This screen grab is from the YouTube video: “COCO MONTRESE & KAHANNA MONTRESE on Look At Huh – Part 2”

Over the weekend, Los Angeles drag icon and Hey Qween co-host Lady Red Couture sadly passed away from complications with cyclic vomiting syndrome.  The news broke through best friend and host of the Hey Qween show, Johnny McGovern:

I personally don’t know Lady Red. I only became familiar with her work when I stumbled upon Hey Qween episodes on YouTube in which Lady Red would introduce the show with the iconic: “Hello children. Are you ready for some cutting up and kiki’ing? Are you ready for a gay ol’ time? I hope you are because it’s time for Hey Qween with your host Johnny McGovern!” At the very end of the episode, McGovern would then ask Lady Red to finish off with some “black lady screaming” where she’d riff “hey queen” over and over again.

McGovern and Lady Red would have a brief discussion after the intro before McGovern would take the helm and interview drag queens, particularly those coming from the popular reality television show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. In between questions and answers, the cameras would cut back to Lady Red whose laughter, side commentary, and occasional bites of food would accentuate each segment with humor and sass. McGovern can hold his own as an interviewer, dinging the figurative tea cup on his guests, but it’s the warm presence of Lady Red — despite being in the background — that would punctuate the show with cackles and “SPEAK ON IT!’s”

Other than the YouTube interviews, the only time I’ve ever been up close to Lady Red was at 340 Nightclub in Pomona earlier this year. She was hanging out with Amanda Lepore who had just finished guest hosting for the night. I, of course, was star struck so Ernie had to go ahead and wave hello for the both of us. She beamed at us with a smile and “hi!”, then headed off to the bar.

Even with VERY limited interactions and just a two or three year familiarity of Lady Red, it’s so bizarre to me how it feels like there’s an empty spot in the world now where she used to be. Drag performers — both big and local —  as well as drag enthusiasts were quick to post memorials on their social networks, expressing their sadness. Many of them echoed the same sentiment: Lady Red was a bright light, emanating positivity, laughter, and was a hell of a singer.

It is devastating, but yet interestingly enough, also inspiring how much of an impact someone can have — EVEN IF YOU JUST KNOW THEM FROM AFAR — once they take the one-way trip to Paris. I, for one, really had to reflect on this for a few days.

This reminds me of a friend I once worked with years ago at Knott’s Scary Farm. We both worked the same attraction in 2014, then auditioned in 2015 to become free-roaming “street” talent. Coincidentally, we both ended up in the same zone, and for two years, we were both psychotic clowns of CarnEVIL. He was never afraid to speak his truth and was never one to shy down from being the kind oddball that he is. I remember back in 2016, me, him and another member of Boardwalk (what we call CarnEVIL) were hanging out in my car before we headed back home. We had just finished getting fitted for custom wardrobe pieces for the upcoming season. We were laughing at stupid jokes, and talking about Scary Farm and all its pros and cons — but we were also being vulnerable and talked about our own lives. I personally have never been ashamed of being a writer, nor have I ever been ashamed of being a scare actor. In fact, I love that I am both. But that’s not to say I’ve never been made to feel ashamed.

To him, the freaks, the originals, and the creatives — even those who try and are still working on their craft — were a whole different breed. He believed that those who march to their own drum would elevate to the cosmos and become ethereal beings.

Now, in no way am I a spiritual person, but his words gave me comfort. To think that I — in all my years of being put down for not being practical, for being a feminine dude, and for not seeking what’s “safe,” — can ascend to a higher plane just because I’m true to who I am was exactly what I needed to hear, especially since I was at a point in my life where I felt I was stuck. Around that time, I was working two jobs which took up all seven days of the week, and suddenly with Knott’s, I was actually juggling all three. It was the same tiring routine that didn’t seem to have a particular endpoint. He made us feel like it was okay to be in this rut. He of course had his own troubles to deal with, but eventually, we’d all fight through it and find our purpose. It was written in the stars for us to be great. And you know what? He sold me on it.

He’s no longer here with us. But every now and then — ESPECIALLY around the summer time — I remember that tea time in the car. I remember the time he comforted me when a friend of mine had suddenly passed away during one of my Haunt shifts. Mind you, he didn’t know who I was back then but reached out because I was mopey backstage. And of course, I remember his maniacal laughter echoing through Boardwalk followed by a chorus of screams — many times proceeded by a guest falling flat on their ass.  He was a beautiful soul whose glimmering light was put out way too soon, but it always felt like his spirit was prancing and swinging his paddle around Boardwalk with us.

It’s hard to lose people, but the good they’ve done, be it life changing advice or simply making you laugh, lives on forever. It is important during this unfortunate episode of COVID-19 to cherish the ones you love and to touch base with those you probably haven’t had contact with for a while. Let them know you’re thinking of them. I promise you they’ll appreciate it even if you don’t have much time for small talk. It’s cheesy, but reminding people that they’re loved or that they’ve crossed your mind can brighten their light.