[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”National Coming Out Day button” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/ncod-round.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Coming Out Day Intro Text ” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”18″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

Today marks the 28th anniversary of National Coming Out Day! Here at The Academy, we wanted to acknowledge this special day by asking some of our Queer-identified faculty and\u00a0visiting instructors –\u00a0How was coming out as a burlesque performer different from coming out as a member\u00a0of the queer community?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Jeez Image” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Academy-of-Burlesque-JEEZ-LOUEEZ.jpg” alt=”Jeez Loueez, Visiting Instructor and The Powerhouse of the Midwest” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Jeez Loueez quote” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”16″]<\/p>\n

“I’ve lived a different experience than most as I never really “came out.” I’ve always felt kind pretty damn queer. I remember my mom asking me in high school if I was attracted to women and I think my response was a nonchalant “I don’t know, I guess!” <\/span><\/p>\n

When I became involved in my first visibly queer relationship a lot of people asked “When did you come out?!” but I never did… and it was assumed that I’m straight. <\/span><\/p>\n

Coming out as a stripper was more difficult. I didn’t want my family to be ashamed of me or think that I was giving up on my performance dreams. Luckily I have an incredible family who supports all of my endeavors. Clothed, nude, queer and all!”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Inga ” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CIRCLE_Inga_jiji_Atomic.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off” alt=”The One The Only Inga, AOB Faculty”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Inga quote” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”16″]<\/p>\n

“Coming out as a Burlesque\u00a0performer was curiously more complicated for me than coming out as queer. <\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, my whole family has accepted every queer thing about me since I came out, yet most of my extended family (liberal and conservative alike) have never come to see me in a burlesque show in the 12 years I\u2019ve been performing, and many of them have told me that they never will. <\/span><\/p>\n

But I keep inviting them to shows, because you never know ;)\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Lola Love” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Academy-of-Burlesque-LOLA-LOVE.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off” alt=”Lola Love, Visiting Instructor. Headmistress of Pretty Peacock Academy, Honolulu.”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Lola Love quote” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”16″]<\/p>\n

“<\/span>Coming out isn’t something you do once and then it’s over; its something you do every time you meet someone new, start a new job, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

Coming Out Day is important to me because it’s not easy to be brave and tell your truth. It’s a day of solidarity where you can get and give support to those who understand the difficulty of telling your truth and becoming your authentic self. <\/span><\/p>\n

I’m happy that at the age of 38 I can feel confident enough to be honest and open about my queerness. I no longer desire to fit in or pretend to be “normal” in order to make others feel comfortable. I’m not normal, I’m a unicorn and that’s pretty darn magical!”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Waxie Moon” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Waxie-Moon1.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off” alt=”Waxie Moon – Seattle’s gender-blending queer lady boylesque performance-art stripping sensation), AOB Faculty”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Waxie quote” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”16″]<\/p>\n

“Coming out as gay was scary, challenging, and ultimately one of the most important and powerful things I have ever done – bringing me closer to everyone I knew, and my authentic self. <\/span><\/p>\n

Coming out as “Waxie Moon” was immediate – I included “queer” in my tag-line. This too was a powerful statement of self expression – a way of saying “I’m here and queer, dammit!” <\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Indigo” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Indigo-Blue.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off” alt=”Miss Indigo Blue, Headmistress of the Academy of Burlesque”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Indigo quote” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”16″]<\/p>\n

\u201cComing out as queer was a gradual process for me – but I thankfully had an incredibly supportive family. I feel so blessed for that, I know many people do not have that experience.<\/p>\n

When I became a burlesque performer, and started being interviewed by the press, I knew I had to tell my parents about my pre-burlesque past as a stripper in the sex industry. I was going to tell the truth about it to the media, so I wanted my family to hear it from me first. Once they understood that I was safe and happy, they were supportive about all forms of my work as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”NCOD Heart” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Coming-Out-Day-1.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” animation=”fade_in” sticky=”off” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” alt=”#NCOD”] [\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”closing\/more info” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”center” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]<\/p>\n

Much love to all members and lovers of the queer community!<\/p>\n

xoxo AOB<\/p>\n

Human Rights Campaign: http:\/\/www.hrc.org\/resources\/national-coming-out-day<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”National Coming Out Day button” src=”https:\/\/academyofburlesque.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/ncod-round.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” align=”left” force_fullwidth=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” use_overlay=”off”] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Coming Out Day Intro Text ” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”18″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”] Today marks the 28th anniversary of National Coming Out Day! Here at The Academy, we wanted to acknowledge this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6661,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[94,42,1],"tags":[95,74],"yoast_head":"\n