By Fausto Fernós on September 18, 2007 | Share & Save | Link | Print |
The move towards the larger society’s embrace of gay culture not always a clear line. The internet has done a great deal to allow GLBT people to carve out a voice for themselves in the world, this year I’ve never seen more YouTube/Internet queer celebrities Perez Hilton, Chris Crocker and to some extent the sexually ambiguous Tay Zonday on network television talk shows than ever before.
We’re up for the top prize of podcasting, the People’s Choice Podcast Award, which by many is seen as the Oscar of Podcasts. And you’re all welcome to join us at the ceremony, Friday September 28 in Los Angeles.
All this is big, because it feels like for the first time ever, you don’t just have ONE person breaking out, but many are people doing it and doing it well.
So if GLBT people are breaking the glass ceiling of online and broadcast entertainment, how have drag shows been impacted at your local gay bar?
In today’s interview we’re talking to Trannyshack founder and host Heklina who will be interviewed by us in person at our LIVE Podcast event at the Stud Bar in San Francisco, Wednesday Oct. 3, 7pm.
Heklina comments on how American society has changed with it’s views about drag queens:
“I think that Drag queens are still the eunuch clown that’s safe to laugh at. It’s definitively not shocking anymore. So I dont know if America’s really embraced it. The early 90s was when RuPaul and it was the first time any drag queen had mainstream exposure. I don’t really see a drag queen breaking out like that [again.]”
Join Marc Felion and me, Fausto Fernós as we talk to Heklina about Britney Spears and why gay men just love their divas, why Trannyshack is a different kind of drag show, the live stage version of the Golden Girls, keeping it fresh, and her friendship with Scissor Sister’s leading lady Ana Matronic, pictured here at Trannyshack taken a month ago by Steven Peterson.
The podcast that tears up the runway, just like Mayor Daley did to Meigs Field - Feast of Fools.
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RcktMan says:
September 19, 2007 at 00:42I love Heklina! She’s not only fabulous, she’s pretty damn intelligent, and very entertaining– even over the phone! Fantastic interview as always.
Cliff Dix says:
September 19, 2007 at 08:50Heklina is gorgeous! I can think of a few interesting women that the gay community embraces today like Kathy Griffin or Amy Sedaris. We need more strong fearless women like them instead of boring dummies like Paris, Britney, and Nicole.
Now your Meet-n-Greet will be packed with guys in hope of a Heklina/Sal-E rim job.
This week has been very scatological-From Larry Craig’s bathroom encounter to dog’s crapping in the closet to Heklina’s plentiful rim jobs!
PupDon says:
September 19, 2007 at 12:38OMG, I saw The Handmaids Tale when I was in college and it totally freaked me out. Fausto, I think you were referring to Robert Duvall? What an incredible movie.
Ventura79 says:
September 19, 2007 at 13:53Great show guys, I saw HeKlina in SF this past summer and she is HIGH-Larious, I didnt see her do any rim jobs, but none the less ENTERTAINING!
Gary T says:
September 19, 2007 at 15:09Fausto
I meant parking at the meet & greet @ The Stud, not on Heklina’s face. LOL
Mike from Bolingbrook says:
September 19, 2007 at 15:58I LOVE DRAG QUEENS!!!!!
This is great you guys, have you spoken with Hecklina before on the show? I seem to remember it.
Drag Hut!!!! ahhh. Anyway fun show once again y’all.
Comment 8 of 20
Eric says:
September 19, 2007 at 20:04Lifeless eyes….like a doll’s eyes.
Good show guys! And about the Handmaiden’s Tail; that was one of the weirdest books I’ve ever had the pleasure or displeasure of reading, I’m still not sure what adjective best fits my reaction to it.
And props to you Heklina, you made me laugh.
Henry says:
September 19, 2007 at 20:32Harp? I waited.. but didn’t hear it…
Entertaining Show… I just discovered Scissor Sisters earlier this year - and i was thrilled about discussion today!!
America ready for the gay community? hmmm, someone’s got to lead the way and mighty strong ladies they are.. no?
Xavi says:
September 19, 2007 at 21:26Excellent show!!! I was riding BART (bay area combination of subway and commuter train) back to the city from work and laughed so hard I started getting looks.
First, re: parking. The Stud is at the corner of 9th and Harrison. There is plenty of street parking. The neighborhood is safe, but clearly edgy and industrial. You shouldn’t have to park more than a block or two away. Beware the one way streets.
