Meet Letta The Queen

We recently connected with Letta The Queen and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Letta, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

After years of being a closeted child and preteen who grew up in church in a little costal city, Belfast, in the state of Maine, and always feeling out of place, I knew from a young age I wanted to make a change and difference in the world. I just didn’t know how, and what that would look like. When I came out of the closet my sophomore year of High School, I found a calling for advocacy work for the lgbtqia+ community, and joined the Belfast Area High School Gay Straight Trans Alliance. I was soon introduced to RuPaul’s Drag Race, and as theatre kid, I knew I had to try Drag. I found myself playing a drag character in my Senior Year One Act Competition in High School and I won Best Actor in the One Act play in the reginal level. I began practicing make up and what type of drag I wanted to do, with the biggest question i found myself asking myself, what does drag mean to me? Throughout my four years as an undergraduate student at the University of Southern Maine, I produced monthly drag shows and restarted the University’s Queer Straight Alliance after covid had temporarily shut down university and student Organizations and events. I even won the University’s of Southern Maines 22nd Royal Majesty Competition and Judged the competition the year following. I became a Residential Assistant for the Rainbow Floors for LGBTQIA+ Students for three years and worked on programing and event planning for the USM LGBTQIA+ Community, and integrating my drag and passion for advocacy work. I found my place, my calling, my purpose, and my answer to what drag means to me. To me, Drag is an artform, its visual and performance art, but also a way to advocate, fight for my rights, my community rights, human rights, and Drag has aloud me to do that and it has given me a plat form, not just to have fun and perform and use my Bachelors degree in theatre, but to show up, do the work as an advocate and fight for the rights for the LGBTQIA+ Community,

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m gay/ queer man, and I work full time professional Drag Queen, based out of Portland, Maine and I have been working as a Drag Queen for four years, although only doing it full time and professionally for two years. I Graduated for the University of Southern Maine with my Bachelors degree in Theatre from the USM collage of Arts and Humanity’s. I produce, cast, Host, Perform, Drag Shows, and I make 90% of my own costumes style my own wigs wit 10% thrifting and reimaging the garments into something else. I am also the Vice President and Entertainment Coordinator for Gorham, Maine Pride, and a co-host for my podcast, Let us be Perfectly Queer. I will also be heading into my third year as a camp counselor or Equality Maine’s New Leaders Project Summer Camp.

My drag is based in body positivity/ body size inclusivity as well as being an advocate and as a pillar in the LGBTQIA+ Community, fighting and working towards equality and LGBTQIA+ rights. What I love about drag is that I get to be creative and perform, but also am able to bring a message. I get inspire, make people feel and think, and lift up voices and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ Community.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

One of the most impactful things I’ve learned along my journey has been to be selfless and kind. Life is hard enough as it is, and in my role, the community looks towards me as a leader, and as an advocate. I wouldn’t be able to do drag full time with out the support, encouragement and love from the community. Its a partnership in a way of each supporting and lifting each other up.

I believe the second most impactful thing in my journey has been to listen and learn from our queer elders. Learning where and how drag started and how the LGBTQIA+ Liberation movement started. Building a foundation, knowing and learning from the past, advocating and fighting for our rights in the present, to help build and create a bright hopeful and equal future.

The third piece witch I’ve learned is that Pride is not just a month, or an event, or a party, Pride is a year round thing to celebrate and embrace yourself and the entire LGBTQIA+ community. I know it can be difficult, but I encourage each and every one of you to Take up the space, not just this month, not just once a day, take up space in every second of your life, because life is a gift. I’m here to take up space, I’m here to fight for my rights, fight for our communities rights. We’re here because 55 years gay rights activists took up space. Together we can rise, together we can take up space, because together Where here, Where Queer, Get Used It

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents have done to support me is show me unconditional love, and show up to my shows and events. My parents Shanna and Gregg Grindle are my biggest supporters and cheerleaders.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @lettathequeen
• Facebook: @Letta TheQueen

Image Credits

Image Credits with my fist in air performing and the other photo on the Mic go to GoCam
The rest of the Photo Credits go to Kate Turpen