Drag queens from all over the state competed for crown that is Miss Gay Alaska America earlier this month in Juneau.
The winner of the crown, with a lip sync that was inspired by a break-up performed by Lamia Insomnia Lexicon Doom Monroe who plays the character of drag queen Anchorage-based artist Robin O’Donoghue. Monroe spoke to the KTOO’s Adelyn Baxter regarding the contest as well as the Juneau Drag connection, and how she is preparing for the National Miss Gay America contest.
The interview was edited lightly to increase clarity and length.
Lamia Monroe: My name Lamia Monroe. I’m an Anchorage-based artist. The last time I performed in Alaska for six years. The family I grew up in is Alaskan. My name is an Alaska Native tribal member born and raised in the Interior and up in Fairbanks and lived in Juneau and so I’m sort of an all-around Alaska person who has bounced around.
Adelyn Baxter What’s your relationship to Juneau Drag along with the Juneau’s Drag Mom, Gigi Monroe?
Lamia Monroe: I’ve been performing the drag scene and doing shows for many years before I became acquainted to Gigi. We performed together. I was a part of her shows for a couple of years prior to being officially crowned with by the Monroe name and a part of The Drag Family … However, I am a huge fan of the community that is here in Juneau. I have many friends and family here, so (I) endeavor to get down as often as I can.
Adelyn Baxter Say something more about Miss Gay Alaska America pageant. It is the very first time that it was held, wasn’t it?
Lamia Monroe The pageant, which is that is the Miss Gay Alaska America pageant was the very first pageant that is part of the national Miss Gay America system. It was also the first time there was a Miss Gay America system has been in operation in Alaska. There’s a title called Miss Gay Alaska, which is administered by the Imperial Court of All Alaska which is a non-profit nonprofit community group which has been operating in Alaska for a long period of. Also, I’m an official title holder of the court’s Miss Gay Alaska.
Adelyn Baxter What did it take to take home the statewide crown?
Lamia Monroe’s gift was a lip sync show I made that consists of an audio tracks from two various Shirley Bassey songs and then some spoken word audio which I recorded myself making a phone call to myself in the male and female roles sort of performing an improvised comedy about the breaking up of a phone. The piece is as a bit autobiographical that is about, say the relationship that is not going well and then coming back to confidence by performing on stage … It’s it’s all about being thrown down and then recovering.
Adelyn Baxter: So, you’ve received your title as Miss Gay Alaska America. Where will that lead you?
Lamia Monroe is currently preparing for a national competition on January 1st at Little Rock, Arkansas, which is the place where Miss Gay America, that pageant was created … This is the very first time Alaska is represented in the pageant. And I think – and I could be mistaken – however, it’s also the first time that Alaska has been a preliminary to one of the system of national contests. It’s pretty surreal, and like it’s a pretty large. I really desire to do an excellent job being a representative of the LGBTQ community in this state, while as well, representing my home state as best I can to my ability.
Adelyn Baxter Your target for the national contest?
Lamia Monroe: My objective is to do my best. There’s 22 states, 44 contestants. Being able to make it through the preliminary rounds is an incredible achievement. In the end, I’m just trying to create an extremely solid piece of work which I am proud of and not be concerned about comparing myself with other contestants, like you’re just trying to do my best. I’d like to say is the way I prefer to think of anything isn’t really being in competition with anyone else, but only with myself and what drives me to push myself to the next level always striving to be the best I guess you could say.
Adelyn Baxter Do you have other things that you wish people to learn regarding drags to Alaska?
Lamia Monroe: believe the thing that many don’t be aware of is that a large portion of drag – and particularly in Alaska in which we have an enclave of people – is promoting the LGBTQ community and generating funds for a variety of related causes. A major passion of mine is fundraising and generating awareness for Alaskans who are living with HIV. I am a member of the board of directors for the Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association. I’ve been there for two years. So, the basis of my program I’ve talked about – which I’ve discussed at the pageant as well as I’m going to continue talking about the nationals – it’s simply constantly reminding people that I believe that in the current environment of politics it’s impossible to separate between advocacy and drag.
The Miss Gay America pageant takes place in Little Rock, Arkansas Jan. 16-19.
