, that's my

Girls.

Brave.

>> Eureka: well when I was

Walking in I saw the only car

Covered in trump with a big

Trump face on it.

I was like "oh, that's

Terrifying."

I guess florida is a red state.

>> Uh, very.

Central florida they call it

The blood red part of florida.

>> Eureka: oh, no.

>> Eureka: I mean it just seems

Like you're so natural in these

Public settings.

>> I, I try to be.

I want adults and kids to know

That it's possible for a

Seventy-year-old woman to

Transition and that a

Seventy-five-year-old woman is

Just as happy as they could ever

Get, you know.

>> Eureka: does that come from

That regret of not

Transitioning sooner like...

>> Oh yeah, i, I definitely, I

Knew I was different from the

Time I was about five or six, I

Even asked when I was about nine

Or ten when my cousins started

To developing breasts I all

Asked and said, when, when am I

And they laughed at me you know

You're, oh, and I hated myself

All the time.

>> Mandy was often in a very

Dark place and she would talk

About not wanting to live

And early on I didn't have

A clue what transgender was.

I always thought that mandy's

Wanting to wear female clothes

Was just fetish thing.

>> She didn't come back one

Night, I was ... I knew she was

In a bad space and i, I was very

Worried so I went out with a

Flashlight looking for her and

She was sitting underneath a

Tree with a rope and a noose

Laying beside her and she said I

Couldn't find a branch, and I

Just sat down there with her and

I said this is it, you have to

Transition, and I'm here for you

And we'll do this.

>> Eureka: wow.

>> So...

>> She saved my life.

Absolutely saved my life.

I don't know if anybody could

Ever feel the gratitude and the

Love for a person that, that

Really saves your life.

>> Until I actually started the

Transitioning and became me, I

Wanted to commit suicide, and I

Hear that from a lot of

Transgender people, especially

Young people.

The more we can put out there as

Transgender people and be vocal

About who we are, that will help

The kids that are following us.

>> But it, it's, it's been a,

It's been a transition for us

Both.

We talked about divorce from

Time to time, but I figured that

I love this person no matter

What the gender.

>> And then we started chasing

Each other around the house.

>> No, then, then, then

We started going shopping.

>> Eureka: I love that.

>> We did; we became

Fourteen-year-old kids.

>> Eureka: so it was just night

And day different?

>> Oh yeah, it was, you know.

>> I can't even, I can't even

Begin to say that this is a

Totally different person.

>> When I walked out the first

Time and got in the car as me, I

Was ecstatic and I was like, oh

You're pretty.

[Laughter]

>> Eureka: good.

>> Eureka: mandy's story touched

Me in such a way that I didn't

Expect it to touch me.

I have a trans past.

I literally transitioned at like

Eighteen and a half and I lived

As a female till I was

Twenty-three.

I can down a list of reasons why

I decided to re-transition and

Start living as a q*eer boy and

A lot of it was like the

Societal push back that I was

Getting, the verbal abuse, it

Just got to a point where I was

Like afraid to go grocery

Shopping, I'd only go in the

Middle of the night like when no

One was there, but then there

Was this huge part of my

Relationship with my mother.

You know, she definitely treated

Me differently now that I was

Trans.

You know, before, I was her baby

Boy and you know everyone in my

Family treated me differently.

There was a pressure of just

Feeling like the outcast.

>> Eureka: the worst thing that

Can happen to somebody fueled by

Fear and shame is you run the

Risk of them choosing to live a

Certain way that they think the

World's going to accept.

But you know, at seventy,

But you know, at 70, mandy's

Living every moment she can

Honey and she's making sure we

All know it.

>> Eureka: thank you for giving

Me this moment, you know.

>> Yeah.

>> There is a big discussion

When it comes to treatment for

Transgender children, the

Florida board...

>> The health department issuing

Controversial guidelines today.

>> Florida governor ron desantis

Wants to ban transgender care

For young people.

>> Social gender transition

Should not be a treatment option

For children or adolescence.

>> Shangela: hi, hi gorgeous.

I love your dress.

>> Eureka: hi, I'm eureka.

