SouthernVoice.com – By Ryan Lee
Atlanta?s rising drag stars continue legacy of consciousness
Like a seasoned warrior preparing a cache of weapons for battle, James Hoagland loads part of his arsenal into small bags as he talks quietly about what it means to fight.
?I definitely feel a responsibility, just as a member of the community,? Hoagland says, packing a bevy of pencils, brushes and assorted make-up containers.
He?s talking about the need for gay people to represent and celebrate themselves in sometimes-hostile areas like the South, and how he contributes to that effort by regularly transforming into his drag persona, GiGi Monroe.
?I look at it as an art form, as entertainment, and as a way to bring some kind of happiness to the community, specifically the queer community,? Hoagland says midway through his preparation for a Sunday night show at Amsterdam Atlanta.