Two Worlds

September 20, 2013 by

Eldridge secures his wig as he prepares to go to Club Luxor.

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Leon Eldridge pours shots for customers at Belly’s Cafe in Lubbock, Texas.

Eldridge closes his eyes in prayer during a Sunday service at the Metropolitan Community Church. "The God perception has always been really important in my family," Eldridge said, "and I've always been very lucky to find churches that I have felt extraordinarily nurtured by."
Eldridge talks with Stephanie Boyd, the owner of Belly's Cafe, who he has known since he was 16. "She was always kind of a mother figure or an aunt figure," Eldridge said. "She always kind of made sure I wasn't going insane and took care of me." Boyd is also the person who introduced Eldridge to the Metropolitan Community Church and asked him to sing there.

Eldridge leads the congregation in singing hymns during the "Singspiration" portion of the service at the Metropolitan Community Church. Having been involved in music ministry since he was 16, Eldridge said, music ministry has been a big part of his livelihood.

Eldridge participates in communion with Yvonne Barth, a theologian in the Metropolitan Community Church in Lubbock, Texas. Concerning religion, specifically Christianity, Eldridge said, he has many philosophical and theological ideas, but the core of his beliefs centers around the idea that the Bible is outdated and it should not be taken literally.

Eldridge begins the two-hour process of transforming into Bohemia Rothschild by showering and shaving. Eldridge started doing drag six years ago when he would attend theme parties, he said, and because he wanted to be the most outrageous person there, he would dress as a woman.

Depending on the look he's going for, Eldridge said, he applies several different layers of makeup. He said he generally tries to keep his look natural, but some drag queens use makeup that is more dramatic and similar to makeup used in stage performances.

Eldridge continues his transformation into Bohemia Rothschild, with jewelry being one of the last things that Eldridge will put on before leaving the house.

Eldridge secures his wig as he prepares to go to Club Luxor.

Leon Eldridge poses for one final photo before leaving for the gay nightclub, Club Luxor. "Drag is art," Eldridge said, "and it's this really heightened sense of what we view the feminine character to be.”

Eldridge said that one night when he had just moved back to Lubbock he was trying to get his boyfriend, who was at Klusoz Martini Lounge, to drive him home, and he was attacked by a group of men outside the lounge. "They just beat the shit out of me because I said 'boyfriend,'" Eldridge said, shaking his head. "I shouldn't have said 'boyfriend.'"

Eldridge shares a laugh with his friend Stuart Williams, pictured here as drag queen Acaicai Phillips, who is just starting to seriously dress in drag.

Bohemia Rothschild and Acaicai Phillips watch as Odyssey Whitney performs in a drag pageant at Club Luxor. Both drag queens and kings performed for the judges.

Bohemia Rothschild walks arm-in-arm with friend Zachary Bradner after a night of drinking, dancing and entertainment at Club Luxor. By the time Rothschild made it to her car, she had already removed her wig.

Eldridge, slips off his pantyhose as he dresses down from being Bohemia Rothschild. Eldridge said that, while being Bohemia is fun, it's also a lot of work so he's glad to become himself again.

Eldridge smokes a cigarette and settles in for the night at his home. Eldridge said drag has been an exciting adventure because he gets to experiment not just with gender identity but with his identity as a person. He said it's a very freeing experience.

 

Leon Eldridge is a bisexual 26-year-old man living in Lubbock. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a degree in operatic performance and classical music, and he sings at the Metropolitan Community Church in Lubbock. He said he has been involved with music ministry since he was 16, and it has been a part of his livelihood for most of his adult life.

But he also has another identity – one he fictionalized from his drive to be creative.

Bohemia Rothschild is a drag queen born in Eldridge’s mind. She performs at Heaven Night Club, a gay venue in Lubbock, on weekends, but she also visits another gay club, Club Luxor, when Heaven Night Club is not open.

However, Eldridge’s life as a bisexual man living in Lubbock has not been without adversity. For example, he said he was beaten by a group of men outside a bar for inadvertently disclosing his sexuality.

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