Sharon Needles of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4

Something glamorous and twisted this way comes and her name is Sharon Needles. The Pittsburgh drag queen is one of thirteen contestants vying for the coveted title of America’s Next Drag Superstar on the fourth season of RuPaul’s “Drag Race.” See the deliciously dark queen and her peers on the 90-minute premiere Monday, January 30, at 9 p.m. on Logo. In the meantime, check out our exclusive interview with Sharon Needles.

Fenuxe: Why did you audition for Drag Race?
Sharon: I auditioned because every drag queen in the world apparently wants to be on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and I want a piece of the action, too.

Fenuxe: What did you like most about being on the show?
Sharon: Making life-long friendships with a lot of the girls. I didn’t expect to make such good friends. It’s a competition and you put yourself first but it really wasn’t that way. I genuinely cared about everyone in the competition.

Fenuxe: Who is your favorite drag queen from a previous Drag Race season?
Sharon: Anyone who has ever walked that runway is my favorite drag queen. I love the commercial beauty of Raven. I love the awkwardness of Tammy Brown. I love the comedy of Mimi Imfurst. I love them all. Anyone who has ever walked that runway I’m the biggest fan of.

Fenuxe: How did you get into drag?
Sharon: I don’t know. I don’t remember. It was so long ago. I grew up on a farm in Iowa in the middle of nowhere, and I was pretty much raised by a television. I was always obsessed with beauty pageants and femininity with people like Elvira and Peggy Bundy. The Halloween box in my house was never put away. I always liked the manipulation of beauty. I started performing when I was really young in the basement of a Des Moines nightclub. I guess I’ve always been in drag.

Fenuxe: How would you describe your look and persona?
Sharon: Sexy, bitchy, scary and approachable. A lot of people call me “goth.” I knew I had an opportunity with RuPaul’s Drag Race to be a remembered entertainer. Some of the girls who have had this opportunity on the show in the past didn’t take their branding very seriously. I wouldn’t call myself a “goth”; I’d call myself a genius for creating a character and sticking to it and never breaking it.

Fenuxe: Do you have acting experience?
Sharon: No. Just being a compulsive liar. And a drama queen.

Fenuxe: Where do you perform?
Sharon: I perform in Pittsburg mostly. I have a show bar called Blue Moon which I absolutely love because I get away with murder. It’s a cast of queens that have been kicked out of every other drag bar in the city. So we’re just a family of misfits that love making a mess and making people laugh. I also do a monthly show at the Brillobox, which is a straight bar. But they love our antics, and we have a really good time there.

Fenuxe: What do you do when you’re not doing drag?
Sharon: I’m usually thinking about drag in a dive bar with a shot of well whiskey. It’s after 5 somewhere, right?

Fenuxe: What’s next for you?
Sharon: Next for Sharon Needles, that is the question. As of now I woke up hung over, and I’m about to take off last night’s face and spackle on another one for a photo shoot. But for the long run I don’t know. I basically want to base my career on Elvira’s career. I want to be relevant forever and never change my clothes.

Patrick Hanson of the Razors softball team

Hotlanta Softball League
Organized in 1982, HSL is one of the oldest members of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association. HSL will have more than 30 Open Division and 10 Women’s Division Teams in the 2012 spring season.  There are four divisions in the Open Division A, B, C and D.  The Open Division allows both men and women to participate.  The Women Division has two divisions—one competitive and one non-competitive. The league expects at least 40 to 50 teams will be playing this season.

All games and the Big Peach Tournament will be played at the Metro Softball field at 7301 Cambelton Road in Atlanta.

HSL will host player sign-ups on the following dates:
January 29 at Blake’s from 3 to 6 p.m.
February 2 at Joes on Juniper from 7 to 10 p.m.
February 18 at Woofs from 1 to 4 p.m.

For details, visit www.hotlantasoftball.org.

