[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.04,0:00:17.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,William Shakespeare said\Nthat all the world's a stage,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.72,0:00:20.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the men and women are merely players.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.94,0:00:23.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I must tell you in my experiences\Nas a drag queen,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.72,0:00:25.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am constantly learning the lesson
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.94,0:00:30.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between being a player\Nand playing a character.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.32,0:00:33.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We as human beings\Nall experience the tension
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.66,0:00:38.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between who it is we think we are\Nand who the world would have us be.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.20,0:00:44.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, I have learned so many things on\Nmy journey as a drag queen,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.10,0:00:46.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including that by dressing up in drag
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.80,0:00:50.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am more alike all of you\Nthan I am different.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.88,0:00:54.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because the truth is\Nwe all learn to dress up in life.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.49,0:00:57.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We dress up to find where it is we fit in
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.35,0:01:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with our relationships,\Nour jobs, and our hobbies.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.10,0:01:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We dress up to hide from our fears,\Nour vulnerabilities and insecurities,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.67,0:01:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the pressure to be thinner, happier,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.36,0:01:13.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more successful and confident\Nversions of ourselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.07,0:01:18.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We dress up to be what the expectations\Nof life would have us be.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.45,0:01:22.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The CEO with every answer\Nin a moment of crisis,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.60,0:01:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the PTA mom that shows up\Nand never breaks a sweat,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.40,0:01:31.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,someone else's version\Nof a perfect son or daughter,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.18,0:01:33.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be the perfect spouse.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.41,0:01:39.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We dress up when our social lives\Nbecome so busy and full
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.09,0:01:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have no time to deal with anything\Nremotely real or emotional.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.58,0:01:46.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have learned as a drag queen
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.88,0:01:50.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that when we dress up for the sake\Nand approval of other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.84,0:01:55.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we play a character in our real life
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.04,0:01:57.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it seems safer and seductive,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.98,0:02:02.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we lose the ability to experience\Nour authentic self,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.59,0:02:08.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we get lost playing a character living in\Na make-believe world with other characters
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.32,0:02:11.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of a true actor on a stage.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.91,0:02:16.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dressing up in drag is and continues to be
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.43,0:02:20.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the ultimate act of rebellion\Nfor my Latino, Italian,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.60,0:02:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conservative, Republican, catholic,\NSouth Texas family
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.96,0:02:25.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.57,0:02:27.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was born to be a part of.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.38,0:02:28.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.77,0:02:33.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is somewhat exhausting.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.95,0:02:37.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Christmas is very interesting.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.25,0:02:40.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this being my family,\NI was born in a world
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.49,0:02:44.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,full of expectations and demands\Nof who I was to be as a man --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.70,0:02:49.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a drag queen is not one of them,\Nbut it is who I am.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.13,0:02:53.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I'll never forget the look\Nof fear on my mother's face
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.30,0:02:57.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I told her that I wanted to dress up\Nas a woman when I was older too,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.77,0:03:00.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just as the other boys were doing\Non Jerry Springer.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.77,0:03:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.10,0:03:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was 5 years old. Why we were watching\NJerry Springer I have no idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.64,0:03:08.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.21,0:03:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what I remember, being beautiful,\Nmy mother told me was sin.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.62,0:03:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The truth is, dressing up in drag is,\Nand continues to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.34,0:03:21.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the celebration of who I am in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.40,0:03:24.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Playing a character has led me back
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.16,0:03:28.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the person that I am underneath\Nthe makeup, the player,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.33,0:03:33.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,living behind a character in\Na superficial world that tells all of us
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.38,0:03:37.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we could somehow be\Nbetter versions of ourselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.20,0:03:41.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew deep down inside growing up
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.45,0:03:45.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that who I was, was probably\Nnever going to change.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.21,0:03:51.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I did everything I could\Nto convince the world or my family,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.92,0:03:55.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I could be somebody else\Non the outside.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.28,0:03:58.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I couldn't see what I was getting\Nmyself into at the time,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.21,0:04:02.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but drag continues to be\Nmy real journey out of my closet.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.35,0:04:06.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Drag is the journey\Nthat has saved my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.55,0:04:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I created a character\Nout of a desperate act
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.34,0:04:13.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to reconnect with something\Ndeep and familiar.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.17,0:04:17.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I came out of the closet,\NI lost everything I could think of.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.41,0:04:19.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I lost my family support,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.89,0:04:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I lost my sense of love, connection,\Nbelonging, my sense of faith.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.68,0:04:28.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I lost everything and everyone in my life
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.63,0:04:32.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I was pretending to be\Nsomebody else for.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.69,0:04:35.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And at 21 years old\Nwhen I looked in the mirror
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.57,0:04:40.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the person staring back at me was\Nthe biggest stranger I had ever met.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.32,0:04:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But how could it not be?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.19,0:04:46.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had been encouraged\Nto live a lie my whole life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.07,0:04:50.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had learned to push aside\Nwho I was born to be
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.20,0:04:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for whom I needed to play
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.30,0:04:57.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a sense of safety and acceptance.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.03,0:05:00.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Losing everything was not the game over
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.44,0:05:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I thought it was to be\Nlike in "Mario".
