AMORAL PANIC

Drag, Sex Work & Liberation

A conversation with Belle Fegore
by Jordan Anthony

Pride is more than a flag. Pride is the innumerable individuals, families and queerdos who march  in the name of their own liberation. They march, in the past  and now, towards a society that recognizes them as deserving dignity and respect. 

     If ever there was a slogan that demonstrated the distance left to go for queer communities in their fight for justice, “Legalize Gay'' could do no better. The slogan started as a way to sell t-shirts to support the fight for marriage equality after a slate of states defined marriage as being between “a man and a woman”. On the whole, the fight for marriage equality was already set in cissexist terms, placing recognition of assimilationist and heterocentric relationships at the core of the LGBTQ+ rights movement over identity recognition. While marriage equality in the United States was granted through judicial decision in 2015, state laws regarding identity recognition are still years away from equity.

     In 2022, elected officials of states and municipalities took it upon themselves to police gender expression and gender freedoms, namely by banning drag queen story hours at public libraries and defining drag as an adult-oriented business. Visibly queer and trans communities now confront the danger of additional scrutiny over how queer and trans communities are able to provide for themselves and their families. These laws carry the additional effect of further marginalizing queer communities. Such scrutiny can only cultivate fear and silence among the LGBTQ community.

     Attacks on sex workers and drag performers impact BIPOC/Trans*/poor/unhoused LGBTQ individuals with particular animus. Sex workers and drag performers are in the crosshairs of the state. 

Sex workers and drag performers deserve a voice. 

Belle Fegore is your favorite heavy metal drag demon from Colorado. Named one of Westword’s 15 freshest faces in Denver. They are also the winner of So You Think You Can Drag 2019, and Mx. Weirdo 2019.

Jordan Anthony is an writer, creative, and pleasure advocate based in Chicago, IL. Founder/editor of Y’ALL’D’VE Literary Zine (RIP), their poetry appears in Press Pause Press Vol. 3. 

 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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Talk with me about your artistic practice.

I would say my artistic style is a little horror-meets-comedy-meets-Satan. I love blasphemy and anything poking fun at the norm. I feel like everyone needs to be represented some way in their local community, and I love representing my Latinx queer folk. There are not enough people of color in the alternative drag scene of Denver. 

Do you wear your character or style yourself? How do you craft your aesthetic?

I definitely amplify my own personality and add a little bit of salt, pepper, and garlic. Deep down inside, I’m just a horny demon who wants to make everyone laugh. I’m often inspired by the music that I’m listening to. I tend to enjoy a song and think of what the song looks and feels like, and try to make a garment from what the songs tell me.

Tell me about your ideal audience. What does a typical night in drag look like? What does your best night in drag look like?

My ideal audience would be a mix of horror and metal fanatics. I often get ready while listening to music. The darker and scarier the music sounds, the better. On one of my best nights, I’ll see a lot of friends out and about. I love when I get to see as many people as possible. It doesn’t matter how much money I make. Knowing people came out to see and support me shows how much people care.

“They can try and censor me all

they want but the ideas still exist”

Trans rights for whom? Legalize gay or decriminalize trans?

I believe trans rights are human rights. The gays would be nothing without our trans siblings of the world. They are the reason we have the rights we have as queer people. I say push the gays aside and make them fight for the trans people who’ve saved them over the years. They have been cast away for too long.

Dress rehearsal or partially there?

When I prepare for a number I often play it out in my head over and over but never actually practice anything. I let my feelings flow once I get on stage.

Half off or at a discount?

I would definitely pick a discount over half off. I work in retail so I can always see a few loopholes here and there. 

How do you define drag?

Trying to define drag in general is a little silly. Everyone has their own style of self expression that isn’t always right for the next person. It’s very much an expression of my own inner thoughts, feelings, and emotions to put it in the barest of terms.

How do you define sex work?

I define sex work as an erotic exchange between two or more consensual people. Goods do not need to be exchanged, but can be. Sex itself is a lot of work. If it weren’t we wouldn’t run out of breath fucking, haha.

“Places that aren’t Queer Safe, aren’t People safe”

What ISN’T a queer space?

Places that aren’t queer safe, aren’t people safe. If they have the opportunity to make one group of people feel unsafe, they have the power to make other groups of people feel unsafe. Those kinds of people are dangerous. Yikes!

A law banning drag passes in your state. Do you continue to perform?

I think if drag were banned in Colorado I would perform under certain circumstances. It would depend on how much trouble I would get into. If the consequences are harsh maybe not but if they were a slap on the wrist I would be more inclined to perform. My line of work requires I have a somewhat clean record.

Does your drag allow for sex work?

I think my drag does allow room for sex work. I like to use my platform to raise awareness about sexual health. People who work in the sex industry need to take the best possible care of their work equipment. I think everyone should be more involved in their sexual health. I enjoy taking the time to talk to people about getting on PrEP and encouraging them to go get tested. I always say a tested bussy is an educated bussy. Go get tested!

Has the increasing number of drag bans impacted how you approach performance?

Drag bans have not really impacted my performance style. Art needs to be made. If people don’t like it, they can try and censor me all they want but the ideas still exist, not just in me, but in other people as well. The drive to display that art will only push us back temporarily. We’ll all come back swinging in no time.

Icons? Legends? Up-and-Comings?

I’d like to give a big shout out to Lisa Frank666 (@lisafrank666). She’s always been one of my biggest inspirations, and always pushes me to build a better Belle. She’s super involved in the community, always pushing forth the voices of those who need to be heard and seen. It’s truly an honor to call her my drag sibling. Also, a big shout out to Noveli. I’m truly inspired by her drive and creativity. She’s one of the most important people in the alt scene through Denver and the rest of the world these days. I aspire to have a career like her one of these days.

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