GayAlliance.com – Michael Steck
“The Seen? is a series of articles that are about the people we see in our GLBT community all the time. We may know them by name or we may know them by face but however we know them, our scene would not be the same without them. These articles are a tribute to those seen in our scene, in a small attempt to put the unity backed into the word: community. This month?s featured person is local drag diva legend: Ambrosia Salad. From lip-syncing to Shaun Cassidy in his bedroom to recently celebrating his sixth year hosting ?The Salad Bar Revue? at Muther?s in Rochester, Ambrosia Salad a.k.a. Chris Steckel has had the hankering for entertaining his whole life.
?I am the Jan Brady of the family, a middle child with an older brother and younger sister,? said Steckel. ?That?s why I turned to drag. I needed attention somehow!?
Steckel has been performing for 12 years as Ambrosia Salad and made his stage debut at Club Marcella in the summer of 1994. Born in Bradford, Pa., a town known more for the Zippo Lighter and Kendal Motor Oil than high heels and glitter, he moved with his family to New York State when he was five. After graduating from Canandaigua Academy, Steckel went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Brockport in Art History. Going out in the Rochester gay scene sparked a hidden desire for all that glitters.
?I got drawn into drag by the performance aspect of it,? said Steckel. ?Having played the bassoon and saxophone in school, I knew I liked performing. Plus the shoes!?
Drag Queens are not only known for their shoes (usually 8 inch heels in Ambrosia?s case) but also can be notorious for loads of ?drag drama.? Ambrosia, who tries to steer clear of that aspect of it, does have some back stage secrets to whisper about.