All photos courtesy of Jay Walker.

Eros Zine: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Jay Walker: Growing up wearing sequins and spandex made me gay. Having spent the majority of my childhood on various dance squads, in reality I choreographed the majority of my drag numbers when I was 12, lip-synching to Wham! at slumber parties.

Eros Zine: How did you wind up in San Francisco?

Jay Walker: A little bit of luck, lots of determination, and the willingness to rack up credit card debt.

Eros Zine: And how did you wind up a drag king performer?

Jay Walker: Before I had heard the term "drag king" I knew butches who were putting on facial hair. I was in grad school studying gender and found this gender-play fascinating. In 1998 I discovered a groundbreaking conference that was being organized in Columbus, Ohio, called the International Drag King Extravaganza. It was revolutionary and built a drag king community. At the time I was pretty strongly femme-identified, so I didn't think I had what it took to be a good drag king, because I thought I wouldn't "pass" as a boy. I actually didn't consider kinging until someone coaxed me into letting them put facial hair and a newsboy cap on me. That was the beginning of a realization that drag could be a vehicle for me to explore my own gender expression and it wasn't necessarily about passing or not passing. My sense of my own gender has been fluid ever since and I prefer it that way. Over the last decade I've founded a number of troupes in various cities, beginning with the Bent Boyz in St. Louis.

Eros Zine: You've been with the San Francisco Drag King Contest for a few years now. What's your history with it?

Jay Walker: SFDK10 was the first year they had both "Solo" and "Group" winners, and I won Solo King while performing with the Cockivores. It was a huge Prince homage featuring sexy back-up dancers and a dirty video montage.That performance at SFDK10 was the biggest rush I've ever had onstage.

Last year at SFDK11 I did a stepping down performance to "Viz" by Le Tigre. The song made me think about gender non-conformity and being visibly queer in the world. I imagined that number as a tribute to drag king culture and community. I held a workshop to help encourage new performers and give them an opportunity and safe space to perform at SFDK with me. It's often less intimidating for new kings to get on-stage with a group with a seasoned performer taking the lead on choreography and concept, so then it's just a matter of taking a risk and conquering fears. Supporting new kings in those initial stages of self-doubt and stage fright has been exciting and gratifying.

Eros Zine: Where else have you performed?

Jay Walker: Performing at Trannyshack helped me to push past boundaries that I didn't even know I had. I love the scene there, although I haven't been able to go as much recently now that I have a real job. I was Mr. Trannyshack 2004, and I adore those

brilliant dirty queens for their support. My genius drag king daddy, Rusty Hips, encouraged me to check it out and I've been incredibly inspired by the subversive performances I've seen there over the years.

Some of my favorite gigs now are the Good Vibrations Holiday Ball, Exotic Erotic Ball, Fairy Butch, the Great Big in Washington DC, and parties at the Lexington Club. Recently I had the good fortune of sharing the bill with the original "ass-master" herself, Margaret Cho.

Eros Zine: What's your favorite shtick?

Jay Walker: I get bored performing the same
number repeatedly, so I like to switch things up on a regular basis. I get off on keeping audiences on their toes and doing things they might not expect, such as dorking it out with a Napoleon Dynamite impersonation after a long string of sexy or more serious numbers.

Eros Zine: I hear that you have appeared as both a drag king and a woman. What routines have you done that transcend gender?

Jay Walker: I've performed as a faux-queen-a faux queen is a drag queen trapped in a woman's body-gone from boy drag to girl drag and vice versa, and a whole slew of other gender freaky stuff.

One of the most liberating performances for me, in terms of exploring gender on-stage, was "Freeek" by George Michael. I came out in a suit with a strong masculine expression and then gradually stripped down to fishnets, pasties and a bulging man thong, while still wearing facial hair. The mixed visual gender cues and the way I used my body were meant to make people uncomfortable and turned on at the same time, while making them think about what they were feeling.

Eros Zine: What is your usual routine for getting into drag?

Jay Walker: I gather up my glitter and hairspray . . . and run around frantically looking for something to pack with, because I have a habit of forgetting my cock!

Eros Zine: Your MySpace page says you're a body odor enthusiast. I am too! Regale us with some of your favorite armpit-or other body part-encounters!

Jay Walker: I like to be able to smell what I'm getting myself into. There's something to be said for a pretty face and the power of pheromones.

Eros Zine: That's for sure! What are some of your other "turn ons"?

Jay Walker: I'm an ass man, a chub chaser and a faggot top.

Eros Zine: Define the perfect date.

Jay Walker: A post-performance spanking session, bending over a stinky boi in the bathroom backstage. You know it's been a good night when you go home sticky . . .

Eros Zine: So what should the audience expect from you at the Contest? Will you be MCing, judging or performing?

Jay Walker: I'll be performing at SFDK12. As soon as I exit the stage, people will either want to send me to rehab or Sex Addicts Anonymous. The paparazzi will be all over it!

Eros Zine: Sounds awesome!

Jay Walker - by Abby Ehmann

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