1
THERAPY ZINE: issue two, September 2019 Created/Edited/Curated & Cover Art by Frankie Francesco Creative Director: Victoria Prevost
CONTACT: Website: FrankieFrancescoArt.com Email: FrankieFrancescoArt@gmail.com Insta, Twitter & FB: @TherapyZine Youtube: Youtube.com/channel/UCx9C6rnPgKTXnfHpQVD9i2g Support Us: Patreon.com/TherapyZine Published by The Therapy Zine Group, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Copyright 2019 Frankie Francesco/The Therapy Zine Group. All Rights Reserved to featured creators.
2
CREATORS Frankie Francesco
Jaycie Weeks
MARTUP
@formugs
@jayy_double_u
@atepgod
Savannah Francesco
David Baeza
Victoria Prevost
@143crossmyheart
@elboogieman
@4lluring3ngima
River Bennett
Renee Agant
Briana Santarsieri
@rvr.photo
@wyypipo
@briiielizabeth_
Heart Machine - ANIIML (feat. Lynx) Song About Me - TV Girl Boombayah - BLACKPINK Somewhere In Between - VÉRITÉ Another Lifetime - NAO I Can Love You Like That - All 4 One It’s Not Living (If It’s Not Worth It) - The 1975 Good Things Fall Apart - ILLENIUM (feat. Jon Bellion) Gun In My Hand - Dorothy Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales - Car Seat Headrest Oh sister - Neutral Milk Hotel Diamonds and Rust- Joan Baez I Don’t - Koda Jodie Knowlton
Paul Kohl
Mazahir
@jodielocks
@kohl_86
@girthofvenus
Charles Neworth
Nicolas Stevens
Madison West
@charles_neworth_art
@twotreeswriting
@madisonkorey
Anyonka Virgon
Magui Antunovic
Dozawai
@anyonkavirgon
@magui.antu
@dozawai
3
Who is Anyonka Virgon? by Frankie Francesco (photos by Cecelia Dubal)
(As I sat down with Anyonka/Isake I couldn’t help but feel nervous, as we started to talk before the interview. The person across from me none other than the talented Isake Stark “ai-sah-kee” AKA Anyonka Virgon. Cosplayer/Drag Queen currently located in Las Vegas. I began with:) I’ve never done an interview, so bare with me here? *laughs nervously*. I just knew I wanted you in our next issue. So first question; What is your full name, and where does it come from?
video games. So that was why I leaned more towards cosplay. ---Example so Sylvanas is a character in World of Warcraft, and she’s like bad-ass and awesome and cool. Those are the kind of characters I’d rather dress up as and be like. Then also just the fashion in the look, they’re so much more ornate. Most of the characters in anime or video games, they just look way cooler to me. ---And I just like cosplay, I think it’s fun I don’t create all of my cosplay. I wish I could cause I know those people who can. They just create their looks from head to toe, but that’s not me. I respect that art so much. How long have you been doing cosplay? “Umm...It will be going on for about three years now. I used to do it when I lived in Chicago and then I moved here about nine years ago I took maybe like a six-and-ahalf seven year break. Then started up again and the last year and a half/two years I’ve been going whole-hog into it. “That actually goes into my next question, how long have you been in Vegas?
“Well Anyonka is a name from Buffy, it’s spelled with an O instead of an A. Because in the 90’s when I’d play video games the name spelt correctly was always taken. So in World Of Warcraft I have a character named Anyonka. That was essentially me in drag but in a video game, I’ve had it forever even before I started drag. So with Virgon my last name. My favorite drag queen is Raja, and she uses her sign as her last name. So I’m a Virgo and in Battlestar Galactica they have all the planets named after signs. So it has a dual meaning it’s my sign, and it’s also one of my favorite shows and just a nerdy reference I like. I wouldn’t typically have a last name, but I did a pageant and you have to have a last name in a pageant. “ Such basic question but what first got you into cospl… do you consider it more cosplay or drag? “Cosplay” What first got you into cosplay?
