The Imperial was first ordained a safe space for the LGBTQIA community when Dawn O’Donnell, the mother of gay Sydney, bought it in the '80s. It has opened and shut with many different faces in the years since then, but at its heart it has always been a place for queer identities to thrive on the sticky carpet of the much loved pub.
Felicia, tell us how you first started out as a drag queen.
Felicia Foxx is the realest tiddah of Sydney. I’m an Aboriginal drag queen who started my career when I was about 16, I was first inspired by drag queen performer William Mafi from Menindee Central School, who used to impersonate Tina Turner. After seeing him perform at my mum’s ball I was instantly in love with the whole idea of the drag scene and getting up there to perform in front of all these people. I’ve been performing ever since.
What is the drag scene like in Sydney?
In terms of the genre, a lot of drag queens are more artsy rather than purely fabulous ‘Look Queens’ (that’s what we call the ones who look fabulous but can’t perform). There aren’t a lot of black queens on the scene in Sydney, there’s not one black or Aboriginal queen that has a residency on Oxford Street, so I’m working my hardest and hopefully I’ll be offered a residency somewhere soon – I’d like to make black drag a lot more normal to see on Oxford Street. In Sydney I don’t have as much as a connection as I do with my drag sisters and drag mums in Melbourne, but I do have sisters here that I can ask for help with make-up or if I’ve lost a pair of shoes and I’m already at the venue to perform, they will come bring me a pair of their shoes. Career-wise, doing this full time and as a business, my drag mum Philmah Bocks has been my absolute inspiration in every way.
What does it feel like to be up on stage?
When I’m on stage I feel like I’m entirely myself. If you want to see Wendell or Felicia down to a tee then you have to come and see a Felicia Foxx show. Everyone says that they can feel my vibe when I’m on that stage and I can tell you now that if I was running for my life I couldn’t run a minute, but I can perform for ten minutes up on a stage – the adrenaline is everything I’ve ever craved.
You are closely involved with the Imperial Hotel. As a performer how do you feel about the venue?
The Imperial Hotel has been home to the drag queens that i pay homage to – the ones that have always led the way and made it possible to have the platform that I perform on today – and the Imperial is the queerest and safest place on earth. From the bar staff to the security, it’s really a family away from home.
What other safe, queer spaces do you recommend in Sydney?
The Marly in Newtown. Before the other queens and I started going there it used to be very straight and uneventful – since we’ve been going in the last year or so, they’ve made it a really safe space. We all feel not only safe and accepted for who we are, but also celebrated, whether it’s around Mardi Gras time or at any other time of the year. The Bank in Newtown, Secret Garden Bar in Enmore and the Lansdowne are very LGBTQIA-friendly, too.
Where do you go for a quick bite to eat or drink in Erskineville?
Maggie’s Thai is a local institution. It’s cheap and tasty for when you need a quick and easy meal. Hive Bar has great wine and spirits, and if you like old-school vinyl they have DJ spinning records most nights. It’s also LGBTQIA friendly.
Do you recommend any shops in Erskineville that open late?
Nature’s Hair – an African wig shop. In the last few months I’ve been taking other drag queens with me to go and shop there as it’s cheap and amazing. You can sit down and chat with all the women. Before I visited, they’d never seen a drag queen before – and since they’ve been posting on their Instagram and socials that they’re a safe space for the LGBTQIA community. It’s amazing to know they are there and support the community.