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.11,0:05:05.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had a second chance.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.28,0:05:09.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Losing everything was\Nmy authenticity reset,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.39,0:05:13.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where my life,\Nif I could accept who I was,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.12,0:05:16.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could be genuine, honest, and true.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.54,0:05:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I created this drag character
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.84,0:05:24.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to run away from the angry,\Nscared, insecure boy
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.52,0:05:27.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I had become, living in my closet.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.85,0:05:30.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, as Fonda, I experienced a world
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.33,0:05:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where I was seen as brave,\Nconfidant, and beautiful.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.92,0:05:38.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would stand up and fight\Nthe heteronormative ideal
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.28,0:05:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my hair spray, glitter,\Nand stiletto heels.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.54,0:05:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.74,0:05:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For once in my life I felt loved,\Ncelebrated, and accepted.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.07,0:05:51.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every time I put on\Nthe wigs and the makeup
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.03,0:05:53.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my life became more real.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.75,0:05:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But so did the monsters\Nthat I was running from.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.90,0:06:00.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, I learned through\Ndressing up as Fonda Cox
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.68,0:06:03.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the characters\NI have been playing in my life
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.11,0:06:05.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were not the drag characters.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.47,0:06:10.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was Eric, it was the boy\Nthat was never allowed to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.13,0:06:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the boy who had an eating disorder,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.32,0:06:14.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the boy who needed you to love him
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.77,0:06:17.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by always having to be\Nthe center of attention.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.85,0:06:22.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was the boy that pretended\Nto have gay pride
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.71,0:06:27.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of experiencing and opening up\Nabout his gay shame.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.88,0:06:34.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, I am so grateful when I finally\Nstarted listening to the people around me,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.74,0:06:40.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they help me realize Fonda Cox\Nand Eric Dorsa are the same person,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.52,0:06:43.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that a player cannot exist
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.72,0:06:48.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you didn't have a conversation\Nwith the characters in his life.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.04,0:06:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What Fonda had, I too also had.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.86,0:06:57.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The love and acceptance that I would get\Nbeing on a stage [were] real.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.54,0:07:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have learned that shame is the bully
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.69,0:07:06.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that drags me to my closet and keeps me\Nthere with the door held shut.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.25,0:07:08.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In my closet I learned
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.07,0:07:12.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to hide my vulnerabilities\Nand my insecurities from the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.48,0:07:14.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in truth, my humanity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.70,0:07:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But by letting go of my costumes,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.62,0:07:19.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have taken my closet\Nand I've made it my ally.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.99,0:07:22.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because what do we put in a closet anyway,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.63,0:07:26.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our costumes, our memories,\Nour belongings?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.67,0:07:29.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In a closet they're safe, out of the way,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.88,0:07:32.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we know where to go\Nwhen we need to find them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.90,0:07:36.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have made my closet my ally.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.08,0:07:38.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In there, I hid the parts of myself
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.23,0:07:42.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I thought the world of the critic\Nwould want nothing to do with.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.20,0:07:47.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I still find myself in my closet at times\Nwith the door shut, ready to grab
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.21,0:07:52.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of my costumes to put it on\Nin order to face this world of the critic.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.82,0:07:56.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I tell myself the truth now,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.10,0:07:58.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the audience\Non the other side of that door
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.97,0:08:02.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a room full of fans, not critics.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.74,0:08:07.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People who are ready to look at me and\Ncelebrate me for the player that I am.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.93,0:08:12.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A world where I don't need\Na costume in order to fit in.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.66,0:08:17.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A world where I am met\Nwith love and curiosity, not fear.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.18,0:08:22.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, Fonda Cox is no longer\Na character that I play in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.96,0:08:27.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She is and continues to be\Nmy journey out of the closet.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.50,0:08:30.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She reminds me of the boy that I am
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.40,0:08:34.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before I ever heard of gender norms,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.25,0:08:39.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before I ever had to step deep\Ninto a gay closet,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.01,0:08:43.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before I ever heard from the world or\Nmy family that being me was wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.12,0:08:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fonda Cox is what reminds me
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.06,0:08:53.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the boy that I was who simply\Nwanted to play dress up.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.09,0:08:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She reminds me of the boy that wanted\Nhis mother to paint his nails too,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.66,0:09:00.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and "what if" stopped\Nat absolutely nothing
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.21,0:09:04.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until he got an Easy-Bake oven.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:04.47,0:09:07.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, I have learned\Nthat when we live our lives
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.49,0:09:10.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in secrecy behind a closet door,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.92,0:09:16.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we separate and fear ourselves\Nfrom those who closely resemble who it is
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.00,0:09:19.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we are trying to hide from the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.23,0:09:22.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We live in a reality of us versus them,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.03,0:09:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we hope people see\Nwho it is we're pretending to be,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.12,0:09:29.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,instead of who we really are.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.02,0:09:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I ask you, how do you play\Ndress up in your life?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.85,0:09:37.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What characters do you find\Nyourself playing?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.18,0:09:42.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The character could not exist\Nif it weren't for the actor
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.04,0:09:45.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because this is the you\Nthat belongs in your life.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.53,0:09:48.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the you that we want to see,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.53,0:09:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is the you that deserves\Nto be loved and celebrated.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.90,0:09:56.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the 'you' you were born to play.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.18,0:09:57.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.62,0:09:59.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)