Darcelle XV (Walter Cole), the world's oldest drag queen, died on March 23, 2023. She was 92.
Since 1967, Darcelle has been performing and running the Portland drag venue, Darcelle XV Showplace, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. I had the opportunity to speak with Darcelle and her friend and collaborator, Poison Waters (Kevin Cook) a few weeks before her death. 
This is part of our special series, the LGBTQ+ Elders Project. You can listen to previous interviews with LGBTQ+ elders like Angela Davis, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, André De Shields, and Dr. Charles Silverstein. 
LGBTQ&A; is hosted and produced by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1



Darcelle XV: The Oldest Drag Queen in the World (ft. Poison Waters)

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The book mentioned in this episode is Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington by James Kirchick. 
This is a part of our special series, The LGBTQ+ Elders Project. ⁠Click here⁠ to listen to our recent interview with Martha Shelly, activist and co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front. 
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LGBTQ&A; is an independent, listener-supported podcast. Please consider joining our Substack to help support our work.
This is a part of our special series, The LGBTQ+ Elders Project. Click here to listen to our interview with Martha Shelly, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front. 
LGBTQ&A; is hosted and produced by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1

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Martha is a pre-Stonewall activist who got her start in the 1960s with the Daughters of Bilitis. Click here to listen to our new sit-down interview with Martha that aired last week.
This is a part of our special series, The LGBTQ+ Elders Project. LGBTQ&A; is an independent, listener-supported podcast. Please consider joining our Substack to help support our work.
LGBTQ&A; is hosted and produced by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1

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This is a part of our special series, The LGBTQ+ Elders Project. Click here to listen to our interview with the 91-year-old drag queen, Bob 'Rose' Levine. Bob has been doing drag in Cherry Grove since 1955.
LGBTQ&A; is hosted and produced by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1

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LGBTQ&A; is an independent, listener-supported podcast. Please consider subscribing to our Substack in order to help support our work. 
This is a part of our special series, The LGBTQ+ Elders Project. Click here to listen to our interview with Duane Michals, the 92-year-old pioneering photographer. 
LGBTQ&A; is hosted and produced by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1

Darcelle XV: The Oldest Drag Queen in the World (ft. Poison Waters)

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