Gay night clubs hattiesburg mississippi

When I moved to south Mississippi inI joined a diverse community of gay people. One of the most fascinating individuals I ever encountered was a black man known throughout the community as Miss Bootnanny. While I never actually saw Bootnanny during the day to confirm the latter, she left no doubt that she had once led a marching band and knew how to twirl batons.

Her talent extended to fire, as I learned when I watched in amazement as she twirled flaming machetes, an impressive talent, to say the least. One night, it went like this: I was standing around chatting with friends when all of a sudden there was a commotion and we all stopped to look, because Miss Bootnanny had arrived.

In she walked, dressed in a sparkling, sequined onesie, carrying one of those flag corps flags.

She marched her way around the entire bar hoisting it into the air like the Pied Piper of Fabulous, which she was. Note: Currently seeking a photo of Miss Bootnanny to add to this piece. And yet, I know that her life could not have been easy despite those moments of pure joy. Growing up black in America is difficult enough.

And while I have written elsewhere that gay acceptance hattiesburg be found in the rural Deep South, I know very well that there are limitations—particularly when LGBT expressions are further complicated by race and evangelical religion. To say nothing of poverty. The Prancing Elites Project follows a dance gay made up of five openly-gay black men who live in Mobile, Alabama, and model themselves after the J-Settes—the all-female dance team that performs with the Jackson State University marching band.

The Elites wear make-up and dress like the J-Settes, too. The latter has elicited some harsh criticism on YouTube, which makes one long for the voice of Langston Hughes to offer his critique of the ways of these white folks. And while they put on a brave club, and even regard their passion for dance and being openly gay as part of a longer tradition of southern civil rights, one can quickly discern that navigating this landscape of love and hate can be night for these young men to endure, as they must carry the added weight of being black and gay in a region that so often despises both.

I fear for their safety. I feel the pain of rejection of a community that uses religion to justify its hate and disapproval. And yet, I admire their courage to stand up to the bigotry of racists and homophobes. I cheer them on in their bid to change the world for the better not by leaving the South, but by remaining here and trying to make a difference for those who want to follow in their dance steps.

And I am buoyed by their confidence and the positive reactions they get from the same community. I hope they squeeze all they can from the fame rollercoaster before the cameras go away and, in the process, help to make a better way for those like Miss Bootnanny who, all those years ago, simply wanted to be herself.

One of the mississippi popular contestants from the show has been Alyssa Edwards, also from Texas. Regardless of who becomes the next Drag Superstar, we all win when southern queens are in the mix. Note: All told, there are actually four southern queens. She hails from Nashville, Tennessee. I enjoy a good drag performance and southern queens are among the best.

Some of the best-known drag performers in the U.