We are back with Part 3 of our Black, LGBTQ+ History Month celebration. If you missed the previous blog posts then you can find them HERE and HERE. This week we enter the world of Drag, with RuPaul and Stormé DeLarverie.
“If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”
RuPaul, is perhaps the most well known Drag Queen of all time! She is an actor, model, singer, songwriter and host of the iconic show ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’, now in its 13th season. Now seen as the most commercially successful Drag Queen of all time, RuPaul has transformed societies perception of what it means to do Drag.
Originally born in New York, she became a popular figure on the NY nightclub scene. She later became the spokesperson for MAC Cosmetics, raising money for the MAC AIDS Fund. Also becoming the host of her own show, The RuPaul Show on VH1.
Ru is a powerhouse, starring in films, television shows, producing podcasts, audiobooks as well as hosting drag conventions. She has become an example to so many of the greatness that we all have inside us. She has created a community and safe place for LGBTQ+ people to express their authentic self, giving us a platform to show the world who we really are.
“We are the spirit, the collective conscience. We create the pain, and suffering, and beauty in this world.”
American, singer-songwriter known for hits “Fast Car”, “Talkin bout a revolution”, “Give Me One Reason” and so many more. Whilst Chapman has never publicly disclosed her sexuality, she has become a Black, LGBTQ+ icon.
Although the song ‘Talkin bout a Revolution’ only reached 75 in the US charts, it has become a soundtrack to a generation. Receiving heavy radio play in Tunisia in 2011 during the Tunisian Revolution. It was also the unofficial song of Bernie Sanders presidential campaign back in 2016.
Chapman has always been a politically active musician, focusing much of her work on human rights. She has performed at events such as, 40th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute, raising money for South Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Movement and the AIDS/LifeCycle event.
“It was a rebellion, it was an uprising, it was a civil rights disobedience – it wasn’t no damn riot.”
Originally born in New Orleans, known as the butch lesbian that sparked the Stonewall Riots. DeLarverie realised she was gay at the age of 18 and was known to have a long time partner of 25 years. She spent much of her life as a singer, bouncer and MC hosting at the Apollo Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. She was also known as ‘The Guardian of Lesbians’, for her volunteer role as a street patrol worker in New York.
The Stonewall Rebellion started when a police officer was seen roughly escorting a woman out of the Stonewall Inn. The woman managed to break free and was described as “a typical New York City butch”. She was then hit over the head with a baton, however she fought back whilst bleeding, until she was thrown into the back of a police wagon. Many bystanders have identified this woman as Stormé DeLarverie and she has supported this.
DeLarverie developed dementia and spent her later years in a nursing home in Brooklyn. However, her life was honoured in Michelle Parkerson’s film Stormé: The Lady of the Jewel Box, screened in 2014.
Fashnu was an English football player, playing professionally between 1978 – 1997. He was the first pro footballer to be openly gay, as well as the first black footballer to command a £1 million transfer fee. However, Fashnu also faced many challenges after coming out. He was often in newspaper headlines and the subject of scandal as well as facing public discrimination.
Heartbreakingly, he took his own life at age 37 when a 17 year old boy went to the police accusing him of sexual assault. Fashnu was living in Maryland, USA, where homosexuality was illegal at the time. He was questioned by police, but fled back to the UK before he could be arrested. He was found hanged with a suicide note stating that the sex was consensual and that he realised. “I had already been presumed guilty. I do not want to give any more embarrassment to my friends and family.”
Fashnu’s story is a stark reminder of the pain and fear felt by so many within the LGBTQ+ community. However, his legacy is one of a hero. He is listed as number 99 in the The Pink Papers, Top 500 Lesbian and Gay Heroes. He is also the namesake of The Justin All-stars, a team created in his honour by the Justin Campaign. A campaign against homophobia in football, promoting the inclusion of openly gay players.
“Now I’ve devoted my life to making sure that I can be a trailblazer for any other African American kids or any other gay kids or any other kids that just feel weird or uncomfortable and have their own issues and don’t know how to express themselves. I want to be like a beacon for those kids now.”
Todrick is fast becoming one of the worlds biggest LGBTQ+ icons. He is a dancer, choreographer, YouTuber, singer, rapper, director, songwriter, executive producer, actor and incredible personality. Gaining national attention on season 9 of American Idol, Todrick has continued to use his fame for good. He publicly aspires to be a role model for LGBTQ+ people of colour and his experience of being a Black gay man is included in much of his art. In 2016 he wrote, choreographed, directed, produced and starred in his original musical ‘Straight Outta Oz’. The show combined his favourite musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with his own life story. It featured many well-known celebrities, including Nicole Scherzinger, Perez Hilton and Taye Diggs. It became an instant online success as it provided a narrative for young LGBTQ+ children around the world.
We hope you enjoyed this weeks Black, LGBTQ+ icons and that you learned something new. Next week is our final instalment of the month, but we hope that you will continue to learn .
Feel free to leave us your comments on Instagram, @_breakingthedistance.
I currently live in London, working all over the UK as a performer and a presenter. I have a passion for writing and love sharing my experiences with others.
I currently live in London, working all over the UK as a performer and a presenter. I have a passion for writing and love sharing my experiences with others.
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