September 8, 1992

By Guy Trebay

	Photos: Lady Bunny: By Sylvia Plachy Dorian Corey: By Ricky Flores Ru Paul: By Catherine McGann

In a season of sleaze conventions, and of politically expedient disguise, there’s our gathering whose participants are proud to flout Pat Buchanon’s fears/longings and cross-dress. Wigstock is many things to…well, to a few people. But they’re influential people, if you keep in mind the p.c. orthodoxy that tells us drags are sexual politics’ front line. Now celebrating its eighth anniversary (appropriate gift: an electrical appliance says Tiffany’s), Wigstock has evolved from a small and grotty celebration of bad style, big hair, demi-drag, and crotch-tucks to a civic extravaganza of bad style big hair, demi-drag, etc. Last year’s gathering, forced from Tompkins Square Park when the parks Department closed it, ostensibly for a $2.1 million renovation, felt flat, hemmed in. Now that Tompkins is open again and spruced up (minus its homeless population, minus its bandshell, and plus a heavy contingent of Police and pro squatter demonstrators), Wigstock returns to its, you’ll pardon the expression, roots. As they put the final touches on their Labor Day ensembles, three of Wigstock’s most famous alumnae, organizer Lady Bunny, Paris Is Burning star Dorian Corey and Tommy Boy recording artist Rupaul, took time out to chat with The Voice.
“I’m so happy Wigstock is back in Tompkins Square Park,” said Lady Bunny, on her way to 14th street for a wig. “It belongs there. For one thing, the event is not just the show, it’s the crowd. The more people who dress and wear outrageous clothes, the better a backdrop for the stage antics. Last year we didn’t have any choice with Union Square. I think it worked out, but a couple of things I didn’t like about it. Everyone had to be contained in this island of park. You couldn’t mingle in the streets too much. The sightlines to the stage were actually better with the walkways and benches but, I mean, honey these girls are in heels for eight hours. Nobody can watch the whole show.
“Another thing that I didn’t like was the fact that we had a little holding area fro performers. It’s true that, when you’re performing you need a moment to collect your thoughts, but the holding area turned into a VIP area and a VIP area is very UN-Wigstock. When we didn’t know if Tompkins Square would be open in time, someone very nice offered to let us use Central Park Summerstage. But I hate the idea of cabbing it uptown. I don’t even know where the stage is in central park. Tompkins square is perfect. It has a real feeling of nitty-gritty. You can bum right over from your skuzzy east Village apartment.
“People accuse us of selling out. But that’s just ridiculous. They don’t realize the costs incurred. You need a vending license to sell programs and T-shirts. ‘Now these programs are free but there’s a suggested donation of $1 and I suggest make a donation or you aren’t going to get a program.’
When we started out we thought $1200 was expensive. But our sound system cost $10,000 last year and about a month before Labor Day we were sending out begging letters to anyone we knew who had money. Now we have corporate sponsors. Absolut has turned us down every year. But we have Limelight and Naya Spring water. MAC – Makeup Art Cosmetics – gives us money and we love them. They don’t test on animals, and they make Madonna’s favorite color, Russian Red. Do I use it? You know I do.
“I’m really sorry that we have to end at eight. Wigstock used to go until ten. I hate that we can’t go on after eight. The stage that we rent has lights and it’s really glamorous. And, honey, sequins don’t start to cook until after dusk. Ideally, we would have a parade go crosstown to a big free outdoor festival to a Mafia-bar-coke-den-stab-your-mama-in-the-back-for-toot-of-cocaine place, with $5 drinks and a snotty door policy. I’d love to see an auxiliary sound system at the pier with tons of kegs of beer. It would be good for the piers too. You know, that they don’t allow cars, there’s nowhere to take your tricks.

“What am I going to wear to Wigstock?” Dorian Corey purred by phone from her Harlem apartment. “It’s an inspirational thing. Something new and current and loud, I’m sure. I’m weather conscious: if it’s hot like it has been, I’ll be wearing something flowing and very light. Last year I put on a beaded gown and lots of feathers. People think feathers are light. Feathers are not light. Feathers stick to your skin.”
“What I’m hoping is this madness with the city and the park does not flow over to Wigstock. You now, from the city closing Tompkins Square down after dark. I personally don’t think the homeless should be there. But I don’t think the homeless should have to be there when there are millions going to welfare hotels and all these empty buildings are sitting all over the city.
“I’ve been a performer so long I sometimes think, what am I doing out here sitting in the daylight at Wigstock? But, you know, it’s kinda cute. It’s much better than doing drag shows at someplace like Fire Island because Fire Island is no longer a drag queen haven. It’s turned its back on drag queens and minorities and reverted to the place it was 30 years ago: very white and off center. Its drawn its doors closed and shut off into little cliques. I am quite through with Fire Island. After Wigstock, I might try and find another beach where we could start another Fire Island of our own.”

“Wigstock has always been a loving event,” said Rupaul still sweating from an aerobics workout at Mega Fitness. “If you don’t count the year those boys came back from a lacrosse game and attacked some queens. I’m sending love energy to the park right now. I hope, hope, hope it’s peaceful. I wouldn’t want to make little of the feelings of the homeless people in the park. I’m just channeling peace.
“At this point in the history of civilization, people are discovering a truthful vision of themselves. Republicans are scared because their whole world is coming apart at the seams.
“Drag is satire of façade. It’s a sign that people want to be free and wild. I’m wearing a total look created by Matthew and Zaldy, the new trend fashion czars. I don’t know how the Pat Buchanon’s of the world will take me. But I’m a registered voter, so I don’t care. The mere fact that I’m out there is an affront to them. Every time I bat my eyelashes it’s a political act.”