Today we’d like to introduce you to Johnny Gentleman.
Hi Johnny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Johnny Gentleman, a trans-masculine non-binary LA Drag king of over four years based in Los Angeles. I started to do drag after a traumatic time of my life and when I first stepped on the stage and the light hit, it was the beginning of a new world for me. Drag gives me the opportunity to therapeutically express my emotion and advocate for my drag king, BIPOC, and Trans/Enby community. As a Latinx king in a white cis-gendered Drag queen-dominated world, I feel I have to fight my way to get respect by performing 2x/3x harder and be seen. Everything I do is not only for myself but to show that kings are valid drag performers and deserve a chance to be seen and heard just like any drag queen. I performed, competed, and fought to gain respect in my queen-dominated world and I thrive to use my power to make our community more diverse, inclusive, and equal when it comes to bookings and pay.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
People don’t see that when it comes to being an AFAB ( assigned female at birth) in male drag that it may come with unsafe experiences. In my four years of drag, I’ve experienced racism, sexism, verbal abuse, sexual harassment and discrimination in drag and people treat me like this because “we’ll YOU’RE kind of like a man so we are just treating you like one”. I’ve been stripped of my money and denied booking because they told me I was “unsellable”. We are far from being on a smooth road when it comes to equality in the drag community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a freelance Challenge Associate producer for reality television when it comes to my day job. I love to produce shows and events that lets people of all walks of life express themselves and their art. I’m determined to make a world where people have a safe place to be themselves, express themselves, and find a sense of community like I have in my drag community. I hope to continue doing that through my screenwriting, acting, and multiple creative outlets that make me happy.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Come to shows, network with the drag artists, and learn from the performances. Be open to challenging yourself, don’t be afraid to feel, and have fun being who you are or who you want to be. When performing the important thing is for me to have fun and tell a story.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @johnnysingentleman
Image Credits
Photos taken from @yuqstudios and myself
