Jennifer Hopelezz is the alter ego of Richard Keldoulis (62). He was born in Sydney and studied at the art academy and medicine. In the nineties he ended up in Amsterdam and lingered.
There he is now co-owner of the Queer Club Church, Gay Sauna NZ and nude menbar Free Willie. “A recognition for our art form,” Jennifer calls the Amsterdam Prize. “I have never seen myself as an artist, other members did. This was very important for them.”
How do you see yourself?
,, As an entrepreneur and activist. You get attention in Drag. If I am at a demonstration, such as recently against the right policy, I am always filmed and interviewed. I use that to draw attention to discrimination against LGBTIQ+.
Transgender people in particular are now in the corner where the blows fall, but in the end it all touches on us. Geert Wilders and Thierry Baudet are anti-transders and anti-drag. The increase in discrimination frightens me. You hear negative sounds more often in politics and I notice it on the street. It is very strange that we feel that we are going back in time. “
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Is it more dangerous to go on the street in Drag?
,, There have always been risks. I notice that I am more careful. I used to go to the Women-WC as Jennifer, I don’t do that anymore. Not because women make it a problem, by the way, they are always men. Women think drag is fine, just like children. For them it is just a nice dress up party. “
There have been quite often incidents with taxi drivers. That is why you organized a peace meal last year.
“Femke Halsema was also there, which I was very happy with. It was also very seriously picked up by Uber, Bolt and TCA. Maybe it has caused a small change. But if I need a taxi myself, I would rather call a taxi center and explain that I am in Drag. Then you will never get a taxi you know who you get.”
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You are a drag mother for about fifty members of The House of Hopelezz. What do you give to them?
,, Well, my drag kids. People come and go to the collective. Especially since programs such as Rupaul’s Drag Race Has drag become very popular. The most important thing I want to give them is that you have to enjoy it, you really have to like it because it doesn’t have to be for the money. You discover whole new sides of yourself with drag. I also didn’t know that Jennifer was in here. Drag has enriched my life, it’s a wonderful community. “
,, Drag has really enriched my life. You discover whole new sides of yourself. “ © Amaury Miller
As a dragqueen you can also be a target. Every year there are violent incidents.
It is important that we remain visible. The acceptance can decrease quickly, we see that happening now. A minority of young people says that it now accepts homosexuality, isn’t that shocking? It seems as if we are back in the 1950s. A man has to do this, a woman has to. Which way are we going? In America we already see that rights are reversed. That is not that far away.
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At the beginning of this year, one of the members of House of Hopelezz was killed, William Caceres Marcano.
So bad. I didn’t know him very well, but other members did. A very sweet boy with a nice energy. Nothing is yet known about what happened to him, and why, whether it has something to do with his orientation or drag. All very scary.
Where does that resistance to Dragqueens come from?
I see it especially at the right. I was recently with a demonstration and Geert Wilders shares a photo of it with the text: ‘Fortunately there are only two genders’. So humorless and not even true because you also have intersex people, and people who sit between the genders.
Many people struggle with the question ‘I am male or feminine enough’ and then it is very healthy to be able to play with that. Do you know what it is? Men who doubt their masculinity in particular are homophobic. I have brothers who are straight, but sometimes go for fun in drag. Precisely because they don’t doubt anything. The people who attack us do not feel themselves enough. Wilders apparently wants to be Macho.
Rights of the rainbow community are reversed worldwide, Jennifer sees Hopelezz. “That is scary.” © Amaury Miller
Do you actually have political ambitions yourself?
I have thought about becoming active in the Amsterdam city council, but that is not allowed by my husband. I wouldn’t really be suitable for it, haha.
What do you look forward to this pride most?
We also started with the Drag Olympics, that is this Friday and very nice. I wear the flame every year. And of course the Canal Parade. The crowds feels like a warm bath now that the political climate is getting a grain. This year I can sit in the jury with Cornald Maas, very nice. I have often stood on boats, but then you only see the boat in front and behind you. It will probably be very political, with everything that is going on in the world.
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You see that as something positive?
I am happy with the increased activism in the queer world. I am also solidarity with the Palestinian people and support a family there. They know me as Jennifer, not like Richard. Funny, right? We all belong to an oppressed group, that creates a band.