>> Hi, eureka.

>> Eureka: pleasure, hi.

>> Shangela: bob.

>> Bob: hi.

Hi, I'm bob, hi, what's your

Name?

>> My name is dempsey.

>> Bob: dempsey, nice to meet

You.

>> Shangela: oh, thank you,

Thank you.

>> Eureka: how do they treat you

At school?

Do you have a lot of friends?

>> It depends on what situation

I'm in.

I told like a little bit of

People that I'm trans and the

First person I told um, them to

Doesn't really like me anymore

So like,

>> She is a little concerned

That that person is

Gonna go tell other people.

>> I'm scared.

Yeah, because I know some people

Like to gossip and like start

Drama.

Um, I know a lot of people do

Not like me but...

>> You always tell people what?

Always be you.

>> And don't listen to the

Haters that's what I always say.

>> Eureka: I love that, can I

Get a smack for that, I mean I'm

Just saying.

>> Bob: it's really cool that

You have such a fierce

Understanding of yourself at

Such a young age.

>> Eureka: it's inspiring even

For me.

It's hard sometimes for a lot of

People to say you know what, I'm

Gonna be me.

So that's a,

>> Is it hard for you, you

Think?

>> Eureka: super star move.

>> Can I go to the bouncy house?

>> Shangela: you go bounce, we

Gonna hang out with mama for a

Second and then we'll,

>> Bob: she said, she said I'm

Getting in this bouncy house.

>> Eureka: and then seeing the

Happiness of dempsey's face just

Celebrate who she is, is

Incredible.

When she transitioned did you

Have a lot of push back?

>> Yeah.

From the school, from doctors,

It was hard, that's why we

Moved up here, we were in miami

And you'd think that miami would

Be more open.

>> Shangela: super progressive.

I would think so.

>> No, only in the beach.

>> Outside the beach it's very

Conservative, very religious.

So when we moved up here we

Found an affirming doctor which

Was amazing and that's the only

Time we could change her birth

Certificate cuz we needed a

Doctor.

The doctor in miami, like no,

This is something's wrong with

You, you're sick, both of you,

Me and my husband, you're sick.

>> Shangela: and there are bills

Right now directive to doctors

To not support transitioning?

To not support transitioning?

>> So, they do not

Recommend children to socially

Transition.

The simple growing your hair and

Changing your wardrobe, they've

Said no, it's a scary time I

Mean i, I don't know what I'm

Gonna have to do if they take

Away her right to healthcare

We're gonna have to go out of

State.

>> Shangela: whoa.

>> Eureka: it makes me want to

Cry.

>> Bob: what's keeping you in

Florida?

>> We built a home here, I love

It here.

>> Bob: you also shouldn't have

To be run out of your, run out

>> That's the thing

And people are always so quick

To like why don't you just leave

Then if it's so terrible.

And I'm like because if everyone

Just got up and left what is

That saying?

>> How was it?

>> We finally found a doctor

That's affirming and the

Politics of the state, they are

Issuing, inch by inch, laws that

Are gonna take away her right to

Medical care.

Are we going to have to move

Out of state?

That's a very real possibility,

It's already on that path right

Now.

So that's my biggest worry.

>> Shangela: let's go, come on.

>> I already took off my shoes

So.

>> Oh my god.

>> Shangela: ready?

One, two, three, halleyloo.

[Laughter]

Woo!

All right, uncle, auntie,

Shangela got to go baby, auntie

Shangy got to go.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: oh, here were go,

Village.

Woo!

>> Bob: turn your blinker off.

>> Shangela: oh, thank you.

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: hello.

>> Bob: hi.

>> Eureka: ooh, it's a party.

>> Shangela: hello, everybody.

>> Bob: the villages have these

Little parties in their

Driveway, they'll basically hire

Out a dj and have like a block

Party.

>> You're so cute.

>> Eureka: thank you, so are

You.

>> Bob: the villages are

Different because of the

Demographic, because of how

h*m* it is.

It's all the same, you, i, I've

Never been in a place with,

Where it's quite like this.

>> Bob: it almost feels like um,

A, like living on a cruise ship.

