Tobygo.com (Where the Boys Are)

Where are you originally from?

I’m from a small suburb of Boston in the middle of Massachusetts. It was pretty much mostly me and bunch of rich white kids. I was the loud, annoying gay boy that did theater and got straight As, with a tough Hispanic macho dad and a white mousey Christian mother who loved me more than anything. Though back then, I was much shyer than I am now, my true personality usually came out when I was on stage or at home with friends.

What made you move to San Francisco?

I was just kinda over Boston. Don’t get me wrong, that place will always be home to me. But after a bad breakup, stagnant professional life and an even duller social scene with the same queens at the one gay bar in town, I needed a way out. I had come to SF a few times on vacation to visit some friends, and the Castro and its rich, diverse and inviting gay culture truly called to me. When it came for the decision to move, and where to move to, SF was a natural choice for me, and honey, I haven’t looked back since.

Who is Charisma and what is she all about?

It’s all as plain as the name really. It’s all about working a room, being the loudest, craziest, drunkest bitch there, and being the life of the party. All my life, I’ve constantly sought to be the center of attention, to be the one to make my friends laugh and throw parties and show people a good time. Nothing brings more joy to my little tranny heart than to see my boys having a blast and leaving their worries behind as they work a dimly lit dance floor. She’s unapologetically crazy, one shot away from AA, she’s not afraid to be ugly, or to be sweaty, to get on a gogo box in nothing but a tube top, a thong with some hope holding it together and shake it to Beyonce or Rihanna in hopes that at least one faggot in the place will get a laugh out of it. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, and in fact, she’s more humble and shy than most people think. She breathes and swears by dance music, hot boys, vodka tonics, her drag sons the Glitteratti boys, and is at her most comfortable with a circuit party in the background. Moving to San Francisco, I found more purpose to my drag, through fundraising and working with varying charities in this city has given me such a sense of accomplishment…it’s partying with a purpose, and really, isn’t that the best of both worlds?

What made you start drag?

Umm…cocaine? LOL Just kidding…well sort of. No, but honestly, it was at first a dare from a good friend back in college in Boston. His name was Steve and we were kinda both in love with drag culture to begin with, but had never really tried it. I was a gogo boy at a local club, and had always been just enamored with all the queens in town, usually being the bitch boy running around the bars for them grabbing whatever they needed. Well it was about time for a promotion. In college I was a Resident Advisor, and I was in charge of throwing social events for my campus, when it came to choose what, Steve looked me dead in the face and said the two words that would forever change my life, “drag show”. I threw my first show as a joke to get the kids out in the dorms to see something totally different, then went on to compete in local drag shows at Boston’s biggest bars, before you knew it, my closet had more hooker boots and tranny dresses than text books J

How long have you been doing drag?

I guess from the aforementioned show to now, makes about 8 years or so on/off. There were a few years there when I stopped altogether to focus on finishing college and start my career. I guess moving to San Francisco is what really inspired me to start doing it more often, and thankfully, thanks to the wonderful and beautiful people I’ve met in this city, I’ve really elevated my look and persona to what it is today.

What and who are some things and people that influence you?

Like any good drag queen, I always seek inspiration from pop culture and the relevant fierce divas of our time. Two of my biggest inspirations when it comes to my style and “drag persona” come from , and I know you won’t be shocked, Beyonce and Britney Spears. It’s the stage presence, the costumes, the overindulgence of glitter and half naked back up boys, its really what I strive all my outings to look like, a rock concert hahaha In all honesty though, in both my drag life and my real life, my inspiration to continue to do what I do comes from my wonderful and loving family and friends. My mother sacrificed so much, giving up her career to raise my sister and I, and instilled wonderful morals and values in me that drive me to be a better, more open person everyday. My friends and my drag sons are my heart and blood, they are beyond my drinking buddies, they are my family, the ones I turn to not just when things are good but when things seem so desperately sad and when life is unforgiving. My friends are constantly teaching me to be more down to earth, to be more approachable and accepting, they remind me almost daily that I am not alone, and no matter what happens to me or Charisma, that life is beautiful and worth living to the max. Bigger inspirations in drag include Jackie Beat, Lady Bunny and RuPaul to name a very few, they are truly of a high caliber of entertainment, their humor, appeal to the gay community, their perseverance in outreach and tolerance, and just their fierceness, performances and looks just motivate me to always work on my drag to reach new heights of diva. Local inspirations are Miss Juanita More and Heklina, true local legends, one is just GLAMAZON with an army of boys at her disposal and one ran the most successful and button pushing/socially relevant drag shows in the nation for 13 years…I always look to them for advice and clarity when planning things out in the city.

