1 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Anny and Samantha and welcome to stuff. 2 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: I never told your prediction of I hear radio. 3 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 2: Happy still January twenty twenty four, because yeah, in my 4 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: head it's like April. For some weird reason, like I 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 2: saw a TikTok like six months in and we're like, wait, 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 2: this is only January, Sines, this somehow become the longest 7 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 2: month in my head? Is it always like that? 8 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: To me? January and February is the longest month. 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 2: Okay, it just feels like maybe because I'm still stretching 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three in my head that it feels super 11 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 2: long anyway. But you know what, Happy January twenty twenty four, 12 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 2: and we are talking about Native drag artists Lady Sug. 13 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: I'm very excited about this. So Lady Sugar or Kai Victor, 14 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: I hope I'm saying that right. I couldn't find their names, 15 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 2: so we're gonna stick with Lady Shug, who goes by 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: she Her. Are they in them pronouns? And we're going 17 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 2: to stick with they them pronouns. It's a non binary 18 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: queer drag activist and is a part of the Navajo 19 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 2: Nation or DNA Nation and have been quote fighting for 20 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 2: equal rights as an activist for LGBTQ two s to 21 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: spirit indigenous relatives to create equal rights in rural areas 22 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 2: and reservations that do not protect those on indigenous lands, 23 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: nor are there no laws or hate crimes laws to 24 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 2: protect us. This is a quote as well as if 25 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,639 Speaker 2: you're in the same sex marriage, your marriage isn't valid 26 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: through the DNA Navajo tribe. And this is according to 27 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 2: a twenty twenty two Advocate dot Com article with Lady 28 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 2: Sug and bt dubs. Yes, that's still a thing, and 29 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 2: that's still a conversation, especially as the new anti queer 30 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 2: policies have traveled all over the country. The different indigenous 31 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,040 Speaker 2: communities have also been affected obviously, or have all it 32 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: has been affected? Apparently in two thousand and five there 33 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 2: was an anti LGBTQ two spirit policy outlawing marriage for 34 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: queer people. So, yeah, that's not great. And one of 35 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 2: the things that Lady Shug has been really really active 36 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: and passionate about are these types of policies. 37 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: Right, but their activism expands much further back than that. However, 38 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: before we get into all of that, let's talk about 39 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: who they are and how they got to where they 40 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: are today. Lady Shug talked with The Queer Review and 41 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: told their story on how they were introduced and became 42 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: a part of the drag scene. Quote. I went to 43 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: a boarding school on my reservation, graduated high school, and 44 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: my goal was for the longest time, I don't know why, 45 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: but I wanted to go to Vegas. It was like Vegas, Vegas, 46 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: Vegas for like all four years of high school. Me 47 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,399 Speaker 1: and my best friends said, as soon as we get 48 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: out of here, let's go to Vegas. Of course, my 49 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: senior year came and I went to California, where it 50 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:01,640 Speaker 1: was introduce to the club scene, and that's where I 51 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: got adopted for a little bit, so I dabbled in 52 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: the artistry of that. I didn't really see too much 53 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: of the drag scene. It was more like the makeup 54 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: and the androgyny of the club kid culture club life. 55 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: I got into that really quickly, and my backbone grew stronger, 56 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: I guess you could say. And I finally achieved my 57 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: goal from high school about two years after I left, 58 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: when I moved to Vegas and went to school over there, 59 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: and they go on quote, I just walked into a 60 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: bar one day and it was a Latin night and 61 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: I saw my first drag show. It was an all 62 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: Latin cast, and I saw this entertainer and she thought 63 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,040 Speaker 1: I was one of the Latin kids. Normally living in 64 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: these big cities. They assume that I'm Latin, and when 65 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: I tell them that I'm Indigenous or Native, they are like, 66 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: what Native like TP. Then I have to educate them 67 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: about the stereotypes of being indigenous, that we are still 68 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: walking amongst these people and we're not a taboo. And 69 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: so my drag mother was performing in front of me 70 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: at Hamburger Mary's and we just had a connection. 