Christopher Morgan

Jovan Bridges, known by his drag name Avon LaRouxx, applies makeup in preparation for his drag performance.

Perfectly poised in a short blonde wig and black pumps, Adam Guerra shared his heart-wrenching life story with the crowd gathered in Tivoli Turnhalle Feb. 15.

Guerra, whose stage name is Venus D Lite, visited Auraria to take part in “Love is a Drag,” a show put on by UCD’s office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender student services.

After a rough childhood — he grew up with a cocaine-addicted stepfather and was molested by a family friend — Guerra moved to a new school in Orange County, Calif., when he was 12. Soon after, he noticed that he was becoming preoccupied with boys his age rather than girls. Kids at school began to call him “girl” and “queer.”

“I had no clue what the people were calling me,” Guerra said.

At the beginning of high school, Guerra was bullied regularly by a group of skateboarders.

“I remember the first time they beat me up,” Guerra said. “They stole my backpack. I tried to get it back from them. They started to smash my face into the sidewalk, and they made me kiss the sidewalk.”

Guerra soon joined a gang for protection, and to hide his true identity.

“Deep down inside, I knew that I was gay, but I didn’t know how to accept it,” Guerra said.

Guerra became suicidal after being verbally abused by his stepfather and spent two weeks in a mental hospital. It was a scary experience for him, he said.

Christopher Morgan

Guerra got through the rest of his teenage years living with various relatives and learning to accept himself.

After the death of his grandmother, who was like a mother to him, Guerra felt that he needed an escape from his day-to-day life. He decided to try drag. Guerra dressed as Madonna for a look-a-like contest — and won.

Guerra soon had his own drag show that ran for six years and went on to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race, a reality television drag competition. Guerra now travels all over the U.S., performing as Venus D Lite.

The performer said he wants his story to help raise awareness about bullying. Guerra wants GLBT teens to know that they’re not alone, and that things will get better.

Jovan Bridges, a Metro student, performed in the show as Avon LaRouxx. He was able to avoid bullying for most of his teenage years.

“I was lucky to go to an art school where it wasn’t an issue,” he said.

Bridges added that the best way to fight bullying is to stand up for yourself.

The show’s host, Ed Garton, whose stage name is Pansy Pedal, encouraged the audience to tip their performers. Garton is the assistant director of student life at UCD.

All tips were donated to Rainbow Alley, a drop-in center for GLBT youth. The Alley, located on East Colfax, provides many free services to teens, including health care, counseling and a judgment-free place to hang out.

Tags: Drag show, GLBT, Rainbow Alley, top

People: Adam Guerra, Avon LaRouxx, Ed Garton, Jovan Brignes, Pansy Pedal, Venus D Lite