Ms Ross

Ms Diana Ross was all Jai talked about. Everyday he would frequently
throw stories into conversations that involved her. It was my first big
trip to New York and he was the first person I had met there. A
friendly, if not eccentric person to hang around with.

Jai had run away to New York when he was sixteen to find adventure and
a new way of life. His Tennessee up bringing held nothing for him and
his very religious family repressed his outgoing personality. When he
arrived here, he exploded into a kaleidoscope of expressionistic
behaviour. Jai showed me photos of himself as a drag queen surrounded
by gym queens from the club he worked in, and of endless parties with
friends and lovers. His drag performance was the most talked about in
the city, as not only did he look like Ms Ross, he also sounded like
her too.

When he was a young boy, Jai would listen to some of his mothers
records of which Diana Ross was his favourite. This was not unusual,
except for the fact that he would also dance around the place with his
mother's frock and hair extensions on while she was out. The rumors
spread around town that Ms Ross had chosen to practice her songs in
Tennessee after one of the short- sighted neighbours spotted Jai
through his net curtains. There was no doubt his parents prepared many
punishments for his behaviour. Reading the Bible texts were compulsory
every day for three to four hours, as were belt slaps from his father
at the mention of any musical diva or non masculine comments, whatever
that means. The biggest event that was also the last straw was when
Jai's father locked him in his room and forced him to fight him. A
severe gesture of male bonding. When he refused, the punches came hard
and fast. Each numbing blow a step closer to becoming the diva that he
is today, and a step away from the average teenage boy his father
wanted him to be. He collected a small suitcase worth's of belongings
that night, including all the Diana Ross LP's and left.

Working in the Gershwin Hotel in exchange for a lodging, he came across
a whole range of interesting people. The Gershwin was renowned for
gathering wannabe artists, fashion designers and actors. They really
didn't mind an aspiring drag queen with a fascination with Ms Ross in
their midst. In fact, a small stage in the hotel lounge allowed him to
practice with the rest and to express himself at every opportunity.
With an open arena like that and a constant flow of visitors passing
through, it wasn't long until he was spotted and promoted in the
nightclub circuit. It was in one of those clubs that I had met him,
pulling me up on stage to make me part of his act and then chatting me
up at the bar. He emphasized everything which I imagined New York to
be, bright with a heavy dose of celluloid. A special place for special
people. Jai inspired in me the type of person he was - resilient,
strong and not giving a dam about what people think or how they act
towards you.

I still keep in contact with Jai and try to visit as often possible.
Every time I need that inspiration and need to feel that life is a
gift, I go. He's good for anyone to come into close contact with. He
has energy and a lust for life that is both inspiring and hard to find
in this world. In his words and in Ms Ross' " Ain't no mountain high
enough". He's got a point.