71 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: Right, And the story continues quote. Three times a week 72 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: I would go to see my drag mother, Coco Vega. 73 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 2: She's a well known pageant gown designer, and she took 74 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: me under her wing. I was one of her backstage assistants. 75 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: So that's how I was first exposed to drag. One day, 76 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: my drag brother said that one of the girls had 77 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: canceled and she was like, I'm putting you in drag. 78 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,679 Speaker 2: So that day, Coco Vega painted me, put a costume 79 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: on me and said there you go, go out there, 80 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: and it just kind of clicked I felt like I 81 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 2: was a transformer, like it just felt so right, and 82 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: it just kind of took off from there. I ended 83 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 2: up working at Crave, which is no longer open, but 84 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 2: it was one of the largest gate clubs in Las Vegas. 85 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: So I was working on the Las AGAs Strip for 86 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 2: like seven nights a week doing drag, having my own night, 87 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: and then they had a cabaret drag show I was in, 88 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 2: so I started to be more comfortable in my drag, 89 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,360 Speaker 2: but it was more on the glamour side. That's how 90 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 2: I was taught. And in another article for Extra magazine, 91 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: they talked about how they came up with their stage name, 92 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: and they said, quote, actually, before Sugar, my name was 93 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 2: Sugar Booger. I used to hang around a bunch of 94 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: the kids in Los Angeles and they used to call 95 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,239 Speaker 2: me Sugar Booger because they always said, oh gosh, sug, 96 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: you know, you're really sweet, but your makeup and your 97 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: drag is kind of boogerish. Then when I moved to Vegas, 98 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,600 Speaker 2: I found my drag mother, Coco Vega. She was like, no, honey, 99 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: you're no Booger. From now on, you're going to be 100 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: named Lady sug it just kind of stuck. Mind you, 101 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: I was the Lady before Lady Gaga. That's probably how 102 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 2: long I've been doing drag. I should let out a 103 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 2: quote was one. 104 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:40,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they have been using their performance and shows 105 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: as a way to help not only the LGBTQ two 106 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 1: S community, but the indigenous community as well. Throughout their career, 107 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: Lady Shug has been on the rise in the drag community, 108 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: working to advocate for rights and acceptance from their own community. 109 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: In that same Queer Advocate article, they say, quote, on 110 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: our reservation, we have little fares in the fall. So 111 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: there's an Eastern fair, a Western fair in the different agencies, 112 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 1: and these fairs are big. Our relatives come from small 113 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,039 Speaker 1: communities from all over to these towns to these fairs. 114 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: They're like the Texas State Fair or something like that. 115 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: They have traditional dances, they have powows, they have rodeos, carnivals, 116 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,280 Speaker 1: they have four h and a lot of people that 117 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: parade from the little children to the elders. I thought, 118 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm going to bring drag to that. 119 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: So I was trying to hit up all these fareboards 120 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: and organizers to say, hey, I can produce a show, 121 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: give me a space I can fill it, but they 122 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: never wanted it. They never approved it or even responded. 123 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,280 Speaker 1: So in twenty sixteen, right after I won Miss New 124 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: Mexico Pride, I started performing in Arizona where they have 125 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: a fair which is the Navajo Nation Fair held in 126 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: Window Rock, Arizona. I performed outside of the gates, and 127 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: I remember the first time I performed there. It was 128 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: raining like cats and dogs, but people were into it. 129 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: They had blankets and umbrellas and they had to wait 130 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: for an hour before the show could start out in 131 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: the dirt. There were no lights, there was no stage. 132 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: We just had a good sound system and we were 133 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: excited to perform for our people. By the end of 134 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: the show there was a rainbow over as it was 135 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: so beautiful. 136 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and they continue on after that. I just kept 137 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 2: plugging away, trying to get inside fairground, but they never 138 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 2: would allow me until this last year when Tuba City, 139 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 2: which is the Western Navajo Nation Fair, finally picked me 140 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 2: up and put me on the main stage to be 141 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: the opening act for Snow the product. I mean, we 142 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: had our own banners, we had the headline stage. We 143 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 2: weren't in the corner. We were actually on the main stage. 