Participation Type
Theater
Session Title
Session 6.02 Gender and Sexuality
Presentation #1 Title
Rainbow In the Mountains
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Growing up gay in Appalachia is difficult, but being gay and doing drag is a hard row to hoe. Rarely do we get a glimpse into a world that is often derided and hidden (oftentimes hidden to protect the residents of that world). However, in this presentation, some of that world will be revealed in a theatrical reading of selected sections from the upcoming book, Rainbow in the Mountains: Growing up Gay and Fabulous in Appalachia. The overt sexism and homophobia directed at drag queens in the end often helps to define them. Add being Appalachian into the mix and you find they can offer a unique perspective on the world. Through small vignettes told from a first person perspective, we will see and live some of those experiences in a way that gives us a small idea of what life is like for some of Appalachia’s overlooked people. This is one person’s experience and certainly cannot be generalized to all LGBT people. However, it adds one more voice to the tapestry of diverse people in Appalachia and gives us some small idea of what life is like for LGBT people in Appalachia.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Okey J Napier, Jr., is a gay Appalachian and graduate of Marshall University with an MA in sociology. He is a part time faculty member at Mountwest Community & Technical College and Ashland Community & Technical College and an author.
Presentation #2 Title
Readings from the Diary of an Appalachian Drag Queen
Rainbow In the Mountains
Harris Hall 138
Growing up gay in Appalachia is difficult, but being gay and doing drag is a hard row to hoe. Rarely do we get a glimpse into a world that is often derided and hidden (oftentimes hidden to protect the residents of that world). However, in this presentation, some of that world will be revealed in a theatrical reading of selected sections from the upcoming book, Rainbow in the Mountains: Growing up Gay and Fabulous in Appalachia. The overt sexism and homophobia directed at drag queens in the end often helps to define them. Add being Appalachian into the mix and you find they can offer a unique perspective on the world. Through small vignettes told from a first person perspective, we will see and live some of those experiences in a way that gives us a small idea of what life is like for some of Appalachia’s overlooked people. This is one person’s experience and certainly cannot be generalized to all LGBT people. However, it adds one more voice to the tapestry of diverse people in Appalachia and gives us some small idea of what life is like for LGBT people in Appalachia.