Back to Hecklina. I used to be a regular at Tranny Shack, but age and responsibility (mostly age) kept me from staying out till 3am on a Tuesday night. My favorite Tranny Shack moment wasn’t a performance, but a conversation that Hecklina was having on stage with her co-host at the time Pippy:
Hecklina: Pippy, you look great!
Pippy: Thanks, I lost some weight.
Hecklina: Oh, were you licking nasty ass at Blow Buddies again? (for those of you not from the bay area, blow buddies is a sex club in SF, conveniently down the street from The Stud).
Hearing Hecklina talk about the rimming on stage and remembering my favorite Hecklina/Tranny Shack moment had me in stitches even after I got off the train.
I haven’t been to Tranny Shack in ages, but I’ve definitely enjoyed watching Tranny Shack turn into the institution it is.
Again, great show guys!
Steven says:
September 19, 2007 at 23:11Gary, parking in the neighborhood isn’t too bad. There are usually plenty of spots on 10th, 9th, 8th, and Folsom.
Xavi — Funny that you bring up Pippy — there’s a bit of drama there! 
Seriously, guys, this was one of my favorite shows (probably because I live right around the corner from the Stud) and it still amazes me that even though I’m talking to you almost daily these days, I’m still excited when you do a show that hits me close to home.
Can’t wait to see you guys in a few weeks!!!
Fausto Fernós says:
September 20, 2007 at 01:16I can’t either. Putting this whole thing has been a huge undertaking! We’re all excited here.
StevenvanL. says:
September 20, 2007 at 12:32Great show guys, and that’s coming from someone usually not all that interested in anything draggy. I did get dragged to a drag competition though (Miss Lellebel - Dutch drag bar) last week by a friend of mine. And was heavily flirted with by a draglady who went the full Lolita - sipping her drink through a straw while looking directly into my eyes from the other side of the bar…
Andrew J says:
September 21, 2007 at 13:43I thought this show was a lot of fun! Now I want to go to Trannyshack, but unfortunately I live on the East Coast.
Ryan says:
September 21, 2007 at 14:30Another fine show gentlemen, Heklina you gave a great interview
brain-fork says:
September 21, 2007 at 20:07I would like to again say:
Two Words:
SCISSOR SISTERS!
When are you guys going to have them on the show?
Marc Felion says:
September 21, 2007 at 21:34We’ll have them on when they answer our request and we get permission to play their music.
brain-fork says:
September 21, 2007 at 21:42Well, I’ve sent an e-mail to them… That’s all I can do.
David in San Francisco says:
September 21, 2007 at 23:45Great show. Sorry I won’t be in town when you are here.
Curtis says:
September 25, 2007 at 09:38I was listening to the show and Heklina starts talking about the placenta eateing drag performer and I thought to myslef, that sounds like something my old friend Curtis York would have done. Then Heklina mentioned the sterno/jiffy pop popcorn 3rd degree burns and it was a story about my friend. He died 10 years ago in August of 1997 of a heroin overdose sadly but was the funniest person I have ever known.
He was a performance artist and satirist famous for shall we say “edgey” material.
His wildest performance involved telling a story about patriotism and questioning the gulf war while demonstrating how to make Apple Pie. He took the ingredients for apple pie, threw them in a blender and then with a pastry tube piped the pie filling into his ass and then shat the pie filling into a pie crust added a lovely whipped topping and then ate it. It brought down the house.
It brought back so many delightful memories of hours spent with Curtis after long nights of dancing and partying (the old pre-meth definition of partying) laughing our asses off, making crank phones calls on Sunday mornings to Mormon ward houses and running the smart bars at raves in Salt Lake City were we were the “Smart Bar Cunts”. Good times….
Larry La Fountain says:
October 17, 2007 at 20:44Great show!!!! Heklina is wonderful, very intelligent and clever and funny. That story about the poor queen who made JIffy Pop on her head was so sad! I liked Heklina’s read on classic divas as opposed to the current Britney craze. It’s really amazing Trannyshack has gone on for so long… I hope I get to attend before it ends! I’ve never been… and I’m such a drag fan….!!!!
JUANJESUS says:
April 21, 2008 at 20:57I live in San Francisco and I’ve never heard of her.
kidding.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois.
Along with his partner Marc Felion, he hosts the world's most downloaded talk show for gay people on the internet, Feast of Fools.
Fausto loves pomegranates, waterfalls and 70s retro funk music.
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StevenvanL. | May 17, 2008
Nicely hectic group of funny men this one!
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Hey guys…great show, it got even better when you mentioned me! 
I’m flattered. As i mentioned in my original email, yesterday was a day of tears and...
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Steven says:
September 19, 2007 at 00:15Heklina is the sixth Scissor Sister!