144 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: We were on the lineup, and we were treated like 145 00:07:37,160 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: one of the main entertainers. I broke down after that show. 146 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 2: Of course, when I do those shows on my reservation, 147 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 2: I have an all indigenous cast, and they talked about 148 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: how sometimes they get flak because they don't put white 149 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 2: drag queens in the show. But I think that makes sense. 150 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: This is for an indigenous group. But you know, and 151 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,240 Speaker 2: when asked of what their heritage meant and why it 152 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,239 Speaker 2: was important to them, ladies show said, I was raised 153 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: by a really strong matriarchy. I had my mom, my grandma, 154 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: my dad's grandma, my aunts. I was always around strong women, 155 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 2: and I think that's where I developed my backbone and 156 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 2: my love and passion to give back to my people. 157 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: I always see it with my queer and trans friends. 158 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 2: They're the caregivers. They're the ones that take care of 159 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 2: grandma and grandpa. They're the ones that cook the meals. 160 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: But then they're also the ones who sometimes have to 161 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 2: go to chop the wood or fix stuff because they're 162 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 2: the ones who are there helping their elders or helping 163 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: their nephews, nieces, their brothers and sisters. And then I 164 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 2: have drag children, and one of my dragged daughters, she 165 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: does traditional dancing and she dances for both sides of 166 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 2: the spectrum. She dances on the female side and the 167 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 2: male side. We're the caregivers. We are the people who 168 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 2: are able to be on both sides of the spectrum. 169 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 2: I guess you'd say the man and a woman part 170 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 2: of it. Were considered five finger people and there are 171 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 2: five different genders of masculinity and femininity, and then intersects 172 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,920 Speaker 2: then you have your more masculine and more feminine. So 173 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 2: it's something that I totally see within myself, but also 174 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: within my peers. Those are also the ones who are 175 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:07,120 Speaker 2: trying to keep our language proud and our heritage alive. 176 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 2: And yeah, they've been able to do all of that 177 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 2: throughout their career, including being on the Emmy Award winning 178 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: HBO series We're Here, which follows drag queens as they 179 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 2: quote continue their journey across small town America spreading love 180 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: and connection through the art of drag. This was from 181 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 2: HBO where they were able to highlight their queer culture 182 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 2: in indigenous spaces as well. And with all of this, 183 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 2: they have continued to fight for the rights of quick 184 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: people not only on a local community level, but federal 185 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 2: level as well. They've been speaking up about the discrimination 186 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 2: they've been facing, large in part to the latest anti 187 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 2: queer policies in the United States. They're also really big 188 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 2: about advocating for healthcare and accessible healthcare for everyone, including 189 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 2: and especially for the Indigenous people because we know what 190 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:00,199 Speaker 2: happened during COVID and how little was done for them, 191 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:04,080 Speaker 2: and they are very big advocates in talking about getting 192 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: access to that. So really cool to see. I did 193 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 2: see and I don't know if this is true that 194 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: they were renewed for a fourth season, but I feel 195 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: like they got canceled at one point. We're here. 196 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 3: It could be HbA just listed their they like big 197 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 3: shake ups of the cancelation's continuation right new shows, So 198 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 3: I'm not sure, but. 199 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a really cool story. Again, someone will be 200 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: checking in see what they do in the future. Yes, 201 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: in the meantime, listeners, If you have any suggestions for 202 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: this segment or anything at all, you can email us 203 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: a stuff Media mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com. You 204 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: can find us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, or 205 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: on Instagram and TikTok at stuff Whenever told You we 206 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: have a tea public store, and we have a book 207 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: you can get wherever you get your books. Thanks as 208 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: always too our super producer Christina, executive producer My and 209 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,720 Speaker 1: our contributor Joey. Thank you and thanks to you for 210 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: listening stuff I ever told you. Production by Heart Radio. 211 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from my heart Radio, you can check 212 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: out the heart Radio app Apple Podcasts, where you listen 213 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.