SPECIAl ISSUE CONTENTS SPECIAL ISSUE ON THE COVER: THE ART OF GAG A retrospective celebration of GAG and a peek into our future. PAGE 20 5 // Musings from the Editrix 6 // Back Talk 8 // Gagging On with special guest Chiffon Dior LIFE 10 // Libations by Candace Collins 12 // Ask Edna Jean 14 // Voices Trans* Drag by Freddy Prinze Charming 72 // Drag-o-sphere 74 // Spotlight: Fans ART 16 // The Art of Drag: The Making of a King Documentary An interview with woman behind the kings, Nicole Miyahara. 66 // Extravaganza The Austin International Drag Festival GAG sits down with the mastermind behind the world’s first 4 day drag festival. BRANDI AMARA SKYY EDITIRX PAUL MICHAEL ARMSTRONG CREATIVE DIRECTOR CONTRIBUTORS Candace Collins Chiffon Dior Freddy Prinze Charming Edna Jean Robinson PHOTOGRAPHERS Alex Craddock Austin Young AJ Bates photography Cher Musico/Roots Photography Edwin Irizarry Gabe King Photography Jose A. Guzman Colon Kristofer Reynolds of kristoferreynolds.com Marcelo Cantu Photography Mathu Anderson Mei Na Nicole Miyahara Photography by Suri Rosemary Photography Robert Stahl musings from the editirx This issue of GAG is special not only because we are celebrating our second birthday, but because we’re in the middle of a growth spurt. We’ve outgrown some things . Departments like News, Music, Library, DID (Dipping into Drag). And grown into others . Voices where YOU write the story; The Art of Drag where we highlight others like us who are creating spectacular things; and - my personal favorite - Spotlight where we dedicate the last page(s) of the magazine to shining the spotlight on those who make us stars - the fans. But the biggest change is one that you might not see at first. GAG is going ad free. i have always believed that art is at its best when it’s not commercialized or dictated by a paycheck. And i have always seen GAG as art - our art. The Gay Art of Glamour. Going ad free ultimately means that GAG will now be 100% funded by readers, by you. This is your magazine as much as it mine. The sharpest growing pain is saying goodbye to GAG’s long time Creative Director, Paul Michael Armstrong. He has a new vision and new vibe that he must follow. And while this may be his last issue with us, he is creatively bound to me for life. He will always be the creative visual realization of what GAG is and the standard to which all that follow him will be held. i will miss him deeply. This issue is a fond farewell to who we were and where we’ve been. But it also serves as an introduction of who we are becoming. If GAG were a caterpillar, this issue is our Chrysalis stage. In January, we welcome the butterfly. Love, light + metamorphosis, 6 // BACK TALK THROUGH THE YEARS “GAG is an exciting, vibrant and unique “It’s about time.” concept showcasing real people within our - Raine Devries community doing what they love. I couldn’t be prouder to be queer! I am GAGging!” - Manny Castro “I cannot shower you with enough compliments regarding your Art Issue-- it is beautiful and provocative. The layout “I am GAGging for GAG Magazine. It’s exactly is absolutely stunning. You are doing what my magazine collection was missing - truly incredible, important work with this some gay glamor. This magazine will serve magazine. I am a magazine junkie and GAG you some serious fish and then some!” beats the shit out of 95% of the magazines - Jesse Jynx on newsstands. Keep up the brilliant work!” - Tranna Wintour “I can’t wait to see where your fab magazine goes in the future. I am a supporter and a fan.” “My first impression of GAG was that it - Kurtis Dam-Mikkelsen was as flawlessly diverse as it was lush. I expected it to be aesthetically pleasing, but was surprised by the depth beyond the design. GAG engaged every aspect of me: “Loved the article on Chris March! Thank the activist, the performer, the producer, you for sharing this amazingly talented man the transguy, and the life-long learner. with the world.” Absolutely inspiring.” - Devona Bright - Ephraim Freese Show us your GAG! Have a copy? Love the magazine? Share your pictures with us and the entire GAG galaxy. Email your snaps to [email protected] 8 // GAGGING ON 5. Jamie Steward Bancroft I’m STILL riding high from this interview. I love everything about Jamie - his vision, his passion, and his sincere love of the art of drag. I know you’re going to love him too! Turn to page X to read his interview. 4. Let’s Have a Fefe The dynamic duo of Felicia “Fefe” Minor and Freddy Prinze Charming let us have it every Wednesday at 8pm. Fun, campy, offbeat, and always opinionated - it’s one of my top 5 not- to-miss shows on YouTube! 