DRAG LEGEND, BEBE
The San Francisco singing drag sensation talks scum bags, passing on Drag Race and how she manages to wake up looking this good in the morning!
By Marc Andrews DNA: What inspired your latest single, Cleanin’ House?
BeBe: It’s actually the brainchild of my producer/collaborator Leo Frappier. He had the title and chorus and I developed the verses and talking parts. We all hate doing the house cleaning but eventually you do – just like you eventually have to get rid of those scum bags out of your life!
Ah, so does this track signal the return of ’90s-style “bitch house”?
A little less bitch and more “this is your mother talking” because we all know mama knows best, right?
We love a diva who cleans house… and sings about it!
[Laughs] And then gets a manicure afterward to get all the trashy man dirt out from under her nails!
You’re a San Franciscan legend. Talk us through your career highlights.
What do you mean “legend”? Did I die? Honey, I’m still writing the tale upon which my legend shall be based. I find it strange when people refer to me as a legend. I do everyday people work that needs to be done for our community. There’s nothing extraordinary about fighting for equal rights, human rights, fighting against social injustices, racism, homophobia, transphobia, HIV/AIDS stigmatism; raising money to support causes that will change our community and the world for the better; using my art as a platform to speak out whenever I can. If that’s what makes a legend, San Francisco is a city of legends.
Has RuPaul’s Drag Race come calling? When I was a new queen of a year or so into my drag career, Drag Race did approach me, along with a few girls in San Francisco, to be part of season one. They were originally going to do something where you’d compete in tandem with your best friend in challenges – like a drag version of The Amazing Race, which sounded pretty cool to me. When that changed to be the drag version of America’s Next Top Model, I lost interest. My biggest competition is me. I don’t need to go up against ten other drag sisters for the fight of my life. I do that every day with myself. [Laughs]
Has the show made drag too mainstream?
It’s definitely has changed the drag scene. For better or worse? That remains to be seen. Drag Race is not all when it comes to drag. Drag is more than just female impersonation and the show does seem to represent drag artists with strong “fishy” aesthetics. Drag was always underground because politically the gay revolution was underground but, as gay rights have become mainstream, everything about us has become mainstream.
Who’ve been your favourites from the show? There are many that I love but I definitely gravitate to the singers and stage performers like Jinx Monsoon, Adore Delano and Courtney Act… and I love the stand-up of Bianca Del Rio and Bob The Drag Queen.
When you’re not being BeBe what (or who) do you like to do?
When I’m in drag I’m always BeBe. I may be BeBe doing someone else, but I’m always BeBe. BeBe has been known to transform into Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and Diana Ross on occasion.
Are you romantically attached?
Currently, no, but always open to being romantically attached. It takes a special kind of person to accept and embrace all that makes BeBe. Someday, he’ll come along.
How long does it take for you to “become” BeBe?
[Laughs] I wake up like this!
Who have been your career inspirations?
As a drag artist who is a singer, actor, journalist, media personality and activist my biggest career inspiration is RuPaul but I’ve also been inspired by Sylvester, Boy George, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Beyonce.
In the spirit of Cleanin’ House, what’s your filthiest thought?
[Laughs] The intrigue is in not knowing! But I’ll say this: it would require a lot of cleanin’ up!
Drag and the gay revolution was underground. Now, everything about us has become mainstream.