Adam Helewski of the Bitsy Grant Honey Badgers tennis team

Atlanta Tennis Team Association
With more than 250 members, the ATTA sponsors teams in men’s, women’s and mixed leagues, and tennis is played year-round in the various leagues. Each season typically lasts seven weeks, followed by the playoffs. There are also opportunities for singles players and doubles pairs in ladders and league play for individual competitors. The United States Tennis Association runs a full schedule of tournaments for all skill levels, and ATTA organizes two tournaments each year including The Peach International Tennis Championships celebrating its 25th year in 2012. ATTA also sponsors monthly social tennis events and weekly Open Play.

Important ATTA dates include:
ChATTAhoochee Doubles Classic (early March)
ATTA Singles Ladder begins (mid-March)
ALTA Spring Season begins (March 17)
ATTA Doubles Ladder begins (mid-April)
Summer Season (ALTA Mixed/USTA) begins (June 2)
The Peach International Tennis Championships (Labor Day weekend)
ALTA Fall Season begins (September 8 )
USTA Winter Season begins (November 10)

For more information about ATTA, visit www.atta.org

Zack Gruczkowski of the National Flag Football League

National Flag Football League of Atlanta
Registration for the 2012 Spring/Summer NFFLA League is currently open.  The league fees are $70 for early registration on or before 11:59 p.m. on February 6 and $80 for regular registration on or before 11:59 p.m. on February 27. Pre-season games will be held March 10 and 17, with the regular season beginning March 24.

NFFLA’s annual “Play ‘N Greet” orientation sessions will be held February 25 and 26. These sessions are optional for returning players, but attendance at one of them is mandatory for all new players. The 2012 Draft is scheduled to be held February 28, and the Team Reveal Party will be March 1.
To register, visit www.NFFLA.com.

Emmanuel Clay of the Atlanta Bucks Rugby Football Club

Front Runners Atlanta
Front Runners Atlanta is a running, walking and social club for gay people and friends. With about 80 registered members the club is open to all people regardless of race, pace, age, gender, sexual orientation or athletic ability. Through weekly runs and social events, the club offers opportunities for fun, fitness and socializing.

Alex Aviles of the Hotlanta Soccer Association

There are no minimum requirements and FRA allows each member to determine his or her own level of involvement. Online registration for 2012 opens in February, with annual membership dues costing $25. The club’s big event of the year is the Pride Run 5K held in Piedmont Park during the last Saturday in June.

For details, visit www.eteamz.com/frontrunnersatlanta or email info@frontrunnersatlanta.org.










For more information about the following sports organizations, click on the team name:

Bucks Rugby Football Club

Atlanta Rainbow Trout

Hotlanta Soccer

“We wanted to draw awareness and show LGBT people in a positive light,” said Pride Expo Vice President Ray McCreary. “We are a vital part of the community and shouldn’t be overlooked.”

The event’s creators hope to address the needs and interests of the LGBT community of the South while offering cultural and educational activities that inform, inspire and entertain. The expo will offer exhibits, informational break-out sessions, social networking events, shopping, dining and entertainment.

With the expo only a few months away, McCreary said organizers are busy lining up live entertainment and speakers. He confirmed one after party will be held at My Sister’s Room on Saturday, April 21, with a drag show, VIP room, food, beverages and a DJ.
“Things are coming along great,” he said. “Every day we’re getting more hits on the web site and people are calling in asking about tickets.”

Tickets should go on sale around February 1. Attendees will have three admission options and participation levels. General admission tickets will include attendance to the Pride Expo and all activities held within the exhibit hall. After-hours passes will allow guests the same daily events plus some of the most exclusive entertainment and after-hours parties in the city. The full-access VIP passes will provide an all-inclusive experience, including attendance at all Pride Expo events and all off-site activities. The exclusive VIP events include private entertainment venues, backstage access, food and wine tastings, private parties with celebrity entertainment, photo opportunities, signings and much more.

The Pride Expo will also partner with local non-profits, charities and organizations and will donate a portion of the proceeds generated from ticket sales to those groups. Currently, the event will benefit For the Kid in All of Us, but McCreary said opportunities to work with other charities are still available.

In fact, last year the veteran dancer portrayed a high school student in the locally filmed “Footloose.” With a flash of his genial smile he said, “I’m 48.”

Maybe all the dancing kept him young or maybe it’s simply amazing genes. Possibly it was all his close contact with Cher. He first met the ageless gay icon while auditioning for her music video “I Found Someone.”

