Amanda Lepore is used to living in the spotlight as a transsexual icon who has broken down barriers in the both straight and gay worlds. She carts her act from New York to Hydrate with her friend Cazwell in his "Ice Cream Truck."
Nightspots Magazine: Hi, Amanda. So you and your best friend Caz are coming back to Hydrate Nightclub. You two have been close for a while now.
AL: We have known each other for a long time.
NM: Do you have new music coming out?
AL: Yes, I have a whole full-length album coming out in the spring.
NM: Congratulations!
AL: It should have a really strong gay vibe.
NM: So, pretty much dance music?
AL: We try to make each song have a its own style and not sound the same. But yes it is mostly dance music.
NM: Cazwell is on the album?
AL: Yes, he is on a lot of the songs.
NM: What songs will you be doing at Hydrate?
AL: We will definitely be doing "Marilyn" and "Get Into It." The video for that one just came out.
NM: Looking back at your life you had a tough childhood. You were home schooled because you were not allowed to attend school as a girl.
AL: It was hard with kids being different. At least it came out with a happy ending. If you are true to yourself then you wind up being the winner.
NM: There is so much bullying going on now.
AL: I am really shocked because I live in New York. I am carefree and don't really get bothered. I can't believe that it still goes on. I thought it was something out of the past. It is shocking that kids still go through the same things that I did. I thought the generations were getting better.
NM: I know exactly what you mean.
AL: Someone came up to me and mentioned the It Gets Better video that I did about kids committing suicide. It just took me back to unhappy times. I thought things had changed and kids were able to go to school hassle-free now. I did a show in Ohio and there were girls there that had body hair, transforming into men and they were able to go to school. I thought that was great.
NM: You have had many surgeries. Were they really painful?
AL: Probably the most painful one was the sex change itself and the dilating in the beginning. It is pleasurable now. It was money well spent.
NM: Well, that's good. Are you single or do you have someone for Valentine's Day this year?
AL: Well, I have a guy but he unfortunately doesn't live here.
NM: What's your idea of romance?
AL: That lovey dovey feeling, wanting to be with someone and all quiverymaybe dinner and sweet talk. The opposite of fighting! [both laugh]
Hydrate and Jagermeister present Under the Big Red Top on Feb. 12. Visit www.hydratechicago.com for tickets and information.