Corporate Pride is Nearly Here
business and queerness unite like never before on 6/1/2023... why not get to know our lineup now?
Greetings, one and all, on this Pride’s Eve. That special time of year when the halls be decked with rainbow flags unfurling, and Drag Queens step-touch atop floats sponsored by J.P. Morgan-Chase. Yes, our benevolent corporate overlords are preparing to don their newest Target Sparkle Shawls and hit the streets in support of their Fellow LGBTQIA+ Kids.
It’s in this Holiday Spirit that we present the next round of our ‘lil variety show this Thursday, June 1st, kicking off this very queer month off right with performances and revelries sponsored by the corp–er we mean “people”– who care about us most… for the month. Then they go back to sponsoring Republicans. But alas, you can’t win them all :3 Here, let’s meet some of those artists offering homage to our aforementioned sponsors!
xoxoxo
Babz + Cass + Caty
Meet the Performers
Mini q+as with the artists gracing our stage on June 1.
How would you describe the work you make as a performer?
Klondyke (they/them): I would describe my work as multi-media drag performance art.
Queensiñera (she/they): I would describe it as a charming juxtaposition in motion.
Jonathan Thomas (he/him): I’m a standup comedian whose comedy was once described as “gay and morbid,” which felt reductive. I would describe my comedy as personal, identity focused, and interested in the humor of trying to cultivate a sense of self and purpose, while battling everyday mundanities and the fickleness of feelings, in a life with no discernible meaning. Or, in other words, gay and morbid.
A Drag Queen Named Darius (he/they): As a performer I love to explore the idea of what is cringe and what is community, and how can the audience and I create community through that journey.
Rion Moon (he/they): I would describe my work as cathartic, and unhinged. My art is just that of a theater kid with too many emotions who loves a stage and chance to make people uncomfortable.
What’s a tasty thing you’ve eaten lately?
Klondyke: This really specific hot and soup from a Chinese spot on Dekalb and Broadway.
Queensiñera: This epic oyster and duck sauce pasta from a restaurant called Surfish in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn.
Jonathan: On Mother’s Day, my mom and I made homemade bucatini with clams.
Darius: One thing I have been obsessed with lately is water. That sound stupid, but water be watering. You ever take a sip of cold water on a warm day and you feel it go down and cool your throat and into your stomach, and it feels like you just drank life. yeah water is fire!
Rion: Tasty thing I eaten recently was some nuggets from McDonald's. I forgot how great they are.
Do you know your sun, moon, and rising signs?
Klondyke: Leo sun, Scorpio moon, Aquarius rising…intense I know lol
Queensiñera: Aries, Libra, Libra.
Jonathan: Aquarius sun; Aquarius moon; Leo rising.
Darius: Do I know my Zodiac big 3? Baby I’m Queer! I’m a Sagittarius Sun, Taurus Rising and Taurus moon! Meaning I got a lot of wood to keep the fire lit.
Rion: SUN - Taurus
MOON - Scorpio
RISINGS - Taurus/Aries/Capricorn
If corporations weren’t cowards, what would the next big pride product be?
Klondyke: Massage gun level vibrating dildo, or a Swarovski crystal trans colored flapper dress.
Queensiñera: Mmmm I think instead of an actual product, an epic discount or slash of sales on home goods and living essentials, something of actual benefit/use rather than a physical product with a rainbow pattern slapped on.
Jonathan: It won’t be long now until Target has a t-shirt in its Pride collection that says: “Pop Off, F@ggot!” But hopefully first, we’ll get expanded access to PrEP.
Darius: If corporations were really bout that life what they would have isn’t a pride product, it would be a black pride floor. It would be a sliding scale of prices, where basically Trans black women can just walk in, grab what they want and leave, and cis het straight and you know the rest have to pay extra and that money gets sent to communities like Flint Michigan (who still doesn’t have clean water almost 10 years later) for rebuilding.
Rion: BACK PACKS FOR STRAP PACKS
Are there any upcoming shows or projects you’d like to plug?
Klondyke: Haus of Quench in Squirts at La Mama. 6/9 at 7pm!
Queensiñera: Metal Grade Babes is every last Sunday of the month at Lucky 13 Saloon (Next one is 6/25)
Jonathan: Mariposas Comedy, a show I co-produce, has its Pride show on June 22nd at Littlefield in Brooklyn. Follow me on Instagram (@jonathanjthomas_) for the ticket link.
Darius: My Art collective I Don’t Wanna See That and I have some shows and events coming. Our Variety show will be making a return, and for more info on other shows check out our Instagram. Myself, I’ll be doing drag in the street on the Lower East Side on June 24th for pride.
Rion: Gender Experts Party at Metropolitan Bar
Come to Queers N Peers: Corporate Pride this Thursday, June 1 at Dromedary Bar, 266 Irving Avenue, 7pm. Featuring Jonathan Thomas, A Drag Queen Named Darius, Klondyke, Rion Moon, and Queensiñera, plus a special commercial by Queer Window. Hosted by Cassidy Dawn Graves and Comrade Barbie; co-produced by Caty Cherepakhov. $10 advance (venmo Cassidy-Graves), $15 door, NOTAFLOF.