>> A little bit.

>> Bob: it kind of like being on

A cruise ship.

>> They call it, they call

The villages disneyland for uh,

Old people.

>> Bob: honestly, go off.

♪ ♪

>> We said we're gonna find

Someone that can put makeup on

Us just one time.

>> Shangela: oh you trying to

Get up in drag?

>> I would love it.

>> Shangela: girl, you would

Give them a full on

Transformation.

>> I used to have big old

t*tties.

>> Shangela: oh did you, what

Happened to your t*tties?

>> I took them off.

>> Shangela: yeah, I understand.

>> They got on my nerves.

>> Shangela: yeah, well you know

People have a breast reduction,

Yeah.

>> I did.

♪ ♪

>> Bob: I live in la so I just

Kind of you know, woman: we're

From democrat land, god bless

You.

>> Eureka: all right, one, two,

Three.

Yay.

>> Shangela: and I hope you get

To see your first drag show

Soon.

>> Oh yes.

I hope too.

>> Shangela: okay.

>> Do you mean like drag racing?

>> Shangela: you know, not like

The cars.

No, drag queens, wigs, heels,

Disco, death drop.

>> Sparkles.

>> Shangela: sparkle honey,

Sparkle.

>> Ooh, I'm in.

♪ ♪

>> My favorite thing about

Living here is my mom.

We've always been really close

And, yeah, I didn't want her

Down here by herself.

Just grateful I have such a

Beautiful mom.

>> Hey, mama.

>> Hey, marky doo.

>> Ready to eat?

>> Always.

Hey, hey, hey.

>> Love you.

>> Love you.

>> I'm joyce triglioto, I'm

Eighty-eight years old, I'm uh,

Very catholic, very close to our

Lord and our lady.

And the holy spirit.

>> Gonna eat some ribeye, got

Some salmon.

>> You always go out, so out so

Much just a little sandwich and

A cup of soup would be great.

>> This is all good.

>> Great football player at

School.

He dated.

He just led a normal life like

The rest of the kids.

He's a great son.

>> Get the meat on and then we

Got crab cakes.

Oh, I got to show you these.

>> Mark, all this food.

>> Ow!

>> Ha, ha.

>> I can hear it cooking, mom.

>> He told me it, when he was

About thirty I think.

He says I'm g*y and I look and I

Said what.

He says yeah, he said it's just,

Just how I am.

I was ... Well, that's your life

Then.

You know, you live your life, I

Live mine.

>> Oh, I got some salmon.

Salmon.

Oh yeah.

>> Is that done?

>> But what more can you do?

And why bring it up all the

Time?

Just forget it.

>> You got to drink after your

Toast, ten years' bad sex if you

Don't.

>> Ten years bad what?

>> Sex.

If you don't.

I'm serious.

I'm serious, mom.

>> Okay.

I'll try to remember that.

>> You got to look people in the

Eye too.

>> I'll try and remember that.

>> And do you feel like he did

Choose to do this or choose,

Okay?

>> Mmmhmm.

>> Okay, tell me yeah.

>> I think it was his, I mean if

He didn't want to do it he

Wouldn't have done it.

So it was definitely his

Decision.

>> Why do you think he chose it?

>> I have no idea.

>> One more.

Love you, mama.

>> Love you.

>> Got to drink.

>> I always felt like I still

Have a foot in the closet you

Know, and I think by doing this

That, you know, I mean I am uh,

Scared what you know my mother

Will say, I'm gonna you know

Expose myself completely.

>> Bob: imagine knowing that you

Have to hide something about

Yourself so that you don't get

Bullied, ridiculed, or kicked

Out of school.

When you have something like

When you have something like

"Don't say g*y", the legislation

Magnifies that more than

Underlines it, it, it, it puts

It in bold essentially trying to

Make it ill*gal to acknowledge

Your existence.

♪ ♪

>> I get through life with my

Regular day to day activities.

I don't know in what direction

I'm going or where I need to go

I just...

Out of anxiety or fear I don't

Like going out in public.

But what I do now for work is

Extremely gratifying.