What are the Glitteratti boys?

Ah, yes. The penultimate question. They’re everything to me. They’re my security detail, they’re my escorts to events, they’re my drinking buddies, my plus ones, my bodyguards, the loves of my life and some of the most loving, loyal, respectful and giving people I’ve ever met. They’re not just all gogo boys or porn stars, though most people quickly would tell you they are. They’re boys I’ve met out at clubs, events, fundraisers and parties that I just couldn’t’ get my eyes off. They’re charming, beautiful both outwardly and inwardly, they don’t’ give a fuck what people think, they’re main concern is to live life as a party. When a Glitteratti boy steps into a room, you know who they are, they’re the best dressed, they’re the loudest, the drunkest, the highest and the nicest….when out, they’re the ones with the most…Charisma? Hahaha I’ve adopted these boys because they’re the future of nightlife, they’re dancers, promoters, Djs, artists, engineers…they represent a large cross-section of the gay community, the ones that will carry the legacy of not just my drag career but will really lead the way for the young gays to step up and keep the party going. They are some of the sweetest guys ive ever met, and trust me, some of their barks are worse than their bites, but then again, that’s how I raise them…to be self assertive, confident, with words, class and well turned lip as their weapon, they are unstoppable. You can find them at the hottest events in town, from the biggest circuit party to the nastiest leather party, and they make me proud everyday. There’s too many to name, but some of the most well known of my sons you can find right here on Tobygo, in fact, all the Tobygo Men of the Month thus far have pretty much been glitterati boys: Abel, Mike Pementell, Christian Owen, Geoffrey Koch, and most recently, one of my closest babies, Kai Ford for March. Some other of my kids you can always find out in Castro are DJ Pornstar aka Adrian Taylor one of the hottest Djs in town Djing for Gus among other promoters all over town as well as Industry, Fresh, Adonis, Lookout, Frathouse to name a very few, and of course my Glitteratti DAUGHTERS Suzan Revah and Joanna Parks need no introduction to the SF party scene, as they create it.

Favorite movie?

There’s so many, but the one that comes to mind right now is The Color Purple. If you just wanna cry and slowly descend into a ditch of depression, RENT THIS MOVIE. It changed my life, hunny, I’m a queen….I LIVE for the drama!

Favorite party in SF?

OUCH. This could get ugly cause im sure every promoter in town is reading this going this bitch better say mine HAHAHA but ill do them by categories

Favorite Bar: hands down, Lookout, well, from what I can remember, I’ve blacked out there so many times its hard to really piece together if I have fun or just get too drunk to care hahaha

Favorite dance party: FRESH. FRESH FRESH FRESH FRESH FRESH. Did I say Fresh yet? This party has come to be my living standard of what a good time should look like, if you’re throwing a great party in town, you should ask Mike Lane & Janine Shiota how to do it.

Favorite bar party: BOOTY CALL. Again hands down. Juanita MORE gives us glamour, Brandon Norris takes your next face book default pic in the back with astonishing artistic backdrops, and Joshua J hosts like no other. My favorite weekday hot spot, I’ve helped host on multiple occasions, and I seriously just can’t get enough.

Favorite place to just get dirty stinking drunk: Truck. This little pearl in SOMA has some of the hottest bar staff, and some of the HOTTEST men (not boys, MEN) in town. Saturday nights especially when Conner Habib hosts my favorite night there is just when I like to sneak in something fierce and go shot for shot with the boys.

Guilty Pleasure?

Drugs? Alcohol? Boys?….oh wait, im supposed to feel guilty about it right? Lol I’d say fantasy adventure ANYTHING. I was a big nerd growing up reading the Hobbit, playing Dungeons & Dragons and bragging about a level 30 dark elf paladdin to all my friends at lunch. When im at home alone and no one’s watching, I occasionally like to throw in Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia and enter a world when “fairies’ aren’t just those queens you see in line at BOC.

Favorite Celebrity?

