PV: Tell me about your queer identity. I prefer to identify myself as simply Queer, because I am complicated in both my sexual and gender identities and I prefer the freedom of fluidity that the word queer offers. Also, the sense of belonging. But if I find myself in a situation where specific labels would better serve me, I describe myself as a nonbinary bisexual (as in all genders). Our trans masc community is so strong and mighty, but it’s like people don’t know we’re here sometimes despite how much work we are doing for the greater queer community.
We, MMM, share many members with both of your orgs, Transcend Nickel City and Rookie Knights. Tell me about Transcend Nickel City, how did that come about? I love that we have been able to quiet-collab and share resources and people! I was at a point in my relation to my queerness and also the queer
community of Buffalo where I felt like I had finally gotten my footing, and like I belonged, or at least had something legitimate to offer, and I came across the IG account for the Trans Closet of Hudson Valley. I wasn’t aware of anything like that in Buffalo, and I decided I wanted to try to bring that kind of mutual aid to our community. I also knew that I couldn’t do it alone, so I put out a call for volunteers and very quickly found the handful of people who are working alongside me on the shared vision today. The idea gained traction almost immediately, and it became clear to me that Buffalo wanted more mutual aid opportunities. Right now we are focusing on the Trans Closet aspect of our work, but who knows where we will grow. Just being able to share space with people once a month in an emotionally vulnerable and safe atmosphere is something I’ve grown quite attached to.
So many people still don’t know the term drag kings. You were at GLYS Con (a middle and high school convention for local GSAs) recently. At Man-Made Men’s trans masculine panel, one of the kids said, “I just found out what a drag king is!” They were ecstatic. Could you define drag king for the people in your words. Well, in the same way that I’m attracted to the word queer for its open interpretation, I feel that any drag identity, regardless of gender moniker, is whatever the person portraying it says it is. But, for my own relation to the title, I believe that a drag king is someone who is using any combination of makeup, costumes, story-telling, and performance of any kind to portray their interpretation (or the subversion) of masculinity.
Rookie Knights has the feel of a hidden gem despite its popularity. Lots of people know about it, but attending a show feels extremely personable. You’ve been able to foster a welcoming community for people just starting in drag, a place for them to experiment and try things while their community cheers them on. Tell me about the journey from inception to where it is today. Rookie Knights really are one of the most important things to me. It started because when I decided to try drag in 2022, there were essentially zero kings in Buffalo and nowhere for me to easily get onstage. I had to drive to Rochester and compete in the Cub Competition at Roar to find an opportunity for a new king to perform. I got involved in that performance circuit for a while, but once I got more experience, I, along with 716 Pride at the time, decided that Buffalo deserved to have opportunities like that Cub Competition as well.
We launched Rookie Knights as an opportunity for new drag kings to compete in a low stakes competition and learn how to perform. The beginning was rough. We had some issues with our first venue and moved to Hot Mama’s Canteen, which was the best thing that we could have done. Our first one or two shows had a decent audience, but after that, we would have 3, maybe 4 people in the audience, including my own husband. Most of our performers in the beginning were coming from Rochester, because they had an already established king scene, so we weren’t really even reaching the Buffalo community. We started doing workshops, and they were well attended, but it wasn’t translating to bigger audiences. This went on for probably 6-8 months, and I started really questioning whether or not we should keep going.
I had pretty much taken over the full duties of running the program about 6 months in, and eventually 716 Pride decided to step away and focus on other things. Around this time, more people began showing up to our shows, and I felt like I finally had some momentum. Almost overnight, it was like a flood gate opened. Performer signups and audience attendance increased exponentially. Because of the diverse identities of the performers who attended our workshops, I also decided to open our shows up to all types of performers, but keep a focus on kings and things since they were still extremely underrepresented.
At the time of this interview, we have had exactly 50 performers involved in Rookie Knights, 22 of whom have won and gone on to do some really cool things, and the other 28 still actively competing. Our shows are currently booked out through November of 2025 for both competition spots and experienced guest performer spots. We have full audiences. I have partnerships with the showrunners at the Underground to showcase each month’s winner in one of their shows so our Knights will get more visibility and a paid booking. Rookie Knights group often gets booked as at other shows throughout the city. Rookie Knights now has a program, thanks to the help of Gendy Neutch, where people who want to be involved backstage can learn skills like tip collection, prop organization, and stage management as a stage jester. And we’re currently wrapping up a six-month workshop series where I bring in experienced performers from the community to teach essential Drag skills people would need to get started.
Experiencing the growth has been a really beautiful thing, because as Rookie Knights has gotten bigger, it has attracted
the people who align with its values. Our performers and audience show up knowing the assignment: be nice. Everyone who steps on our stage is not only accepted, but celebrated, for who they are and what they bring to our community. No matter where I go with my drag, I will always continue to invest in Rookie Knights.
Where do you see these organizations going? That’s a lot easier for me to answer for Rookie Knights than it is for TRANScend. I have tried very hard to empower the members of TRANScend and make it a true collective, so I can’t really say where it will go. But it’s based on community need, and we are pretty solidly rooted in providing resources, joy and community, so I trust that it will go where it’s called to.
I want Rookie Knights to continue to grow, possibly even outside of Buffalo. But the most important concern for me is to protect the culture that makes Rookie Knights so special to me and the people involved. I would love to facilitate Rookie Knights chapters in other cities, while also continuing to grow what we do here in Buffalo – think bigger workshops, an annual festival and dream big. But again, never at the risk of jeopardizing the current Rookie Knights culture and community.
What’s your “rose and thorn” of the buffalo queer scene? Or of the buffalo drag scene? For specifically the drag scene, because that’s where I’m most plugged in: My rose is that we are all so united against toxic behavior and that I feel so much love and support in our community that I haven’t observed in other cities. Especially the way the queens have embraced the kings/ things. The thorn is that I feel like we still have more work to do in appreciating, showcasing, and prioritizing the talents of BIPOC performers.
Who are your biggest queer influences or inspiration?
Well, I don’t think anyone would believe me if I didn’t say Freddie Mercury. I felt very drawn to him (and Queen) before I even knew I was queer at all in a way that only makes sense to me in retrospect. I love his blending of, or sometimes alternating between, masculinity and femininity in such an unapologetic way. And his powerful stage presence. But personally. I have been very influenced and inspired by my best friend from college, Emily Doscher, who has been at my side since the very beginning of my queer awakening. I quite literally wouldn’t be who I am today, or maybe even here at all, if it weren’t for her acceptance and shared
journey.
What’s one thing you wish you could tell people who are just starting to realize their queer identity?
There are so many of us that are just waiting to love you for who you are. No matter how scared you are, or how difficult things are for you now, there is a place
where you can be the you that you don’t even know you are yet. And don’t be afraid to try things on. You never know what you are going to like, or what you won’t, and that’s okay. That’s what’s fun about being queer, the play and self discovery of it.
Where can people find you? (Socials or whatever) I’m @freddie_hercury everywhere (but don’t expect a lot out of my Tik Tok). Also, @rookie_knights and @transcendnickelcity on Instagram.