I am a clinical laboratory

Scientist at a fertility clinic.

>> It's very intense, it

Requires a lot of focus.

That is perfect for me because

What I need to do at work just

Takes my mind completely off of

The things that are constantly

Going on in my head.

Because I know the severity and

How serious it is trying to help

Create life and ultimately

Helping people create life and,

And families.

>> Shangela: how are you?

>> Doing good.

>> Shangela: excellent.

Were you cooking?

>> Yeah, white rice with

Chicken.

>> Shangela: may I have one?

>> Yes, please.

>> Shangela: you cannot put

Chicken in front of me and not

Expect me to have a little piece

Of chicken.

I don't have the talent of

Cooking so...

Ooh, delicious.

>> Yeah.

I learned from my grandma

Traditional puerto rican.

>> Shangela: did you ever live

In puerto rico?

>> Yeah.

I was born and raised there.

>> Shangela: really?

>> Yeah.

I moved to the states in twenty

I moved to the states in

2013.

>> Shangela: mmmhmm.

This is right.

>> Right?

>> Shangela: yes, oh my god.

Oh, your grandma did you right.

>> Aww.

>> Shangela: so, we're doing a

Drag show.

>> I've done drag before.

I started like as a therapeutic

Outlet and I was really excited

And I was meeting people and

Creating like a little community

And unfortunately night clubs to

Me sometimes are extremely

Triggering because being a pulse

Survivor I'm always scared

Something's gonna happen,

Especially at, at, at a place

Like a night club.

>> Shangela: were you at the

Club?

>> Mmmhmm.

>> Shangela: how did you end up

There?

What, what happened?

>> That day, it was my house

Warming.

I had gotten my first apartment

So I had invited a lot of

People, there were like over

Twenty people at my apartment.

And uh, it started getting

Really loud and it was late so I

Was just nervous of the

Neighbor.

I said, we should take this to

Pulse, let's go to pulse.

We were having a really,

Really good night.

Out of the blue just g*nshots

Start happening.

I find myself hiding like in a

Utility ... Little closet.

>> Shangela: this is when the

sh**ter came in?

>> Mmmhmm.

>> Shangela: oh my goodness.

>> I did not want that door to

Open.

I'm like, if that door opens

It's probably whoever is doing

This.

And the door opens, it was like

A ... Here I go and it wasn't

That, it was the police.

I run outside and I see my

Friend on the f*cking floor like

Dead.

>> Shangela: oh, my god.

>> All these people injured, it

Was a literal nightmare.

Four of the people that went

With me were k*lled and about

Six were injured with g*nshots.

You know, it's almost impossible

For you to tell yourself it's

Not your fault, it's not your

Fault but then my brain just

Goes, who told them to go there,

You told them.

There's just so much that I

Feel that night took away from

Me.

After the sh**ting being q*eer

Out in public scares me because

I don't know who else is out

There in the world that would

Feel just hatred towards

Somebody like me and at any

Given moment do something like

That, and I won't even, I don't

Even know when it could happen.

>> Shangela: give me your hand,

Come here, first of all, let me

Give you a hug.

>> It eats at me ... I ... I feel

Like I have no friends and, and

I don't put myself out there

Because it's just hard, it, i, I

Don't want that to be my forever

Thing.

>> Shangela: no.

I don't want it to be your

Forever thing either.

And I'm gonna tell you why,

Because you have so much joy and

Love and light in here it

Deserves to be out here.

That's what we gonna do.

We're gonna work together this

Week, we're gonna have a good

Time and that laugh, that laugh

Halleyloo.

Ha, ha, hell.

Ha, ha, ha, we're gonna share

That laugh and that joy because

Who knows, a comet could come

And hit the earth tomorrow and

We're ... None of us are here

Anymore.

>> I know; I hope I ate good

Food the day before.

>> Shangela: i, b*tch I ate this

Chicken.

[Laughter]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> By the time we're finished

And you turn around and you look

In the mirror, you're gonna see

Yourself in a way that you've

Never seen yourself.

>> Well good.

>> Eureka: with drag that is

Kind of what we do is we bring

All that beauty that we hide for

So long and we put it on the

Face.

