Pickle relishes role as inaugural West Hollywood drag laureate

by Matthew S. Bajko

She sings, has comedic chops, and is known for being a “powerhouse host” in the Los Angeles entertainment scene. Now Pickle can add another feather to her cap as West Hollywood’s inaugural drag laureate.

After being recommended for the advocacy role by the city’s arts commission in the spring, Pickle won unanimous approval in June from the West Hollywood City Council to serve as the LGBTQ enclave’s ambassador for all things drag. She was formally installed Sunday, July 16, on International Drag Day.

“When the opportunity came up, it sounded like a natural fit for me,” Pickle told the Bay Area Reporter during a recent interview at the West Hollywood location of local coffee chain Go Get Em Tiger. “I want to help drag artists spread their wings.”

She has also used her drag to promote educational initiatives with children by hosting local drag story hours in West Hollywood and Los Angeles. Since 2017, Pickle has led her local chapter of the national Drag Story Hour organization and is creating a drag-based curriculum tied to the state’s arts education standards so it can be used in schools.

“I find kids to be curious and open-minded, and the parents are so awesome,” said Pickle when asked why she got involved in the drag story hours.

“I meet a lot of queer parents from different socioeconomic backgrounds who are looking for fun things to do with their children.”

Speaking to the B.A.R. just over a week into being the drag laureate, Pickle had yet to determine much about her tenure other than knowing she wanted to host community meetings for drag artists who perform in West Hollywood to hear directly from them about the issues they are facing.

“I hope we can get on the same page and find some unity there. We are all very friendly mostly,” said Pickle, 30, who attended Los Angeles’ Hamilton High School Academy of Music before graduating from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York with a B.A. in liberal arts. “It would be great to have a space where people could express their concerns and talk about the art form and how it is working in the city and maybe not working.”

See page 11 >>