Who better for our first in a series of Who’s Who of Edmonton Queens than a three-time Empress and the host of this year’s Celebration on the Square? We talked to Leah Way about her time in the Edmonton drag scene and what we can expect from this year’s Pride and Coronation.
Leah Way has been involved in our local drag and bar scene since the mid-80s, and has seen a lot of changes in that time. Starting at Flashback, a club she remembers as being so far ahead of its time that she’s hard-pressed to come up with an advantage the current scene has over it, Leah was taught what she refers to as old-school drag Queens in those days had to be bigger than life. When a queen walked into a room, everyone’s heads turned. It was a true art form, and it had to be so. In those days, there was a huge political movement for equal rights, and of course, the AIDS crisis. Queens were instrumental in raising thousands of dollars for different causes, so to get people to come out and watch performances and donate the kind of money needed, drag had to be over the top. At a time where it was harder to be accepted for being gay, queens stood out, but as the GLBT community has acquired both more equal rights and more social acceptability, the need for people to be able to express themselves has changed, and the need and nature of drag has changed accordingly.
Over the years, Leah Way has held many titles, from being the last Mz Flashback (she was still reigning when the club closed so has never technically stepped down) to being the first Mz Gay Edmonton, as well as Empress 14 and 30, and one of the current Regents of the ISCWR. Each title carried with it different responsibilities but all were equally meaningful and memorable. One of the things Leah misses most about Flashback has carried over into how she reigns as an Edmonton monarch; the amazing camaraderie of Flashback taught Leah it was okay to be whomever and whatever she wanted, and now she supports others in making those same decisions.
When she was crowned Mz Gay Edmonton, it really was the thrill of a lifetime. It meant acceptance….. it meant she was accepted by the GLBT community, it meant the straight community was on its way to accepting the GLBT community, but most importantly it meant she was ready to accept herself. With the 24th Gay Edmonton Pageant approaching this Pride (to be held Friday the 15th at Flash), Leah has this to say to the aspirants: “be true to who you are, represent to the best of your ability, integrity and compassion and know that more than likely you are going to make a difference in at least one persons life and you never know who or when.”
Just a couple months after Pride and the Gay Edmonton Pageant will be Coronation, and as one of 6 Regent Monarchs this year, Leah is leading the charge to make Coronation different and more inviting, especially for the in-town guests who may not understand “court”. One of the changes she feels people can most look forward is the presentation of a production of “Lion King” instead of the traditional last walks.
We asked Leah how the current court year is going and she says it’s going well, “not without its challenges of course, but every year has its own set of those”. Although she had hoped for better communication perhaps, and for more things done as a group, she acknowledges the difficulties in having so many strong personalities in leadership roles. At the end of the day though, her proudest accomplishments are the money given away to charity, and the difference that makes in so many peoples lives.
As much as she loves the role of drag in her life, Leah admits her drag career is winding down, and that she is looking at hanging up her heels in the near future. Hosting Pride is one of the things on her drag bucket list that she wanted to give a shot, and she is very excited for this year’s Celebration in the Square. This year features a lot of different acts to appeal to a variety of tastes, some returning, some new, more drag performances than last year, and “overall a day of fabulous entertainment and spending time with old friends while making new ones”. What she is most excited about is that she gets to be a part of making Pride a great experience for everyone, whether they are long time pride supporters or pride virgins.
There have been sacrifices over the years, but Leah has gotten so much more out of drag than she has had to give up; It has been well worth every sacrifice. She loves Edmonton’s community. Even though she has seen infighting, backstabbing, and bitchiness that are often hard to deal with, and worse, often directed towards novices or outsiders, Leah is proud that Edmonton’s community is one of the best for supporting each other, offering assistance, and being there in times of need.
To the younger generation of gays and lesbians, Leah Way has this piece of wisdom to offer: “live your life for you make yourself happy and don’t worry about what others say. Those who try to rip you down are only unhappy with themselves. Live your life honestly, with integrity and always give back to others where you are able. As we acquire more equality and its safer to go out and enjoy our lives in the mainstream never ever forget where we as a community have come from and the fights we have had to go through in order to enjoy these freedoms.”
Originally published on QMagazine