Page 22 - Adelante Magazine February 2025

Feature

that again. Lazaro: I’ll retire as Lola. I’ve done it and I
don’t regret any of it. Lola has done a lot for
Adelante: That could have ended bad. me. Lola has opened a lot of doors. She has
Lazaro: You bet. There could have been two led me to a lot of friendships. I could put the
fat dead Queens at the Jack in the Box drive drag away but it will always be a part of me. If
thu. I go out to a club like this, as Lazaro and if I’m
asked whether I’m Lola, I’ll say yes.
Adelante: What happened to Ms. Martin?
Lazaro: Martin’s heart. The dogs were fighting Adelante: How do you interact with club
and she went outside to pull them apart and folks as Lazaro?
she had a stroke and died. She was like 38. Lazaro: There are times when I go out and
Martin was unique and amazing. walk into a nightclub like this, dressed as my-
self with a beard and a hat. I see the same @ Long Beach Pride 1995
There were many opportunities for her to do people who would go crazy and be excited to
things. John Watters, the film maker wanted to see me as Lola. But like this, they just walk on
do something with Martin, like a film. I wish by. Like I’m not even there.
someone would give me the opportunity to do
something like that. Adelante: That has to hurt.
Lazaro: It did hurt for a while, but it was like,
Martin was like me, she did not need to do a oh well. I moved on. I learned to separate Lola
character. She was Martin. Martin never had from Lazaro. When I go to a club now, I’m a
to do anyone. She did not look like anyone. wall flower, a people watcher. I stay a couple
You can’t say shit about her because she’s hours and leave.
Martin. There was only one Martin, and only
one Lola. If he’d still be alive, we’d been doing Adelante: For the people that are your
stuff together. friends, do they treat you differently?
Lazaro: Lola has ten million acquaintances,
Adelante: Does Lazaro get lonely? but Lazaro has a hand full of friends. My friends Ms Martin & Lola 1986
Lazaro: All the time. Every single day. You treat me the same, whether Lola or Lazaro.
see me here by myself, you have not heard my
phone ring, nobody has called me. I watch TV, Lazaro stopped doing drag regularly in June of
make myself dinner, and then by 9 or 9:30, I 2024 and says his timeline for being completely
take a shower and go to bed. So, yea, I live a done is not too long away. At 58, he says he
lonely life. does not want to be an old drag queen, he just
wants to be remembered for what he did. More
Adelante: How do you reconcile the differ- recently, Lola has done events such as
ences between your Lola and Lazaro life. Downey Pride and will be doing an upcoming
Popularity vs. the lonely. Vaquero night at Club Muevelo in Downey.
Lazaro: I enjoy my peace. Because when
you’re out there, you’re always go, go, go. You Adelante: What do you want to say to your
have nagging promoters asking you to get on fans at this stage in your career?
the mic and do this, do that. Take pictures, etc. Lazaro: I just want to say thank you to all the
At times, I felt like that music box monkey danc- people who gave me the opportunity to be who
ing when the music played. It’s like, “get out I am. Those who have supported me for many
there,” get the mic, make me money.” years and who gave me the opportunity to be
in their hearts. I’m very honored and blessed to
Adelante: What’s next. have had the opportunity to share my love with
Lazaro: I kind of just want to retire. I don’t each and every one of you.
miss the club scene. Lola will always be a part
of me, I just won’t do drag. Lola won’t come I’d like to thank my friend and designer Tony Ini- With Maria Jose 2018
out anymore. guez, who made my dresses. Mauricio Linares
(Juan) for doing my make-up. Four people
Adelante: How do you put such a big char- have done my wigs: Brenda and Rosario from
acter away? Is it possible? Do you think Hollywood wigs, Maria from San Diego and
there could come a day when you just put it Melissa BeFierce. I want to thank Delta Work
all away for good? for hosting me on her podcast, Very Delta.
Lazaro: It’s possible. I’ve done it. You saw my
room, everything is nice and organized. I could Thank you for this amazing journey. And, I’m
put it all in big tubs and give it away. still here. If you’d like to keep in touch with me,
you can get me at IG @LolaVeronica66.
Adelante: What happens to Lazaro? Does
Lazaro take on more of what Lola would Lola has been an inspiration to the community
do? for four and a half decades. For those of us With DeeDee in Weho
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