3. #HurricaneBianca THE movie everyone is talking about is literally being filmed in my backyard. The stars have flown in, Bianca is leading the troops, and with Matt Kugelman directing the brigade Hurricane Bianca is destined to be, well . EVERYTHING! 2. Our new website! GAG’s online facelift has been complete and she has never looked better. I’m so excited to introduce her to the world! Check her out at gagmagazine.com! And the number one thing I’m gagging on right now is . 1. NotSafe4Werk.com and the first ever online drag pageant! This one got me so damn excited I had to let the founder and producer, Chiffon Dior, tell you all about it. It’s a drag pageant to literally GAG over! In July, the popular drag, entertainment and pop culture site, NotSafe4Werk.com, announced their inaugural Miss NotSafe4Werk.com 2015 pageant - but there was a big difference from your typical drag pageant! This one would be entirely online with contestants sending in weekly videos as their entry for the category of the week! The seven categories feature drag pageant staples such as talent, evening gown and “on- stage” question, as well as some less common known categories like swimsuit and celebrity impersonation. There are no eliminations. A running tally of scores will be kept - just like a traditional pageant - until we crown a winner at the end of the seven weeks. Contestants will be scored by a panel of judges from NotSafe4Werk.com, weekly guest judges, and a weekly fan vote. Featuring over twenty special guest judges including Pandora Boxx, Jack Mackenroth, Deven Green, Kelly Mantle and more, plus an impressive prize package (Miss NotSafe4Werk.com 2015 pageant is proudly being sponsored by Corset Connection, BookTheFilm, Spencer Williams Designs, Nails by Shlumpadinka, Akstatic Art and even GAG magazine!), and an interactive fan vote that counts towards the contestants scores, Miss NotSafe4Werk 2015 should be heating up the end of the summer! NotSafe4Werk.com was founded in April of 2014 by drag queen Chiffon Dior and features such diverse writers as Poppy Fields, Sister Indica, Sidney Stokes, Crunk Panda Spencer Williams, and more - as well as numerous contributors, specializing in the worlds of fashion, music, pop culture and of course the art of drag! Once Miss NotSafe4Werk.com 2015 is crowned, Chiffon’s team will turn their attention towards their 2nd Annual Year End Awards which recognizes the best achievements of the year in numerous categories including the coveted Drag Queen of the Year Award, which was captured by Bianca Del Rio last year. For more information on the pageant, head to notsafe4werk.com! 10 // LIBATIONS MEET OUR MIXOLOGIST, CANDACE COLLINS! Photo by Robert Stahl What she drinks: Manhattan Best bang for your buck: Fuckleberry Trademark drink: Candy Juice ASK A BARTENDER Q: Why is tipping my bartender important? A: We don’t get a check so if you don’t tip, we don’t make money. Also, your tip isn’t just paying your bartenders salary - it also pays the bar-backs as well. Have a question you’ve been dying to ask your bartender, but were too afraid to? Ask our bartender anonymously via email at [email protected] ORIGINAL CRAFT COCKTAILS The Blue Fairy Inspiration: GAG Magazine’s official MEET birthday shot. 1 1/4 ounce Three Olives Loopy OUR 1/2 ounce Blue Curaçao 2 count Pineapple Juice MIXOLOGIST, Shake over ice. Pour it. Shoot it. CANDACE COLLINS! Photo by Robert Stahl What she drinks: Manhattan Best bang for your buck: Fuckleberry Trademark drink: Candy Juice Spicy Latina Inspiration: My own spicy Latina! 2 ounces vodka 1/4 raw jalapeño 2 sprigs cilantro 1 sprig mint 2 count pineapple juice 1 count cranberry juice Pour 2 ounces of vodka in shaker tin. Muddle jalapeño, cilantro, and mint. Add pineapple juice and cranberry. Add ice. Shake. Strain. Serve. 12 // ASK EDNA JEAN But first, Edna ASKS a question! Dear Readers (America) (Gaggers), My first question isn’t a question for me, but rather, a question for many of our elected officials who simply refuse to embrace the new world of marriage equality. Why do you choose to be on the wrong side of history? After the ruling, we do expect you to embrace the new law of the land and move on. It’s really that simple. OUR supreme court has ruled and the argument is over. Furthermore, why do some of y’all choose to be George Wallace? Who remembers him? If he is remembered, it’s for being on the wrong side of history. In Hood County Texas, County Clerk Katie Lang will only be remembered for her few days of foot stomping and refusing to issue same sex marriage licenses.