“I danced my ass off, and that night I got a call from the choreographer’s assistant who said, ‘Cher wants you at her house tomorrow.”

The next day he was dirty dancing with the diva in her wicker-covered kitchen. After that rehearsal he filmed the video and spent nearly 20 years on tour with her.

“I grew up on stage with Cher,” he said. “That was a good long run. She took me around the world.”

Before Cher, he danced on the final season of the TV series “Fame,” which was one of his goals when he moved to LA in 1984. Shortly after relocating to the West Coast, Bubba landed a touring gig with another of his idols—Mitzi Gaynor. Eventually Bubba toured with Porno for Pyros and Jane’s Addiction, where the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle finally snagged him.

“I was a raging drunk on tour,” he said. “I was partying way too much. There were alcohol and drugs and debauchery everywhere. That’s just the way you went about your business. It really was an alternate universe. You’re kind of like in this bubble that moves from city to city.”

Many gigs and years later, Bubba—now eight years sober—continues building his impressive resume. He will be seen dancing on the film “Rock of Ages,” starring Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin and Mary J. Blige. It is tentatively set for release in June 2012. Recently he choreographed three numbers in the show “27” at Atlanta’s Fabrefaction Theater. The show was based on the music of Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Amy Winehouse, who all died at age 27. He is currently in talks to choreograph a Broadway show in China this year.

Yet with all his success, Bubba has found himself in a unique position.

“I just started my first normal job, which is weird,” he said. “I’m working as a receptionist at a hair salon. I’ve never had a job outside of dance.”

About a year ago he quit as artistic director of Dance 101 off Briarcliff Road. The job required more than he was willing to offer, although he continues to teach a class there.
“It was a tough choice,” he said. “It was a great salary but I’d have to give up me and my creativity and freelancing. I want to get back to why I danced in the first place. I never danced to make money. Dance made me a lot of money but I never wanted to do it to make money. However, I found myself dancing to make money. It kind of chipped away at the passion aspect of it.”

That passion arose at the age of 10 after his sister started taking acrobatics. Her backbends and cartwheels piqued his interest, and Bubba soon enrolled in a dance class in a strip mall in Daleville, Alabama.

“I was the only boy in the studio so I got my classes for free.”

He soaked up various forms of dance, all while studying karate. Like many gay boys growing up in the Deep South, Bubba attracted slurs like “sissy” and “fag,” but he always brushed them off.

“I was taking karate so I knew if you got too close I could kick your ass and then run away,” he said.

When it came to his family, Bubba did not want for acceptance and support.

“My parents were incredible,” he said. “They loved me. They’d go to dance recitals and then go to karate tournaments. They never expected me to do whatever everyone else did. Maybe that’s what made it OK for me to be different and not do what the other boys were doing.”

His family brought Bubba to Atlanta. He originally moved here from LA in 2004 to have easier access to them. He ping ponged back and forth over the years between gigs and tours and finally settled here around 2007 when he accepted the Dance 101 job.

Maybe “settled” isn’t the right word. Bubba remains torn between the city near his Alabama relatives and the city full of connections. Long-time friends within LA’s dance community continue to ask Bubba why he stays in Atlanta when his family would only be a flight away if he moved.

“I still ponder that every day,” he admitted. “I want to make sure that if I move it’s for the right reasons. I like the low-key aspect of living in Atlanta. But if I’m going to be here I need to transition into another career.”
While Atlanta offers some gigs, it doesn’t quite provide the same dance opportunities as LA. If Bubba remains here, he must choose a career path away from dance. One thing is clear: he wants to dance for the love it. Dancing to pay bills doesn’t appeal to him, which poses an internal conflict.

“I’m in idle position right now,” he said. “For right now I’m here. I do want to figure out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. I don’t necessarily want it to be dance. Although, I’ll always dance. I have a vision of me croaking on stage. If I did a leap and croaked in midair and dropped, I wouldn’t mind that.”

Until then, the handsome man with tattoos and kind eyes answers phones at a Buckhead salon. He spends too much time at the Ansley Starbucks, eats a lot of sushi and enjoys going to the movies. But mostly he thinks about dance.

