2021 QUEER CIRCUS
Photos by clockworksteve
The circus has been around since Ancient Rome and has been a staple of human performance and entertainment ever since. In the circus, you can see death defying acts by acrobats and contortionists. You laugh at all the clowns. If you identified as a freak in your hometown, you could escape with the freaks.
The circus, we knew in the past died out around the 1950s, but history marched on with LGBTQ/BIPOC starting to achieve rights in that era. This has led to our modern age of 2020, where it was not the greatest year and largely the LGBTQ/BIPOC community has suffered greatly. People dying, human rights being violated, the world getting hotter. It did not bring laughter or pride to the Twin Cities area. However, Pride 2021 came, and Queer Circus MN performed giving life and wonder to Pride.
Queer Circus MN is described as a “live cirquelesque experience” that allows all shapes, colors, and sexualities to perform in the Twin Cities and beyond. The founders of Queer Circus MN are the Gabe Gabriel and The Lady Martina who have performed numerous acts in the Twin Cities metro through Silver Slipper Productions. Gabe and Martina wanted to have a diverse show that utilizes many queer talents in the Twin Cities. Since COVID-19, Queer Circus has largely been online and live on Instagram/Facebook/Zoom. Since Pride 2021 adjusted to many of the things the pandemic has taught us, performers exhibited their craft in the purple zone of Loring Park with the support of Twin Cities Pride and the Twin Cities Gay Scene.
Performers of this Queer Circus MN included Ring Master Gabe, The Lady Martina, MidnightWaterFairy, Onyx Luxx, Maranda Wright, Amir Kinara, and Wanda Fool the Clown. Ringmaster Gabe led the troupe in Loring Park along with The Lady Martina. Martina showed the crowd that they were the “Unicorn Supreme” of Loring Park. Martina provided the hosting while performing with Ring Master Gabe. MidnightWaterFairy is a contortionist and graced the crowd bending in numerous ways. Onyx Luxx and Maranda Wright gave the crowd a taste of the burlesque. Amir Kinara sang his serenades, while Wanda Fool the Clown gave the crowds of Loring Park a laugh.
Queer Circus MN has also found a new home at The Pourhouse in downtown Minneapolis. The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered many businesses and artists have had to adapt. The troupe also needs your support be it supporting their social medias, sending tips via Venmo or PayPal, but just attending one of their shows supports these performances further. Queer Circus MN is also looking for diverse performers who can be LGBTQ, BIPOC, fat, skinny, short or tall. This would be a chance for any performer to run away with the circus. The next performance date is July 30th at 11 pm at the Pourhouse, Downtown Minneapolis.
Follow all the performers on Instagram:
@queercircusmn, @ringmastergabe, @theladymartina, @midnightwaterfairy, @stella.rockstar, @maranda.wright, @amirkinara, and @wandafooltheclown.
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Review by: Josh Eiberg Writer @jooddityart
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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