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Show OF The Forum Interest April 16 1997 Wednesday 2 Women Boyz Male Performers Give Illusion that they are Women Rick Branham Forum staff writer The music crescendos to a final, exultant chord that seems to freeze the glamorous divas as they strike one last sultry pose. Tho music ends but tho applause continues, creating a perfect chorus for tho thousands of frenzied lights propelled by the mirror ball. Another great performance. The crowd really loved the pelvic thrust she added at the end of the Madonna number. Backstage, Garland Carter lights a cigarette and begins to unwind as she kicks off her heels, unclips her earrings, and takes off her wig and breasts. Wait a minute. Her ... breasts? get sexual pleasure out of wearing womens clothes, he said as he dressed for a publicity photo shoot days before. I dont gain any sexual pleasure from doing drag. I He am an illusionist. a as that performer, explained his job is to give the illusion that he is a woman. If the audience buys that illusion, then I have done my job. Some would argue that Garland and the three other members of Boyz 2 Women are doing much more than just their jobs. Each of them is also an active member of the Utah chapter of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike orgaEmpire, a nization with more than 150 chapters in the United States. Each year the Empire contributes $3,000 per year in college scholarships and raises money for AIDS research, breast cancer and other worgay-orient- theyre not really Garland is not and breasts, really a she. Shes a he. And he is a drag queen. According thy charities. to Miss Noxeema Jackson, the Doing drag is a lot of fun, also a way that we can but its queen portrayed by Wesley movie give something hack to our Snipes m the 1995 nit To Wong Foo, Thanks for community, said Garland. Not all the donations are Everything! Julie Newmar, when a gay man has way too obtained through drag performuch fashion sense for a sinmances, however; the Empire also a uses car washes, barbehe is drag gle gender, cues, and other events to colqueen. Garlands name is really lect funds. Garland and the other Garland ironic considering members of Boyz, not only that Judy Garland is somewhat of an icon in the gav create the illusion that they community. Garland is quick are beautiful women, but they to point out that he is not a also make effortless, cross dresser. Cross dressers In reality, their job isnt that are usually straight men who easy. In the words of Donna Well, - i, X ' 1 ed I Xit Brad Dronbay, computer science major, gets an up close view of one of the members of Boyz to Women, n a group of drag qufeens. Boyz to Women perform at a popular private club, photo by Jared four-perso- Barnard Summer, another gay icon, they work hard for the money. It all starts with shopping outfit. for that perfect (Theyve really got this female thing down pat.) My WS,S are from mother nature, said Michael Barrandey, member of Boyz who does an incredible Cher, among other impersonations. Okay, okay. I do get some wigs from mail order catalogs, he confessed. Both Michael and Garland said they buy most of their costumes and gowns at womens clothing stores. I once went into this shop looking for a gown, said Garland. I was asked, Is this for your girlfriend? When I said it was for me, they said v. they didnt allow men to try on the womens clothes. Did he complain to the management? No. I simply wont go n'.fi back. The owners of that shop would kick themselves - or kick the rude employee - if they knew how much business they had turned away. Each of the performers in the troupe has more than 75 costumes. These outfits, mind you, are not $20 bargains from the Kathy Lee Gifford collection at Walmart. Some of the outfits cost up to $300. Gowns and costumes arent the' only expensive purchases they have to make on a regular basis. These men may have hips and thighs that would make super models jealous, but they alsb have man-size- d feet. Some of their If can illusionists. themselves in to Women pride being they Boyz can shoes be purchased at of then done have a their the illusion jobs they being woman, give stores like Cinderellas - a well, photo by Jared Barnard store which caters to tall and but leggy beauty queens most of their shoes have to be mail ordered. The cost of the female apparel isnt the worst of it. Its the fact that the drag queens have to buy mens clothes as well. If you think about it,, I basically shop for two people, said Michael.' When I go to the mall, I have - . to stop and think, I need to go to the mens department to buy underwear and socks, then Ill pick up a iair of mens jeans and a cou-il- e of shirts. After that Ill 00k for a new bra and check out the gowns upstairs. It can be maddening. Michael explained that sometimes he doesnt have enough time or money to shop for everything. In those the he said, instances, female side wins - after all, its how I earn my living. Once theyve purchased the perfect outfit, they begin the process of fashioning the perfect face, hair and nails to complete the look. It takes me about an hour and a half to get dressed, said Garland, But I realty enjoy doing it. Its a grounding time for me a time for me to get myself together before a perfor- The time is obvious- r well ly spent. The transfer- g ttiation froiri a into a beautiful woman is incredible. If you hadnt seen them before dressing up, you would have a hard time believing that they are men. Apparently, many people do buy into the illusion and believe that these men are -- good-lookin- indeed women. Michael and Garland both admitted that theyve been hit on by a few unsuspecting, heterosexual males. When we go out after a show or an event, said Michael, we usually go in drag. If a straight guy tries to pick me up, it makes me feel like I'm good at what I do." indeed very Michael good at what he does. He puts tremendous effort into practicing and perfecting his performances. I even go to the straight strip clubs like the Million Dollar Saloon and watch the dancers, he said. I really learn a lot by watching the way they move their bodies. I think its helped my performances. Perhaps another reason Michael performs so well is . that he isnt really acting; hes living the part. Ive always been very effeminate, he said. Though it may be a talk show era cliche, Michael said, the phrase woman trapped in a mans body accurately describes my situation. He plans on getting the corrective surgery as soon as he can raise the $45,000 it will take. My long-tergoal is to live my life as a woman and have a fulfilling relation-mancship with a man. Garland is also looking for: relation-ma- n ward to a long-terwith a man someday, but ship as a gay man - not a woman. (He has no plans for a sex change.) Right now Im not m e. m ' See Drag page 15 - |