Welcome to “Seven Minutes in Heaven,” GO Magazine’s brand new interview series that profiles a different queer lady each day, by asking her seven unique (and sometimes random) questions. Get to know the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of the groundbreaking, fierce forces-of-nature in the queer community.
Abby, best known as drag king Maxxx Pleasure is a badass bisexual rocker babe. His performances have been awarded as a two-time winner of the “Hudson Valley’s Pansy Slam Lip Sync Competition” and nominated for the “2017 Brooklyn Nightlife Award Drag King of the Year.” His performances are raw, creative and incredible to experience in person. You can see him on stage in their most famed Rock Lobster, Mister Rogers and Kylo Ren character routines.
With it being bisexual visibility week, we couldn’t think of a better time to highlight the amazing work Abby is doing in the community. There’s such little visibility for drag kings and bisexual women, so we are incredibly proud today to interview Maxxx Pleasure for “Seven Minutes in Heaven.”
GO Magazine: Who are you and what do you do?
Maxxx Pleasure: My name is Abby, but most people know me as drag king Maxxx Pleasure.
GO: How do you hope to see bisexual visibility improve in the LGBTQ community?
MP: I really hope that the community opens itself up even more to embracing sexualities that aren’t “this or that.” If I hadn’t heard the kind of close-minded attitudes that people have towards more fluid sexualities when I was growing up, I would’ve been saved a lot of grief.
GO: Where do you go for inspiration when you’re feeling discouraged or depleted?
MP: I love going to drag and burlesque shows when I’m feeling discouraged—seeing other performers do completely different things than what I’m doing is so inspiring. Being reminded of the entire realm of possibilities that we have as nightlife performers completely zaps me out of my funk every time. Having a beer with my friends doesn’t hurt either.
GO: Who are your bi role models?
MP: Evan Rachel Wood because she’s so vocal and wants to educate people about bisexuality and queer identities… but also Kristen Stewart because she doesn’t feel the need to explain anything to anyone. Both totally badass.
GO: How do you pick the songs you perform to?
MP: I usually just keep my ears open and if I hear something that makes me want to rock out like Jagger or strut like Bowie I’ll write it down. I also recently found a box of my parents’ old CDs and have been listening through those—I’m itching to do Duran Duran and the Partridge Family now.
GO: Why is it important to have LGBTQ spaces, especially in night life?
MP: There are so many reasons why having LGBTQ spaces in nightlife are important! But I know for me—if I’m not in a space where I feel comfortable and safe, I’m not gonna have a good time. And the places that I feel most comfortable in are the places that specifically label themselves as queer spaces—flags in the window and all.
GO: Where can people find you?
MP: I’m on Instagram at @mr.mpleasure! But you can literally find me in Queens on September 23rd for this year’s Bushwig festival! And almost always at NYC’s only drag king show BEEF, which takes place the last Tuesday of every month!