From your experience at MISTER, do you think Atlanta’s gay community is being responsible when it comes to HIV prevention?
The real challenge isn’t so much lack of responsibility as it is lack of knowledge that the Atlanta gay community has in regards to HIV and safer sex practices. Many men think they are being safe when, in fact, they are at a high risk of contracting HIV. This is especially true with men that are in “monogamous” relationships. In a recent CDC study, a scary finding suggests that men in monogamous partnerships are more likely to contract HIV than single gay men. Men in relationships tend to discontinue consistent condom usage because they assume exclusivity with one another. One or both partners might stray but be afraid to admit it. Meanwhile, they have unknowingly introduced HIV or another STD into the relationship.
 
What are your thoughts on staying healthy for those already infected?
Safer sex doesn’t stop once you are infected. With a weakened immune system, other STDs such as syphilis or hepatitis-B can be much harder to treat. We also encourage those infected to stay on top of their health. It is especially important for them to continue regular check-ups to monitor how the virus is affecting them.  In December 2011, the CDC reported that only 51 percent of those aware of their HIV positive status receive ongoing medical care and treatment, and perhaps more profound, a study published in Health Psychology estimates that about 80 percent of young gay men who are HIV-positive don’t know their status because they’ve not been tested since their exposure. 
 
How often should sexually active people get tested?
It is recommended by the CDC that all gay and bisexual men get tested at least annually, and more often for sexually active men.  MISTER recommends if you are sexually active with less than five sex partners a year you should test every six months, and if you have more than five different sex partners in a year you should be testing every three months.

AID Atlanta
AID Atlanta, located at 1605 Peachtree Street Northeast, offers free rapid testing Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. A variety of interesting programs are available through AID Atlanta, including One Night Stand, a monthly meeting at 7 p.m. where guys into “no strings attached” discuss various topics; Coffee Talk, sessions held in coffee hotspots and are focused on introducing men to AID Atlanta’s Gay Outreach; and Tongues United, an online chat group for participants who wish to maintain their confidentiality. For more information regarding AID Atlanta’s HIV Testing Program, please call 800-551-2728 or (404) 870-7775 or visit www.aidatlanta.org.

After years of heating up various Atlanta dance floors, DJay McCracken will pack up his music and head for the West Coast. Before he leaves on February 1, he will spin one last time as an official Atlantan for his farewell party “ATL to LAX First Class” at the Jungle on Friday, January 27, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. DJ Vicki Powell and DJ Mike Pope will also spin. Partial proceeds from the $5 cover will benefit MISTER and GO Atlanta.

DJay McCracken took a few moments to speak with Fenuxe about his career in Atlanta and his swiftly approaching move to Los Angeles

Fenuxe: Why are you leaving?
McCracken: I feel like I need to explore and see what else the world has to offer. A change of pace would be kind of nice.

Fenuxe: What will you be doing?
McCracken: I’m basically moving my company to the West Coast and expanding. So Spiked Entertainment will be on both sides of the US. From there I’ll attempt to go to New York and Chicago and keep on with it.

Fenuxe: What will you miss most about Atlanta?
McCracken: The people. I’ll miss everybody. Everyone is really great here. It’s hard to leave, but I feel like it’s the best thing for me to do as far as progression is concerned.

Fenuxe: Where are you originally from and what brought you to Atlanta?
McCracken: I was born in Winter Park, Florida, but have been in Georgia spontaneously since the age of 3.  While living on the outskirts of the city the majority of my life, my career was only going so far. So by the time I had hit 20, I knew it was time for me to move on to bigger and better things.

Fenuxe: How did you became a DJ and what attracted you to that career?
McCracken: It all began with a Chemical Brothers cd “Brothers Gonna Work it Out” a friend had given me. I was only 11 years old but I immediately fell in love with the unique five-track, hour-long cd. Growing up in my teens I played guitar, wrote music and had jam sessions with friends on a regular basis. At that time it was all mostly rock music, but I certainly had my Paul Oakenfold “Tranceport” and Sasha & Digweed “Global Underground” jams to keep going. By the time I hit 16 I was obsessed with drum and bass artists like AK1200 and Dieselboy. Other artists like Keoki were a part of the mix as well, while his “Keoki Klash” CD is still one of my all-time favorites. While working at various restaurants and bars I would always push the limits of my efforts and eventually ended up providing set music playlists for venues such as BED Atlanta and Noir Lounge. From there came the WETbar days where I went from bartender in the VIP lounge to house promoter for VIP Thursdays. On the night of my 24th birthday, which happened to land on a Thursday, I had my first full-on DJ experience with friend and Blake’s resident DJ, Bill Berdeaux.