>> Okay, good.

And I want people to understand

That we're not what they're

Saying we are, that we're just

Average people living our lives

And, and happier probably than

Most people are now.

>> Eureka: well maybe not

Average people.

We're cream of the crop.

Darling.

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: the gays are here.

>> The h*m*.

>> Hey.

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: hi.

>> Hi.

>> Shangela: part of the reason

Why we're all here is because

All of us feel like we need we

Want to be a part of you know

You're your journey and your

Story.

♪ ♪

>> Well I'm excited to get to

Express your story in a way

That's not just words and really

Kind of dig into something

Different and, and, and for you

To experience what this is and

We're talking body today.

♪ ♪

>> Give me twilight vampire.

>> Shangela: yes.

>> That's cute.

♪ ♪

>> That's cute.

>> Shangela: if you have to come

Up on to stage, there is a walk.

Model strut here we go.

>> This?

>> Shangela: yes.

>> This, this, and then I just,

>> Shangela: oh, oh, oh.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: oh, come on mama,

With the hips.

>> That's called a corset?

>> It is called a corset.

>> It is comfortable though.

>> Well we are not there yet so.

>> Shangela: do you sweat a lot?

>> That's it.

>> Eureka: how do you walk in

These?

>> I used to be able to do it,

Now I look like john wayne.

>> Eureka: but they're gorgeous.

>> Go, go, go.

>> Shangela: oh, dad.

♪ ♪

>> There you go.

Just slide, there you go,

Gorgeous.

>> Eureka: however you walk

In them.

>> Oh, my legs are getting sore.

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: the biggest thing

Though about this number is

Going to be how you connect with

This audience and let them know

That we're all illuminating the

World with our voices.

>> Bob: I know it would inspire

Me if I saw a teacher like that

At my school, my high school.

>> I agree.

I agree.

>> Being in marches and protests

And rallies, to be heard, I feel

Like there's a lot of

Empowerment there and actually

We're doing a rally next week

That I would love for you to

Come to.

Its say g*y, that's what

The rally is for, is say g*y.

>> Shangela: oh, say g*y rally.

>> Yeah, say g*y, yes, like say

g*y and it's to really show

Support and empowerment for

Lgbtq kids in florida.

Everyone would love it if you

Were there.

>> Eureka: oh, honey we're gonna

Have to show up.

>> Shangela: I guess we should

Show up.

>> Eureka: I think we should go.

>> Shangela: there you go.

>> The only thing that sometimes

Is hard is that you know our

Names are out there and so it's

Like we're a bigger target.

With that visibility you lose

Some of your security as a

Family, which is scary.

Yeah.

♪ ♪

>> Shangela: so many people.

My friend eddie was one of the

Ones who got shot.

What happened at pulse it just

Tears my heart out.

With the don't say g*y bill and

The anti-trans legislation it

Just ignites in me this feeling

That we can't do this again,

We can't go through this again.

>> Eureka: everything going on

In florida impacts all of us.

It's giving people that have

Hatred and bigotry within them

Permission to act out on those

Feelings.

♪ ♪

>> Since my birthday is getting

Pretty close, I want to start a

List of the things I really,

Really want, and the things that

I...

>> Like in order priority order?

>> Yeah, my ... The order.

>> Okay, so what's the number

One thing you must have?

>> So the number one thing, a

White jacket and leg warmers.

>> Leg warmers?

>> I really want leg warmers cuz

They're so cute.

>> I think we could swing that.

>> Dempsey, she's funny, she's

Smart, she's kind, she's is just

So open to everyone...

>> She's the most loving.

[Crying]

>> The confidence in that child,

It's incredible with everything

She has to deal with.

[Crying]

The future is scary.

So...but we'll figure it out.

>> I think the hardest part for

Dennis and I wasn't accepting

Dempsey for who she is it was

Accepting the fact that our

Child will potentially struggle

To fit in society for her entire

Life.

It just makes me sad.

The main role of a parent is

To set them up to be happy with

Who they are and put them in a

Place where they can grow.

Did I see dempsey being an

Activist?

