v-rag magazine #38
There have been some mixed reviews, as I knew there would be. Keeping in mind, I wasn't trying to disrespect anyone or their issues with the word. I just chose to own it, and not let it bother me. There are the supporters who know where I'm coming from, and some haters. People that didn't understand when it started, still don't want to understand. Those of cult willnight, undoubtpeopleans choose not tocinema support the some know the face of one of "Stop John peopleedly even picketed opening night, Waters' muses. The great words of hate".most The prolific others who understand, Mink Stole has appeared in over films, join me upstairs at Oasis where the50dance including Female Hairspray, Serial floor is packed and Trouble, the mood is fabulous! Mom, Polyester and Desperate Living, as Tabatha Coffy famously refers All to About herselfEvil as well as But I'm A Cheerleader, a bitch wants to with "reclaim the and Lostbecause Highway.she She, along her pals word" and turn into something positive. John Waters andit Divine, shaped my sense Do you think theinspired same sort thing canfilms be of humour and meofto make done with and be a "fag"? kook. Mink continues to act and dabble in other formscan of expression, I just hope people take the and wordI had ultimate of interviewing 'fag',the and walk honour away from it. To getone all of my favourite actresses andcauses camp icons! worked up over a word fights,
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hurt, death. Own the Of all sometimes the fabulous characters you word have and walk away. If you give people the played, who has been your favourite? power to use the word fag, they will. I’ve loved all of them, but my closest identiMany have had controversial gay ficationbig is cities with Taffy Davenport in Female party (Rectum, Flaming Tampons, Trouble.names She was so totally misunderstood. She Gay Bash, Cock, etc.) and haven't been wasn’t bad,The or retarded, just looking for some met with much local resistance. Vancoumaternal attention and approval.Is I also really ver conservative its own good? like too Dottie Hinkle fromfor Serial Mom – a woman driven nearly to madness in her search for justice in the Baltimore County court system. Who are your favourite actors? I adore Judi Dench. I have Netflix, and have been gorging on her old TV series; her comic timing is faultless. I also love the classics; Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyk, the women who could move seemingly effortlessly from comedy to melodrama without batting a false eyelash. Are you hooked on any reality shows? No. Fictional human train wrecks can be a lot of fun, but watching actual humans behaving so badly is ugly and disturbing. What do you think Divine would say about the current state of drag? That’s impossible to answer. I can assume he’d be thrilled at still being so revered, but when he died he was moving away from drag and was gaining respect as an actor, which was very important to him.
by michael venus
september 2012
What sort of response have you been getting from the name Fag Fridays since its inception?
In recent years you have done a lot of independent and gay-themed films. What directors have been fun to work with other than Mr. Waters? They’ve all been great. I don’t want to list names because I will invariably leave someone out that I should have mentioned and then I’ll feel bad. What is it like to be considered an icon and film legend? Where I live nobody gives a hoot who I am. And since neither icon nor legend status comes with a pay check, it’s pretty much irrelevant. I think I actually have just the right amount of fame – enough that I get my ego stroked regularly, which is lovely, but not so much that my everyday life is affected. I am hoping, however, that Hard to say. Queer Bash seems to do fine it will help album sales. here in Vancouver... However, the word Album sales? thatsensitive. what's been 'fag' maybe stillIstoo In my keeping opinion, you lately? if it's busy not challenged we'll never know. Yes, my main project right my CD. With FAG.FRIDAYS back at now Oasis,is has the I’ve been working on it for response been any different thannearly before?two years, and lately have been making terrific The fight hasn't been as bad. No picketers this progress. It’s in a pretty intense state at the time, however, we can't use the word 'fag' moment. We’ve finished the major instruon Facebook because it offends some. Not mental recordings and I’m working on the being able to fight my case to Facebook, I vocals. Then we’ll put on the additional chose to use Ff instead. However, the party instruments, mix it, master it, and release it. and the crowd have matured; the backThe title of the CD is Do Re Mink, the name to-back top 40 music is gone, and a more of the one-woman show I started performsoulful groove has definitely kicked in. The ing in Los Angeles. room moves and the energy is very sexy. What else can we expect from you in the What would you like to explain to people near future? who have been so vocally against the Next week I’m headed to New York to do name FAG.FRIDAYS? a short film entitled Box, written by Don The word 'fag' is never going away, we Cummings and Chris Dolman. This summer can't pretend it will. Take it as you will, you I have a couple of film projects that are still have the power. V in the “I can’t tell you anything yet” stage. But the big thing, obviously, is theinto release FAG.FRIDAYS kick Oasis' weekend high of Doevery Re Mink! gear FridayV at 9pm. www.oasisondavie.com www.minkstole.com www.facebook.com/DJAdamDreaddy