The Not-So-Straight Road to Drag
28 | OutBoise Magazine | NEWS
OutBoisemag . com | Issue 19 | May 2016
The Not-So-Straight Road to Drag
By Desmond Slowe “ I thought , ‘ Oh , my , God . What in the world is that ?’”
It was a drag queen . In particularly , it was Gem Empress 29 Reba McEnwhat .
Sissy That Walk ...
“ I was in the old Lucky Dog , on Front [ Street ], with a friend and walks in this voluptuous blond in this fabulous blue gown . Biggest hair I ever saw ; covered in jewelry . I ’ d never seen a drag queen before in my life . I ‘ d never been in a gay bar in my entire life . I had no idea what any of this was . I asked my friend , ‘ What ’ s that ?’”
“ My friend says , ‘ I think her name is Reba . She is part of the Gem Court .”
Supermodel ( You Better Work )
I am sharing a small table with Jim and Scott at the Flying M on a Saturday afternoon . It is a table for two but we manage to saddle up three chairs to it with three drinks , two large pastries , my recorder and notebook on the tabletop . The intimacy doesn ’ t bother me ; in fact , it makes the whole interview seem more personal . It is busy this Saturday and moments into our interview Jim and Scott greet friends who sit close to our table . This is the gay community . This is family .
“ I can give a quick background on me ,” says Jim .
“ I was married 31 years . I got married clear back in 1977 . I was going to school at Idaho State . My wife came down from the University of Idaho and finished up her teaching degree at Idaho State . She started teaching a local ] elementary while I finished up my degrees . We had a daughter . In 2003 , like most gay men that are in [ opposite sex ] marriages , you finally realize this is not where you are supposed to be . It crescendo and it was time .”