Page 21 - Adelante Magazine February 2025

Feature

happy or a horrible life. But I grew up without back home. I did not go to after parties.
many friends and that affects you. So at least
when I started doing drag, I noticed that people Adelante: You lost your dad at 14, it must
were paying attention to me. People would have been difficult.
love me and I wanted that love. I wanted the Lazaro: Yes, I had to work. I started working
attention. at the school district and cleaning classrooms.
It wasn’t much, the school did not pay me,
Drag for me is not a lifestyle. I really enjoyed rather the person I helped would give me a little
what I did and it was more of an expression of money. I cut grass and helped my mom with
my inner self, like a persona of me that I always her ice cream truck, selling ice cream here in
wanted to live. West Covina. I supported the house expenses.
I had an older sister that also helped and a
I always wanted to be a singer, wanted to be on younger brother to care for.
stage, an entertainer. Maybe that’s why I could
create a Lola. My persona was glamor and big Adelante: Did you do Lola for the money?
hair and long dresses. I’m that person on stage, Lazaro: There would be times when I’d walk
with the mic, having a good time, getting the out of Circus without even a dollar. I would use
crowd riled up so they can have fun. whatever I got to pay the show girls, they de-
served it and needed it more than I did. It
Adelante: When you get dressed up and would bring me joy that people would come to
you’re leaving the house, does your person- see the show at Circus, to see me and often
@ Circus Disco 1995
ality change? that was enough. The money didn’t matter.
Lazaro: My personality changes once I hit my Back then, it was just seats and tables in the
lipstick. The minute I start getting ready, I just old Circus Disco when I took over the show.
change. The Lola is here. But after a while it got so crowded and we had
to get rid of the tables and it became standing
When I get off the stage and start coming room only. Gene loved it because it was
home, I come out of it. I separate Lola from La- packed.
zaro. Lola is a wild person and Lazaro is not. I
know how to control it. To this day, I probably Through out my career, I felt that I was paid less
don’t understand why. Maybe it’s because I than others. The money I made always went
don’t want to live that crazy lifestyle. back in drag, so I basically did not make money
over these years. Tips and payments go right
Like how you see me here in my house, you back into materials for gowns and outfits, wigs,
don’t see Lola anywhere here. You don’t see a accessories. Drag is very expensive.
painting of Lola, or a picture of Circus or Club
Papi. I’ve lived it, I don’t need to show it off. I believe a lot of the promoters saw the power
People know what I’ve done. and influence Lola had. I’m actually very grate-
ful and very blessed of a promoter who gave
Adelante: Did the separation between La- me the opportunity to do the things I was able
zaro and Lola contribute to your being able to do.
Mom & Lazaro 2021 to do drag this long?
Lazaro: It’s a very healthy separation. It’s like Adelante: You and Ms. Martin were friends.
your work. When you’re at work, you deal with She was a legend. Tell me about her?
your problems at work and you don’t want to Lazaro: When I was at Circus, Gene opened
take them home. When I left the club or the the Arena Nightclub and it drew a different
event, I left it there and that is how I did my sep- crowd. One night was for 18 and over and that’s
aration. I entertained and did what I had to do. when I met Ms. Martin who was hosting there.
Then I took my make up off, my wigs off, clean
up and go to bed and go to work the next day. Martin had a bad heart and I’d tell her to be
I’ve always done that. careful with her health. I remember one day we
went to Jack in the Box and we were both in
Adelante: Was it hard being in the party drag, in line at the drive thru. Martin was a big
scene? 400 lb. Samoan. She ordered a bunch of stuff,
Lazaro: I’ve never taken drugs or smoked. like a few hamburgers, some tacos, fries just
Most of the crowd around me did, especially in for herself. This Cholo guy walked by drinking
the Circus Disco days, there were so many a beer and Martin rolled down the window and
drugs. I never wanted to associate with that. I yelled: “Hey, you’re fine guy” and the dude
did not want to be known as Lola and drugs. came over and said “wait, are you guys fuckin’
dudes?” and right then, Martin snatched off her
I wanted to stand on my own and maybe that’s wig and said “yea, I’m a dude” and the guy
why people don’t think about me today. I was pulled out a gun and put it right in our faces and
always from my house to the show, entertain, said “you’re lucky I don’t shoot you guys.” I saw
get the crowd, once the night was over, come my life flash before me. I never wanted to do
@ Long Beach Pride 2014
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