I have always believed that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and you know the saying about opinions...and I think it is okay that some people didn’t like the show.

That’s the joy of theater. But there are a few things that are bothering me about what I have seen in The Pacer:

1.) That HORRIBLE picture.

C’mon people, I may not be a super model but I looked like a beat up cabbage patch kid in the picture that was posted.

2.) The show is not all about being gay and gay sex. Never once do I mention gay sex.

I do talk about sex, briefly, and as many can take from the title, No Sex in the City, I don’t have sex.

3.) It’s inner DRAG queen not DRAMA queen.

They are two completely different entities. DRAG is different than DRAMA, believe me.

I do have an inner DRAMA queen, but that is just between me and my ex-boyfriend.

3.) You thought it would be serious?

Why? Because I talk about being gay? Because I talk about being different.

The show is about MY life, not Matthew Shepard’s or anyone else’s.

I’m sure that some people have a hard time dealing with things, and some people have had different experiences and I urge them to write a show.

My life is FABULOUS and the people in my life are FABULOUS. Because of these things, my show deals with how FABULOUS my life, friends and family is.

It is a shame that people equate gay with sad, depressing lives. My life couldn’t be more of the opposite.

This is not to say that I don’t have my difficulties, which I talk about in the show, but my defense is my wit.

“Shepard was a normal college student who just happened to be killed because he was different from everyone else - he was gay.”

Direct quote. But let me correct you on that, Mr. Sirising.

He wasn’t different than everyone else, what he was was not straight.

Shepard’s story is sad, but mine isn’t. I’m here, I’m queer and I’m pretty much over it.

4.) The main point of the show was missed completely. The point is not that “I am Gay” the point is that “I’m Here” and “I’m Beautiful Dammit!”

Love yourself for who you are, not for who you could be. The show deals with my acceptance of myself as an individual who is bi-racial, who is gay, who is big {see also large, husky, teddy bearish...anything but overweight! That word is an affront to the very delicacy of my nature :)}.

I can’t and won’t apologize for who I am anymore and I shouldn’t have to.

None of us should.

I wish you would have mentioned the fact that I talk about my family, especially my grandmother, and my friends.

There was a lot to the show that I feel you missed.

I could go on for days about the soul searching I did to put this show together or how over the 27 years I have been on this Earth that I have been blessed with the most amazing people in my life.

I’ve had my share of jerks, but why focus on the bad?

Life is to be lived and enjoyed, so go do it.

This is not an attack but a defense of my show.

I’m very proud of it and what makes me more proud is that my parents are extremely proud of it.

I also don’t see how it didn’t spread the message of diversity. Could I be anymore diverse?

Well, maybe if I was a pregnant lesbian disabled Latina running for office with my Asian lover...but I digress.

If anybody has any comments, please e-mail me at jaxx75@cinci.rr.com.

I enjoyed my show and my stay at UTM and felt that I was received well.

Mrs. Cindy West, ALLIES and Judy Nieves were FABULOUS hosts and I thank everyone for giving me and my production crew such a great time!

Peace,

Jocardo Edward Ralston