“I had been living in Chicago before I came here, so right when I turned eighteen I got signed to a modeling agency. So every time I got a new contract that would move me somewhere else. I was originally in Miami, then I move to Seattle, then Chicago. I moved down here [Las Vegas] and I met my spouse, so if I hadn’t met him I probably would have just kept living a nomadic lifestyle. He has a good job here, and we started building a little kind of life here.” So your drag is very unique, I’ve seen a few other dabble in it. I know we’ve touched on this a bit already, but do you have anything or anyone specific you draw inspiration from?
“Mostly just...Those were my divas. So like most drag queens have their divas like Beyonce or Britney Spears, and they idolize them, and they want to be like these strong females. My strong female characters were from my books, TV shows, movies and my
14
“---my drag is for me. When you do things that you love, it will convey to your audience� 15
Queer Crosswords #2
Down 2. In 1952 this person’s transition brought widespread awareness to gender reassignment surgery. Across 1. The earliest documents concerning same-sex relationships come from ancient ______.
5. In 1869 ____-_____ ________, coined the terms ‘homosexual’ and ‘heterosexual.’ 6. Ancient _____ had third gender categories, including for eunuchs . 7. __________was of special interest to anthropologists and sociologists because of its historical acceptance of male homosexuality.
3. ____(‘rose’) is a colloquialism used to refer to a genre of Japanese comic art and media known within Japan as gay manga.
8. Prior to European ____________, a number of nations had respected roles for gay, bi, and gender-nonconforming individuals.
4. Stevonnie; An experience. Intersex, non-binary, they/them. Is a main character in what popular children’s series?
20
1. Greece, 2. Christine Jorgenson, 3. Bara, 4. Steven Universe, 5. Karl-Maria Kertbeny, 6. Egypt, 7. Siwa Oasis, 8. Colonization
21
Stray
by Savannah Francesco
You were a shadow in the night. A small greeting each day A nudge at my leg A bowl of food for your kind hello A meow at my front door every morning A now comfortable shadow in my grass A friend. I became your home & you became mine. Now my friend is gone. Each morning I open the door waiting for your hello. Each day I expect to find you sleeping at my front door. Each night I look for you in the yard. I call out waiting for you to run my way my once stray.
26
E
m
e
r
by Victoria Prevost
g
e
What happened to you? You used to be so playful with the biggest imagination. You had a brightness to you that lite up the whole room when you entered and made them see us. Who took away those rose colored glasses that you saw the world through? The carefree spirit that danced around the room and spoke to the trees at the park. Did your fears lock you in a room to face what happened? Are acting out to see who notices because the ones who ignore you don’t care and the ones that do can’t help you? Oh did you think someone was going to save you. Get the fuck out of here they can barely save themselve let alone you. Start unpacking that dark shit you keep hidden. Welcome that darkness it’s not as scary as everyone says. You are allowing that darkness to seep through the light but in reality they are one in the same. Did you forget who you are and the power that you hold? Well let me remind you of your sovereignty, do you not understand the authority that you have within yourself. So stop allowing the no names to have influence on our lives and have governing power within our circle. Stop allowing them to keep hurting us and taking advantage. Emerge into your greatness know that you have the ultimate power and under your sovereignty you rule.
27
THERAPY issue two: The second issue welcomes in new and returning creators, and offers an inside look into the Vegas drag scene. Puzzles, short stories, performances, art and more. If this is your first time reading Therapy; we are a queer zine created by Frankie Francesco. Bringing together passionate, timid, experienced, & amatuer creators of various talents. A place of growth & self-expression, absolutely free of judgment. Join The Therapy Group where you’re not only welcome, but you are celebrated. Find your voice with us as we find ours, submissions are always welcome.
FrankieFrancescoArt@gmail.com // @TherapyZine Copyright Š 201940 Frankie Francesco