Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 516

But I’m busy, I’m working hard,
“I’ll see her later, I’ll take her
on a great vacation”; and then
she died. I wish I could redo
that. What about “Oh I’m going
to have a barbecue and invite
everyone over to the house”.
We couldn’t do that anymore.
What I learned is how
important it is to carve that stuff
out and to tell the people that
you love that you love them
and to spend time as much as
you can with them. And to not
think that that’s just a given.
MC: I think that it is so
important to see someone
like you represented
and sitting on the panel
of RuPaul’s Drag Race.
You seem to truly see the
contestants’ heart and
year after year seems like a
complete joy. What does it
feel like for you to be able to
be a part of this show and
family?
RM: I still don’t know how it
happened! I am not a drag
queen, but I am a super fan
of what they do and I always
have been. I am the person in
one there with all my singles
ready to hand them out on
stage, screaming when they
come out, following them on
Instagram. When they asked
me to judge, I thought that
I could represent the fans. I
could be the one that won the
golden ticket and gets to sit
there.
I hope you notice when I judge,
it’s never me telling them
how to do it. It’s me giving my
opinion of how I think I can
nudge them towards their
greatness, their potential, what
I see their superpower being
and how they can get there
and in the best way possible.
Ru can give them advice on
how to be a drag queen and
does, and no one knows better
than her, and Michelle too,
and Carson can give advice
on fashion. I really try to bring
the super fan POV. All I can
do is give you my thoughts on
how to be the best version of
yourself.
MC: There is absolutely
nothing like working with
drag performers and helping
them see their fullest
and greatest potential,
and seeing the best in
themselves, don’t you think?
RM: Completely, that is
fandom or the viewers giving
me a lot of crap because I don’t
pretend to be what I’m not.
It’s always how I’ve earned
my spot at that table, that is
exactly what I bring. I’ll tell you
this through, being a judge at
that table is a legacy job. It’s
the kind of thing that I know
will be in my obituary. This
show has shifted the culture in
extraordinary ways and I am so
proud to be included.
Let me tell you something,
not an episode, not a moment
goes by that I take that for
granted. You know, getting to
make RuPaul laugh it is one
of the best sounds I’ve ever
heard. I love the sound of my
chihuahua eating her food in
the corner means she is safe
and she’s eating, I love certain
songs, I love the sound of Judy
Garland’s voice, and I love the
sound of RuPaul’s laugh.
MC: So much of your own
career is marked with
powerful women, everyone
from Chelsea Handler
to Joan Rivers to Drew
Barrymore. Have you aways
found yourself gravitating
towards powerful and strong
women?
RM: Yes, strong women and
kind women. I don’t think
tough and kind are opposites,
because I think sometimes
being tough on someone is the
kindest thing that you can do.
I was lucky to be raised by an
extraordinary mom who had
strong female friends.