Story by: Evelia Rodriguez
At the center of the University of Southern California (USC), almost two thousand lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transvestite and questioning (LGBTQ) youth members go out and celebrate their LGBTQ pride.
Models of Pride (MOP), is an annual event that was founded in 1993 by the Gay and Lesbian Education Commission of the Los Angeles Unified School District. MOP was created in order to help out young LBBTQ kids who are having trouble coming out of the closet to their family members or in general coming out to society. This event was also created to give the youth a safe and positive environment to express themselves.
This event was designed to help out youth up to the age of 24, but you can also volunteer or go as an adult. There are also some adult workshops, that help parents understand their kids. They give them tips on how to get closer or build a bond with their children.
This year they had over 100 different types of workshops covering topics like dating, stereotypes, religious issues, coming out, healthcare issues and many more.
In 1998, LAUSD abolished all education sponsoring and in 2010 Friends Of Project 10 Inc. invited Lifework’s to join.
Some of the things Lifework’s has done to change MOP was increasing their numbers from 500 youth to over 1000 youth attendees this year.
Anthony Hernandez is a transvestite. Known to some as Crystal Lights, 23, an inspiring queen that has been in the drag scene for over a year.
Performing every night, as a member of the Saturday Night Scarlett’s, a club Casablanca in Bakersfield California.
Hernandez is one of those people who could have used the guidance of MOP.
He gains his confidence from the TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race on LOGO. He always said to himself if these entertainers could be on TV with wigs, make up, and heels, he could have the courage to be true to himself and come out the closet.
For Hernandez, drag is a way to show an artistic side and over all, he just wants to make people happy. He hopes all have an amazing time watching him perform.
“Accepting the fact that no one is perfect, it takes time, patience, and hard work to perfect something. It was a struggle for me wanting to be the epitome of perfection until I realized that it takes time. As long as I’m the best that I can be in that moment in time, I can only get better,” said Hernandez when talking about makeup.
As the generations go further drag queens becoming more accepted, but it wasn’t always like that. Drag queens have always passed through a hard time. Not only, not being accepted by their family members, but also not being accepted in what society calls “norms”.
“They had to go through physical violence. Drag queens don’t do anything to deserve physical violence but there is something about certain men who react negatively. It’s not the drag queens fault, it’s like screw you grow up” said Kim Wyneken, teacher at San Fernando High School, Gay Straight Alliance.
What a lot of people don’t know is that when the lights come off a lot of men transform theirself into queens at night. About one quarter of the drag queen community doesn’t admit they are drag queens in order to keep their identity safe.
“I actually know someone who is a dock worker, big, butch, muscular guy. If any of his co workers ever found out, Oh My God, it will be awful” said Wyneken.
Drag queens are not just average girl-guys like on https://www.shemalehd.sex/ as most people describe them, but they all come in different shapes and sizes, big skinny, Caucasian, African American, Asian, or Hispanic.
Hair and makeup isn’t an easy process, everything has to be on spot or it can turn your look from classy to trashy, unless you actually want to go for trashy.
The makeup side to drag can usually take up to 2-3 hours depending on your experience. Even when you are experienced, the process is consise.
The makeup side includes every concceivable make up tool, They have to contour their whole face, to make some face features pop out more than others. But applying eye shadow and lipstick is one of the most creative parts. The looks can vary from crazy queen of hearts inspired makeup to glittery Hollywood inspired.
Blake Kramazov owner of Swagger cosmetics, full time drag princess says, “Sun screen is one, if not the most important thing when it comes to doing drag make up or regular makeup because your face is your empty canvas”.
MOP is a place where many out coming queens show their pride.