BLADE PHOTO BY HENRY LINSER
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Friday, January 11, 2008
Anyone who’s big into the local gay music scene will surely recognize PAULINE ANSON-DROSS. She and her partner, Davi Anson-Dross, are part of the all-lesbian band Wicked Jezabel, which was just nominated in the Best Hard Rock category of this year’s Washington Area Music Association’s awards (awards are given in February). A life-long musician — she started playing for pay at age 12 — Pauline joined a country and pop band right out of high school and began working locally, including opening for national acts. Years later, she joined up with the well-loved Outskirts of Town (where she met Davi), and once Outskirts disbanded in June of 2006, Pauline put her full efforts into Wicked Jezabel. Aside from all her music gigs, she also works for the Bethesda Food Co-op. Pauline and Davi, who’ve been together for eight years, live in Fairfax, Va., with a host of pets. More information about Wicked Jezabel can be found at www.wickedjezabel.com.
I’ve been out since I was about 17, but I always knew since I was four. Early on, it was hardest to tell a few family members, even though they knew. But it was always hardest to tell any straight woman I had a serious crush on. Most now know that I’m gay, but to this day, many still don’t know that I had crushes on them!
My wife, Davi. She is herself everywhere she goes, and she doesn’t even look the stereotype. She fools people all the time and doesn’t have to. She also sponsors a GSA (gay-straight alliance) at her job to help teenagers have a healthy outlet for their issues.
I prefer places that have live music. Very few gay and lesbian nightspots support this, unfortunately. This is why Davi and I have been doing the lesbian band thing all over the mid-Atlantic for so many years.
Absolutely, but only with the right one! I got unexpectedly blessed. Davi and I got married at the Arlington Metaphysical Chapel in 2000. We are still together and grateful for that!
The natural foods industry versus the FDA and the insurance companies! I think the government and the insurance companies care more about Wall Street than a person’s basic right to be healthy. The other non-gay issue that is just as important to me is animal rights and human responsibilities for animals domestically and globally.
I would change nothing. The reason being is that I think the world is supposed to be a mess. I think this place is nothing but a school and eventually we learn our lessons well enough to graduate and never come back. This doesn’t mean that we cannot enjoy ourselves either, but it comes only after the work.
I have basically two. The mid-’60s with the British explosion of The Beatles (I always wanted to be a Beatle!). Then there was the mid-’80s — I deejayed all through it as DJ Skunk, (I still do some events today), and I totally loved it!
“American Band Idol!” Maybe a Rockstar Supernova type of a show. Improv comedy shows perhaps. I love to make people laugh, feel love, rock and be happy.
I don’t think I have any clothes from that time, but I do have an old beach towel with a peace sign on an American Flag on it. I was always a “Give peace a chance” kinda kid.
“Pauline, The Movie!” Then volume two, “The Continuing Saga of ‘Pauline, the Movie!’”
I’m already a straight man in a lesbian body — doesn’t take science to solve that! Bottom line is, I love women. They are my favorite species! As a male or female, I’ll always be driven toward the femme-ish, blonde, beautiful, talented … well, you get the picture. I could handle it either as a male or a female. The problem lies between other women’s choices, not mine! So one might ask really … how can science change their sexual orientation?
I do believe in a “higher power” or “bigger purpose,” but on a smaller scale, I believe our spiritual essence continues on and we are a part of that power.
Fly me to India for something authentic. Then lots of wine cuz if this is my last meal, I don’t want to know why it is my last meal!
1.) To meet and sing with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. 2.) Go on tour and never have to worry about money or a day job ever again. 3.) Wipe out “religion competition” on this planet.
Stereotyping annoys me in general, but we all hear it and from time to time, do it. The beauty of it all is that it seems we are hearing less and less of it thanks to the increase of gay and lesbian education in the media and so forth.
Our band plays so much and I work all week, it’s just too hard to watch films in theaters all the time. Love “The L Word” if that helps!
Marriage between only one female and one male as a law.
Recently we got nominated in the “Best Hard Rock” category with WAMA for 2007. I don’t believe there has ever been an all-lesbian band nominated. Another big prize was with our old band, The Outskirts of Town, winning Best of Gay D.C. in 2003 for Best Musicians in the Washington Blade. Also playing with Dan Aykroyd a couple of times in 2000 was a hoot in one of his Blues Brothers shows.
Surround yourself in a network of genuine friends and support groups. Be yourself and be aware that sometimes, no matter how hard you try, not everyone will understand who you are and why you are the way you are. Build a strong foundation for yourself and you will never fall no matter how hard they push.
I’ve lived here all my life and have been performing here for 35 years. It’s a great place to be. It also seems to be the town that is the least affected by the economy when it fails. Also, the Washington, D.C., area is the home of Wicked Jezebel. When the White House can’t rock your world, we can!
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