Did I see myself speaking at

Rallies and doing all these

Public things?

No.

I think it was born out of

If we weren't visible she might

In some way feel like we were

Trying to hide her away.

Well, we don't want to talk

About that part, like let's just

Keep it in our family.

So being public, she's

Learning that it's okay to be

Herself, okay to advocate for

Herself, and other people like

Her.

>> I just want everybody to

Notice me for who I am, I just

Want them to know that I'm fun,

Nice, we're not really different

We're just the same as normal

Human beings.

>> Eureka: being here in florida

Has really brought up a lot of

Emotions in me.

As early as I can remember going

To bed I would literally lay

There and just beg to god that I

Would wake up a girl.

Why can't I be like my sisters?

After I decided to re-transition

It started really tearing me

Down, it was a really dark time

In my life.

Using a lot of alcohol and

Partying a lot with my friends,

Hurting myself, paranoid because

I wanted to numb the feelings

Because I was unable to be

Myself.

>> Eureka: but I was punished

[Crying]

And you get scared after a while

Especially when you try and then

You're hurt, you know?

>> Eureka: I am now fully sober,

It's something that I've learned

Through recovery is that I

Haven't been living

Authentically and there's even

More feelings about my gender

Identity that I haven't been

Honest with.

It's just time for me to face

Facts.

You know, that I deserve to

Live, I deserve to live happily.

I truly cannot live another day

Unauthentic.

♪ ♪

>> Everybody say "g*y."

Everybody say "g*y."

Yes.

>> Shangela: this is the moment,

Baby.

This is not a time to sit back,

This is a time to be heard.

>> Eureka: often times q*eer

People are made out to be the

Villain, so that's why we're

Showing up today as villains

Mama.

You want to villainize me,

I'll show you a villain.

>> We gather here today to

Remind those who have forgotten

That we are here.

Are we here?

[Cheering]

>> We promise you that we will

Not abandon you, our lgbt

Students, our trans students.

>> It doesn't matter how many

Bills are created, we will not

Allow our children to be

Marginalized.

>> We've got to stand up for our

Next generation.

Please just keep on fighting.

Okay, thank you.

>> I'm fine.

>> Meet dempsey.

>> Hi.

>> Good afternoon, brevard

County.

I am an educator and a proud mom

In this beautiful state of

Florida.

My children were all born and

Raised here and it is the only

Home they have ever known but

These past few years have become

Increasingly difficult for our

Family.

My daughter dempsey socially

Transitioned five years ago at

Age five.

She is happy, confident,

Thriving, in a supportive and

Affirming home environment.

[Cheers and applause]

>> She is my inspiration for her

Courage that she shows every

Single day.

Piece by piece florida

Politicians are stripping away

Her rights to be acknowledged or

Even access medical care to keep

Her healthy.

I will never hide my child.

She will always, always live her

Authentic life.

She deserves it and you all

Deserve it.

[Cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

>> Eureka: hi, everybody.

How the fudge are you?

All of your beautiful faces

We're so excited to see, now is

More important than ever to be

Seen and visible so make sure

You are loud, you are proud, and

Say "g*y" every chance you get.

[Cheers and applause]

[Crowd chanting]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> Bob: I love seeing people

Embracing their identities, not

Being afraid what other people

Say about their queerness.

It is unfair to ask them to

Diminish themselves, to be

Small, to be afraid.

>> Bob: there is some risk

Involved in q*eer people

Exposing themselves to the

World.

♪ ♪

>> Bob: but there's also the

Opportunity to empower and

People see you up there being

Yourself.

[Cheers and applause]

♪ ♪

>> Eureka: people in power want

To silence q*eer people but we

Are never letting that happen.

>> Shangela: we aren't finished

In florida.

We can't be, as far as I'm

Concerned this rally is just the

Start, our drag show is gonna be

Bigger and louder and, baby,

We're bringing the noise.

>> Shangela: honk if you love

g*y.

Honk if you love g*y.

♪ ♪

[Cheers and applause]

>> Eureka: wait till we do this

Drag show.

We're not done in florida.

We're here to make statements.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