RuPaul's mama must have known her newborn son was destined to add some flavor to the world when she named him: Ru is one of the staples of Creole cooking.
The first drag queen to ever become a spokesmodel for a major cosmetics company, RuPaul Andre Charles has one high heel firmly planted in the mainstream and the other resting comfortably in the largely underground world of drag...a challenging position to stand in and one that has opened the minds and hearts of countless individuals. With his albums, movie roles and television and radio shows, RuPaul has spread his "Everybody say love" mantra with equal parts of high-camp and sincerity, making him one of the most enduring and well-loved icons of the last several decades.
RuPaul will be in Chicago Sat., Sept. 21 to peform as part of the 12th annual World Tour, "A Journey In Time," to benefit Chicago House and Social Service Agency. The event takes place at The Four Seasons Hotel, 120 East Delaware Place, 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with DJ Ursula 1000, Alex Gimeno. Call ( 773 ) 248-5200, ext. 307.
The Founder's Award will be presented to Michael Cook, past president of the board of Chicago House; The Honorable Lisa Madigan and The Honorable Steve Rauschenberger, will receive the Public Service Awards; the Partnership in Service Award will go to The Chicago Department of Public Health and the Foundation Award will be presented to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
WCT: Your weblog ( www.rupaul.com ) is one of the most personal and intimate celebrity blogs on the Internet. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when the idea first came to you to start an online diary?
RC: A friend of mine turned me on to Jonno's blog one year before I started my own. I fell in love with Jonno through his weblog and realized it was a great way to get to know someone. I don't keep a separate diary and the only other celebrity blog I read is Jonno's who is a weblog superstar ( jonno.com ) .Throughout my career I've always felt so misunderstood so the most rewarding aspect of the blog is the opportunity to express myself without being censored or edited by someone else.
WCT: A recent posting on your blog details your return home to San Diego for their gay pride and how you were finally able to make peace with your hometown and all the memories of that city that have seemed to haunt you for so long. What advice do you have for those of us looking to make peace with those places or people that we have felt alienated from, especially in the wake of 9/11?
RC: You must give the situation time to heal. And you must also be kind and gentle to yourself. In giving yourself a break, you in turn give the whole world a break. It also doesn't hurt to pick up some processing tools from a trained professional.
WCT: In that posting, you also mention that your next hurdle is "dating" ( in all caps! ) . Are you seeing anyone? If someone were to ask you out, what are some things that the would-be gentleman caller should avoid saying/doing in an effort to avoid turning you off?
RC: As I've gotten older, I've put more and more emphasis on my gut feeling about every situation. I don't necessarily have a type that I'm more attracted to but I would prefer someone who is around my same age and I should also say that I am a very complex person; I've never fit into any one category. I really haven't dated enough to have an idea of what the perfect date is but it would have to involve an energetic connection. I have recently been dating as much as I can in order to demystify the whole process, so right now it's all about racking up the numbers for me. I don't feel someone could approach me the wrong way because it wouldn't be what they said or did, it would truly be about their energy. I'm a very intuitive person and I can sense beyond any words that are spoken.
WCT: The subject of dating inevitably leads to sex. I recently had the opportunity to interview Cyndi Lauper and she had quite a bit to say about bare-backing, about how she would sometimes look out into the crowd at one of her shows, see all these shirtless, sketched-out circuit boys having a great time, but she would wonder what happened after the show, when the lights were down and the rest of the clothes were off. What are your views on the disturbing rise of bare-backing?
RC: If ignorant, stupid idiots still want to bareback after all the information out there about the spread of diseases, so be it.
WCT: I still can't believe that people assumed you were in drag while doing your radio show or that you get up in the morning and put on a wig before making coffee or whatever. Of course, we're all in drag in whatever we wear and however we wear it. That being said, what styles or clothing trends etc. are really turning you out these days? And yes, what male actors/ performers/ singers would you like to see in full-tilt glam drag?
RC: People's ignorance towards drag queens never ceases to amaze me. In all the years I've been in the media, my mantra has been 'You're born naked and the rest is drag.' I love clothes; I love dressing up but the clothes I wear don't define who I am as a person. Ever since I saw the movie Monsoon Wedding, I've been rocking the traditional Indian 2-piece pajamas called 'kurtas' with sandals and, of course a bindi. I'd like to see men dress up in drag with no makeup, no wig and unshaven and wearing a lingerie set and high-heeled mules or maybe crotchless panties and a bra. I'd like to see Matthew Modine, Leon, the Rock, Ashton Kutcher and Adrien Brody dressed in the above.
WCT: Have you seen the new V.F. with Madonna on the cover? She's doing a whole Marlene Dietrich thing, which looks stunning, per usual. Recently, her male co-star in her upcoming film, told a British pub ( according to the Nothing Personal column in Salon.com, one of your favorite sites ) that Madonna was tough as a lizard and that she should be made into a "belt, bag and pair of shoes." ( He meant this as a compliment, apparently. ) What are some of the more outrageous things that have been said or written about you that still make you lose your wig, today?
RC: My No. 1 pet peeve is when people call me Miss Paul or Mr. Paul. My last name is Charles. My First name is RuPaul.
WCT: You've said that meeting Dolly Parton, although briefly, at the radio station that morning completed your list of heroes whose eyes you've looked into. It seems that when we meet and compliment someone we idolize, its not that they need to hear our praise, as much as our need to say it out loud to them. What is your philosophy for handling fans, signing autographs, answering e-mails etc? What is the strangest comment or request a fan has ever made to you?
RC: I never take a compliment for granted. I know that for every one person who comes over and says something nice, there are 10 others who feel the same way but are too shy to do so. But I have also learned to respect my own space and if I'm with a friend having lunch, I'll tell the autograph seeker to wait until after I am finished eating. I personally sign all autographs and answer all e-mails sent to me. The strangest requests are always for photographs of me in drag with my dick hanging out.
WCT: You recently got a chance to chat a bit with Justin from American Idol. Why do you think AI seems to resonate so strongly with the American public?
RC: It is the American Dream to be discovered and propelled into immortality.
WCT: You're coming to Chicago for a charity event: can you describe what viewers can expect during your show? I'm sure you've grown tired of hearing about the fallout from the whole gay cruise incident, but it seems to me that the audience's energy and enthusiasm is a key component of your performance. If they aren't into it, how can YOU be, right?
RC: My show is a culmination of my musical career; it includes costume changes, new music and a beheading; want to volunteer? I've been doing shows for 20 years. Once every three years, I have a fucked-up show where nothing goes right and it's a disaster. Unfortunately, on the carnival gay cruise, my first show of the evening was a disaster. My second show of that evening, however, was one of the best shows I've ever done.
WCT: How are you recovering from back surgery?
RC: Very nicely.
WCT: What new projects are bubbling underneath for you? Music? Movies? TV?
RC: I'm working on a new album.
WCT: Your public mantra has always been "Everybody say love." What's your private mantra or personal motto?
RC: My personal motto is: What other people think of me is none of my business.
