10 things you don’t know about drag queens

Liberal Left Coasters think they’re up on their subcultures, but even the best of them make mistakes where drag queens are concerned. Want proof?

“There’s a misconception that being a drag-queen, transgender, a cross-dresser, or a transvestite is the same thing,” says Heklina, one of San Francisco’s most famous performers for the past two decades. “I had a lot of explaining to do with my family, and they would seriously ask me when I was getting my sex change.”

“Drag Queens of Comedy” coming to the Castro Theatre on May 23, provides an opportunity to expand our horizons about the world of drag. In the show, 11 performers, including Heklina and a few who have appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” take the stage in two shows (at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.)

For fun, five of the stars agreed to answer a short questionnaire that asked about their real identities and their stage names. In the process, we learned 10 things that most people don’t know about drag queens.

Coco Peru (aka Clinton Leupp), has performed for nearly 25 years. His name derives from a drag queen named Coco he saw in Peru with his first boyfriend. “This Coco was quite famous and had crossed over into the mainstream and I was so intrigued that she had somehow gained the respect of people and was celebrated in a country that was so Catholic and macho. It got me thinking that there was power in having the courage to be 100 percent truthful about who you are and to live that truth publicly and with no shame.”

Heklina (aka Stefan Grygelko), says his name derives not from the word “heckling,” but from Hekla, a volcano in Iceland, where he’s from. “It was one of those names I just thought of for five seconds before I entered a drag pageant at the End Up one night,” he said, referring to the late-hours club on Sixth Street. He is a co-owner of the Oasis, but also has performed gigs over the past 20 years including a mortician’s convention, a nanny convention (dressed as Mary Poppins) and a job interviewing fans outside a San Francisco Giant’s baseball game, dressed in drag. “I thought I would get torn apart, but people were super friendly and I took tons of photos,” he said.

Lady Bunny (aka Jon Ingle), says “Lady” is partly an inside joke, to make himself seem grander, and “Bunny” comes from the Harvey Teen Giant Comic Books he collected in his youth, called “Bunny, Queen of the In Crowd.” In his 25 years as a drag artist, he has perfected his comedic timing, even in the ladies’ room, where he uses the commode in the manner of men, standing up. “My wig towered above the door of the stall at one event and the socialites who had been chatting at the mirror seemed to freeze uncomfortably. To break the ice, I asked loudly ‘Does anyone have a spare tampon?’ Luckily, it worked and we all had a giggle.”

Sasha Soprano (aka John-Thomas Guiral), named himself after a teacup Chihuahua he had in college, and from “Soprano,” bestowed upon him by a drag queen named Garza, who told him, “You need a last name — you’re not Cher.” He has performed for six years. Bad office lighting keeps him from holding a day job, he said. “Think about it — no one ever says, ‘It was love at first sight when I saw her in the office at Twitter.’ It's always love at first sight in a dimly lit bar or a sunset walk on the beach.”

Shangela LaQuifa Wadley (aka D.J. Pierce), got his name from a telemarketing call that “went all wrong, but ended up so right.” He’s an actor, comedian and president of Say What Entertainment, and has been a drag queen for five years. He once had to run to Home Depot while in full Diana Ross drag. “I definitely made a couple heads turn while prancing up and down the aisle looking for fishing wire to complete a costume before a show. And funny thing... they were out of duct tape! Say WHAT?”

10 Things You Don’t Know About Drag Queens:

1) “I’m often asked by both men and women if they can touch my boobs and hair.” — Coco Peru

2. “Daytime drag is painful.” — Coco Peru

3. “ I always hate it when I am out in drag and some real girl is telling me that my make-up is not blended, or that my lip-liner is too harsh. I'm like, ‘Do I Look like I'm wearing Bare Escentuals?’ The point is NOT subtlety, dear. If I'm going to wear makeup I want EVERYONE to see it!” — Heklina

4. “There’s a misconception about ‘drag time’, or the ‘dizzy queen.’ I am coming from the viewpoint of a professional drag queen. I am ALWAYS on time, and ready for a show. It drives my crazy as a club promoter that I can go to a soundcheck, rehearse, go home, get in drag, and make it to the club on time and others (the DJ, the soundman, my door person) cannot.” — Heklina

5. “We keep those huge earrings on with Crazy Glue. It really burns!” — Lady Bunny

6. “We actually get along with each other much better than depicted on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’ We may enjoy dishing each other on stage for the audience's enjoyment and we also like to tease each other and gossip off-stage. But it's normally in a light-hearted way. We aren't constantly at each others throats.’’ — Lady Bunny

7. “My wig costs more than your mortgage payment. It’s 32 inches of human hair. There is a bald Malaysian village I need to send a thank-you card.” — Sasha Soprano

8. “I hate getting in drag. Like it is NOT fun. It's all completely uncomfortable and painful. But once the final touches and nails go on, I forget about it all and realize ‘Oh my gosh, I look so much better than the rest of the girls!’ A real confidence booster.” — Sasha Soprano

9. “Drag queens have huge appetites! Tic Tac lunches are a myth.” — Shangela

10. “Sarah Jessica Parker spoke for all drag queens in her ‘Sex and The City’ movie. Keep the diamond ring, baby… just give us a huge closet with tons of storage space for shoes!” — Shangela

If you go

“Drag Queens of Comedy,” 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., San Francisco. Advance tickets, $45 general admission to $250 VIP packages, available at www.dqoc.com. Day of show tickets, if available, $55-$300, cash only, at the theatre box office beginning at 12 noon. Doors open 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. for a pre-show Pink Carpet walk-up in front of the theatre.