Is this a serious question? Beyonce….duh. She’s a big black bitch….and in my fucked up drag queen mind…that’s kind of what I am J

What advice would you give to future divas?

STAY AWAY FROM MY BOYS. Lol no, but just do things right by you. Don’t fall victim to bad influences or let bitchy queens tear you down or take your self esteem or confidence away. When I first moved here, I got a lot of flack for being that “queen who does pop songs” or that “queen who always dresses like a whore”…actually, I kinda do live up to that last one lol but no, just do FIERCE the way you see it, live by your own rules, don’t let anyone let you feel bad about having a good time or getting too drunk or being a mess….if you got it , flaunt it, hunny, there’s nothing more fabulous than seeing someone rise from adversity and become the bitch to watch. Keep those you trust and that have your best interested in mind closest, but keep the queens that would stab you in the back or throw off stage into a sharp bar edge even closer…you never know when you’ll have to steal their spot in the next big guest list right?

Why is it important to give back to your community?

Think about it. We’re nothing without each other. Each one of us plays a role, not just us queens, or the promoters, or the big name Djs or dancers. It’s everybody, the people that come to the parties, the people that support, that come out weekly and buy that beer bust cup or buy that raffle ticket. We are the future of the gay community, especially the young queens coming into the forefront. It’s important to always think of those less fortunate, they are your brothers and sisters, that crazy homeless lady in front of Harvey’s, that young kid with HIV struggling to make ends meet, that queen with the man face but heart of gold…it’s fun to be catty and bitchy and mean, but you’re life will be that more full of love if you just learn to give back….oh my god…am I Oprah enough for you yet? Hahaha

What are some charity events you’ve worked on?

A LOT. But I’m known for being Miss May 2008 for the Desperate Divas calendar, a charity calendar whose proceeds benefit AIDS Housing Alliance. Also, as the current reigning Miss Gay San Francisco , im a part of the Imperial Council of SF, a non profit organization that for decades has giving back to the community benefiting a multitude of charities across the county. I’ve also hosted or helped at fundraisers benefiting Lyric, Project Open Hand, AIDS Emergency Fund, STOP AIDS Project, and Marriage Equality to name a few. It’s been an honor, a pleasure and privilege to work with such wonderful people in the name in of great causes. My reign as Miss Gay has been all about bringing myself and charity work to SF nightlife, that started with my involvement in DREAM, a circuit party event featuring some of SF’s biggest names in nightlife all donating their time to Marriage Equality and will continue with future fundraisers I hope to plan with such big names as Juanita More & Joshua J of booty call, Conner Habib & Truck and many others across town.

What are some events you have coming up?

I’m really horrible with dates, but in general coming up:

This month (MARCH) @ Fresh will be my birthday party!! DJ Jamie J Sanchez will be spinning, Glitteratti boys will be shaking it for you on the go go box, ill be drinking my brains out in the VIP room and also giving you a very special performance LIVE on stage!! In the 7 years of Fresh, I am privileged to be able to take the stage as one of the few if only drag queens that have graced it.

In April, I’ll be hosting Industry @ Mighty along with Tobygo and Suzan Revah as well as hosting and performing over at Cat Club for Andre Shannon presents PORNSTAR.

Tobygo and I are working on a monthly party at the mix called I AM DIVA, where we’ll be bringing you your montly Mr. Tobygo and monthly I Am Diva featured members along with great Djs and awesome atmosphere to party in.

Flight 1760 @ Triple Crown along with the SF Posse (Glitteratti boys Adrian Taylor & Christian Owen, and SF drag phenom Bebe Sweetbriar) will be moving to a monthly party, but you can still catch all the limo glamour, red carpet antics, and amazing music/dance scene once a month from us, stay on Tobygo for details on the changes happening to this great party!!!

And of course, as always…wherever there’s a great dance floor, fierce music, and just enough room to give you runway, you can find Charisma. And if I’m not there, you can bet your sweet gay ass one of my boys will be representing. I am the self proclaimed First Lady of Circuit, and Tobygo‘s lead tranny, your reigning Miss Gay San Francisco 2009 and its my pleasure , honor and just my everything to be able to party with you boys and show you the time of your lives!! LET’S WORK IT OUT LADIES! LIFE’S TOO SHORT TO STAY HOME! MEET ME OUT!!

XOXOXO

CHARISMA GLITTERATTI