With her blonde bomber wigs and Dusty Springfield eyes, Lady Bunny is an American drag legend. In addition to being a nightclub fixture, deejay, columnist, songwriter, producer, performer and actress (To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar), Bunny is the founder and emcee of the annual Wigstock concert event in New York City. She’s bringing her outrageous act to Georgie’s Alibi on July 3 and 5, and Orlando’s Revolution on July 9.
WATERMARK: I just read your Wikipedia entry. It was updated less than a week ago… at 5:59 a.m.! Any idea who was responsible? Did something happen that night?
LADY BUNNY: No idea, but I hope it wasn’t a disgruntled trick who got a taste of the NYC bedbug epidemic!
You started your drag career alongside RuPaul. Do you stay in touch? If it had been Lady Bunny’s Drag Race, what would you have done differently?
Ru and I really re-bonded on the set of Another Gay Sequel: Gay Gone Wild. We also co-wrote a duet, “Throw Ya Hands Up”, for his new album Champion on itunes.
As far as Lady Bunny’s Drag Race, I suppose I would have to take that job if offered. But I have zero interest in elimination shows or reality television in general. Why is this country so obsessed with competition-based shows? Who is the best chef, model, singer, designer and drag queen? I could care less. I don’t care about the Oscars either, because I have a brain of my own and don’t need to a committee to tell me what the best of anything is.
I prefer shows with scripts, professional actors and directors, but those are expensive to produce. No one is going to rerun crap like America’s Next Top Model in 50 years the way truly magical TV like I Love Lucy is still on the air.
But I’m happy that Ru has a hit show on her hands. It was Logo’s highest-rated original program, so maybe they’ll be more open to drag projects in the future. It’s just not my cup of tea.
You were in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. I’m sure Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo were in 100%, but what was macho guy Wesley Snipes like? He’s from Orlando.
Wesley and Patrick were extremely cool, and gladly posed with photos with any of the 200 plus drag queens on the set. They could not have been more gracious. But John Leguizamo is a natural born clown. Even in between the takes he would be swishing around the set and reading with the other girls. He kept us howling—not easy to do when you’re roasting in drag in the summer.
Do you still write the ‘Worst of the Week’ feature for Star Magazine? What celebrities make it into your column regularly?
There’s one redhead called Phoebe Price who always looks ridiculous. I don’t even know what she’s famous for. I often like the wackier outfits—look at my crazy wardrobe! But they aren’t looking for compliments in a column called ‘Worst of the Week’.
You tell a joke about oysters… hilarious. Is it still the nastiest joke you know, or can you top it?
What’s the biggest cause of pedophilia? Those sexy little kids!
Have you ever been to Orlando or Tampa?
I’ve come to Orlando many times… back when Revolution was called Southern Nights, and also at the Parliament House. But it’s been a while and perhaps that’s because some queen has been performing my act for years. They say imitation is the best form of flattery; I say she’s a rotten thief who doesn’t have enough imagination to create her own act!
I’ve spent less time in Tampa, but I always love the crowds at Georgie’s Alibi! I grew up in Chattanooga, and I really connect with my southern crowds.
Let me go Barbara Walters on you… if you were a ride at Disney World, which ride would you be?
I am actually not familiar with the rides there, but is there something like a Sit ‘n’ Spin?
Then let me go all Oprah on you. When are you happiest, in the zone, most fully engaged?
I deejay, perform, act, write a blog at ladybunny.net, and write music as well. I think the key for me is not getting too bored with any one thing. I also have an upcoming appearance on Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood on July 27, so check it out! I’ve definitely been bitten by the acting bug—as well as a few other bugs I won’t mention!
I know you’re a political girl. What do you think of Obama so far?
When Obama spoke in Cairo, he took an important step in taking away Al Qaida’s recruitment tools. Quoting the Koran to a primarily Muslim audience, he won them over. A week later, a heavily favored hard-line party in Lebanon lost to a more progressive party. This is called diplomacy, and it is the opposite of Bush’s tragic “You’re either for us or against us” brand of foreign policy.
Bush destroyed this country! Obama has so much on his plate right now, from the economy to health care to confirming Justice Sotomayor to North Korea’s nuclear rumblings. I don’t want gay issues to be thrown under the bus, but to me, personally, gay marriage is less urgent than making peace and fixing this economy.
But his refusal to deal with ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is a slap in the gay community’s face, and clearly a broken campaign promise. So send him a letter! Get involved! Or you have no right to whine.
What are you planning for your trip to Orlando and St. Pete?
Pure unadulterated madness and some really raunchy comedy! I can’t wait!
