It is not often that you get to talk to an out and proud queer Iraqi drag queen / activist / writer / actor / journalist but we did just that. London based Amrou Al-Kahdi aka Glamrou the founder and star of Denim the drag superstar group dragged himself away from an Anti-Trump Protest outside Houses of Parliament to talk to queerguru about how being true to oneself has now taken on such a greater sense of urgency these days.
This disarmingly charming and very articulate man had a lot to say in this exclusive interview we filmed for PTV.
When you read a resume like PAUL BURSTON‘s you feel (a) totally exhausted and (b) that you really should achieve more with your own life! He’s a journalist, author, activist, one-time editor, and founder and host of POLARI the LGBTQ+ literary salon. Before we started talking to him we knew a little about his life as he had been one of the participants of Alexis Gregory‘s stunning verbatim piece Riot Act. We are still a little unsure why we had not tied him down for an interview, particularly as he is very much a significant figure in the UK”s queer community …….. and in fact in 2016, he featured in the British Council’s Global List of ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world.. So when his memoir We Can Be Heroes was recently published it seemed the perfect time to catch up with this fascinating charming man of letters
Pioneer Winter is an extraordinary young man. This Miami born and bred queer choreographer and artist is a powerhouse of energy and passion who seems to succeed at anything and everything he sets his mind on which usually is all about pushing the envelope as far as he can.
He founded his own Company the Pioneer Winter Collective in order to create dance pieces that that fully embrace his particular narrative that includes dancers and performers of all shapes and sizes, every gender and sexuality. His most recent work Gimp Gait, which stuns one into a very respectful silence, is a duo danced with Marjorie who is normally confined to a wheelchair.
Pioneer is also an activist who started LEAP : Leaders of Equality through Arts and Performance whose programs support and provides opportunities for LGBTQ youth. And if that is not enough he is also the Director of the Tigertail Screen Dance Festival too. Pinning him down for an interview was no easy task, but we are so pleased we did, and take a look at why.