Last month I had the honor of being the model on hand when a reporter from The Boston Globe visited to do a write-up of Dr. Sketchy’s Boston. Cate McQuaid wrote this great article that described Boston’s Sketchy’s flavor in all of its gender-activist glory, and did my costume changes great justice. Check out the article here.
There are a few items in the article that I’d like to address.
Firstly, I was misquoted. I’m quoted as calling myself: “A double triple threat. Singing, dancing, acting, circus arts, and drag.” What I actually said was: “I like to call myself a double triple threat: singing/acting/dancing; circus arts/drag/burlesque.” Not a huge misprint—but I don’t want my fans to go around thinking I can’t do math. Two times three is not five, it’s six. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a “triple threat” is someone who acts, sings and dances—usually in the musical theater genre. I like to think that the cabaret equivalent to the triple threat is doing drag, burlesque and circus arts. Hence, double triple threat.
Secondly, I have never in my life packed with “a black sock.” I’m not sure what the reporter thought she saw; I was wearing black socks earlier in the day, so perhaps she saw those in the pile of discarded costumes and made a leap of logic about what was in my drawers. So, if you are one of the many who are still wondering whether I use a soft pack or my junk is homegrown, fear not, the mystery shall not be revealed: you may go on wondering. Just don’t imagine anybody’s socks in my drawers, please, that’s not my thing.
Lastly, I’m sure you can’t have failed to notice the use of the pronoun “she” to describe me. This happened because the author’s editor cited “style issues” and insisted that I choose one of the “traditional” pronouns. I chose to be called “she” because, as I told Cate, “my stage persona at the moment is a rather feminine one, and it makes sense to me that if I’m going to be squeezed into a binary that I go with the option that fits my current characters. I also experience privilege and oppression in many of the same ways that women do, so being called “he” assigns me power that I don’t have.” However, in the article, Cate mentions that I “acceded” to feminine pronouns without any context for that concession, and mentions that I prefer to be referred to by gender neutral pronouns without ever naming what those pronouns are.
In response to this last issue, I believe that letters to the editor are in order. Please join me in writing to the Editor of the Boston Globe encouraging them to rethink their exclusion of gender neutral pronouns from their style guide. At the bottom of this post you’ll find instructions on how to reach the editor. Below is my own letter.
To the Editor of The Boston Globe:
I would like to clarify the circumstances under which I “acceded to the feminine pronoun,” as reported in “Drawing attention” (Page G18, July 9). The author, Cate McQuaid, told me in an email that my request to be referred to by gender neutral pronouns could not be honored by the Globe because of “style” issues. Although I cannot address issues of style, I can address issues of respect and accurate reporting. In my community, it is respectful to refer to individuals by the names and pronouns with which they feel most comfortable. For me, those pronouns are ze (subject pronoun) and hir (direct object). This has nothing to do with the biology of my body, but instead with my gender expression. As McQuaid quotes in an otherwise very good article, “I don’t come down on one side or the other.” Thus it is not only disrespectful but also inaccurate to call me she, as she doesn’t describe my gender.
I urge you to change your stance on gender neutral pronouns. You will not estrange any readers by explaining and using them, but you do estrange many readers (more than you might think) by forcing people to choose pronouns that do not fit them.
Best,
Johnny Blazes
To submit a letter to the editor
e-mail letter@globe.com or use their form.
Letters may be sent by regular mail to this address:
Letters to the Editor
The Boston Globe
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819
Or by fax to (617) 929-2098
Please include your full name, address, and a telephone number for confirmation purposes. Letters should be 200 words or less and are subject to condensation.