“James has served this organization well in his decade-plus tenure with Pride,” Atlanta Pride Committee Board Chair Glen Paul Freedman said. “While we are saddened that he will be leaving us, we are excited for him in his new endeavor and wish him well.”

Sheffield will join the Health Initiative as Director of Organizational Development. In this new position, he will be working closely with long-time Health Initiative Executive Director Linda Ellis.

“It was not an easy decision, as I am emotionally invested in APC,” Sheffield said. “I believe that my skill set is ideal for the Health Initiative’s expansion work. My interest in LGBT health has grown with my involvement in the Pride Community Health Expo, partnerships with Grady and Kaiser, and my own personal experiences related to healthcare as a trans man. The Health Initiative’s movement toward reaching a more broad community excites me and I want to play a role in this new level of outreach.”

Freedman said the Health Initiative has been an important partner of Atlanta Pride’s for many years.

“While we will miss him, we are very happy that ‘Shef’ is going to be continuing as a leader in Atlanta’s LGBTQ community and supporting our friends.” Freedman said. “Because both Pride and the Health Initiative have office space in the Rush Center, he is just moving across the hall, so we will still see him frequently.”

The Atlanta Pride Committee plans to appoint an interim manager until an open search for a new executive director can be conducted. Until then, APC’s Executive Committee, board and other staff members will work with vendors and contractors to continue moving forward with current fund-raising efforts, programming and the 2012 Atlanta Pride Festival, which is scheduled for October 13-14.

Shaving off his hair for the role of Daddy Warbucks wasn’t an issue for actor Brad Oscar. His most recent gig as Uncle Fester in the New York production of “The Addams Family” required a similar look.

“Again, another iconic baldheaded character,” said Brad of his portrayal of the billionaire turned adopted father in the Theater of the Stars production of “Annie” at the Fox Theatre.

Although this will be his first time to play Warbucks, Brad has long ties to the show. He was an ensemble member in a production about 20 years ago and his actress sister has played the role of Miss Hannigan on tour.

“It’s always been a special show,” he told Fenuxe during a rehearsal break. “I’m loving it. I’m so excited to sing these songs.”

“Annie” marks the New Yorker’s third performance in Atlanta. He first acted in a production of “Jekyll and Hyde” in 1995, and his most recent visit was two years ago for “Young Frankenstein.”

“It’s always great to be back,” said Brad, who will try to squeeze in visits to the Georgia Aquarium and the Center for Puppetry Arts. An intense rehearsal schedule and various performances will demand most of his time.

But, Brad is used to hectic schedules. He’s been acting since he was a child growing up in Washington DC. With his parents acting in community theater, Brad was exposed to theater at an early age.

“Acting is something that has always interested me,” the 47-year-old said.

His first role in a “real production” outside of school was “Fiddler on the Roof,” where he played the part of Motel at the age of 12. He also played a child reporter for a DC television show.

Brad’s favorite acting job so far has been the Broadway production of “The Producers.” He snagged a Tony nomination in 2001 for his role as Franz Liebkind and was the understudy for the lead of Max Bialystock. Brad later replaced Nathan Lane as Max.

“It’s a role most character actors dream of,” Brad said. “I did that role over 1,400 times on Broadway, on tour and Las Vegas. It made me more visible as an actor.”

His success with “The Producers” has garnered much acclaim for Brad, which keeps his acting career quite busy. His plans after “Annie,” however, won’t require his acting chops. He’ll be preparing an April wedding to his partner, Diego, of six years. The couple will hold their ceremony where they first met—at the Arena Stage in Washington DC.

“It’s very exciting” Brad said.