Jerry Canterbury was born and raised in the Charleston area and currently resides in Huntington. When I first met Jerry, I thought: "This is a very attractive, intelligent and somewhat timid young man". However, there was so much more to Jerry than I ever imagined.
On show nights at the Stonewall in Huntington, Jerry rocks the stage as Miss Priscilla Divine. The transition is phenomenal and fans are never disappointed by this multi-talented young performer. At the age of 23 Priscilla Divine has earned her place with the very elite of female impersonators. Divine has the stuff that stars are made of. She is taking the biz by storm and making no apologies.
This week, I had the honor to chat candidly with one of my favorite people and an extraordinary performer, Priscilla Divine (Jerry Canterbury).
Priscila Divine
This week Jim Lawson, Speak Out reporter for WVQN enjoys an intimate chat with Priscilla Divine.
Jim: Priscilla welcome to Speak Out. How old were you when you first performed on stage?
Priscilla: I was 18, right before I graduated high school at the Stonewall, when Ronica Reed was Miss Pride at the time, lol, a fun time.
Jim: Who do you feel has influenced you the most?
Priscilla: There's a huge number of people who have influenced me, early on it was Martina Dezarea, Kelly Heart, Monica St. Claire, Kevina Priceless, Bridget Nickles, Viki Williams, Delisha Delray and so many more.
Recently, Tajma Hall, Chelsea Pearl, Nicole Love Dupree, Regine Phillips, Ashley Cruiz, Paris Blake and everyday I meet more people who show me new things and new ways to do things. I am constantly learning.
Jim: Which celebrity(s) do you most admire and why?
Priscilla: Julie Newmar, I love the way she looks. The glamour and elegance just overwhelms me, and of course, Oprah, Bette Midler-- I mean, I'm a drag queen, what woman haven't I looked up to?
Jim: Are you completely OUT as a gay man to everyone?
Priscilla: Yes, I haven't always been comfortable with who I am, but I've gotten over that and have grown up over the past couple years, pus the people in Huntingon are so wonderful, I have no problems here being an OUT gay man.
Jim: Describe what coming out was like for you?
Priscilla: Wow! A quick trip to rehab! I had a huge problem with coming to terms early on,I came out at about 16, I was in my junior year of high school.
Jim: Why do you feel that there is such a generation gap between younger gay men like yourself and the older generation?
Priscilla: The era in time that older gay men had to go through was a lot harder for them than what we have to go through. Society, today, is much more excepting. The older generation had to hide, and could lose their jobs for being gay, now it's so much more different.
Jim: What is your single most memorable performance and what makes it stand out in your memory?
Priscilla: Every performance is a memory that I cherish. I am always meeting new people and hearing the crowd yell; I don't know anyone who wouldn't think that each and every time on stage is a memorable performance.
Jim: I know you are very involved with the Stonewall Nightclub.
Describe how important the club is to you and what it has to offer all of us.
Priscilla: The Stonewall has given me an outlet to express myself and become a true entertainer. They love and nurture me through everything I go through, good or bad. It's become my second home; which I am very grateful to the owners, staff and patrons. It has everything you can desire in a night club; state of the are music and light show! Your show bar and upstairs lounge; it has something for everyone, and with all the new updates soon to be finished before the end of March. I am sure we are going on to be bigger and better everyday!
Jim: What events are coming up for you guys there?
Priscilla: There is always something special coming up. We are having our annual Glow Party which is the march 15th, with former Miss usa@large, Kitty Litter; Miss West Virginia Continental 2008, which is Friday May 30th, featuring: Miss Nicole Love Dupree, Miss Continental 2008 and Tulsie, Miss WV Continental 2007, and, of course, our Miss Stonewall pageant is Friday, April 25th 2008, with Miss Domanique Shappel, who is the current reigning. Of course, we always have weekly events and giveaways.
Jim: Let's talk politics. Who is your favorite candidate in the presidential election this year?
Priscilla: Of course, I'd love to see Hilary win. Her plans for a social health care system for everyone is amazing.
Jim: What is your primary concerns and priority issues for the LGBT community right now?
Priscilla: Equality under the law.
Jim: Are you involved in any activism or charities at the moment?
Priscilla: I am not a regular member of any charity group, but I help with some fundraising for Hospice of Huntington and the Marshall Chapter of Lamba.
Jim: What are your goals as a entertainer?
Priscilla: Wow, I have so many. I'd love to one day have a national title, but I don't know any entertainer who doesn't want that. My goal every time I step on stage is to wow the crowd and make each of them feel that I'm doing that song for each and every one of them.
Jim: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Priscilla: Everyone should have goals. They should aspire to and always try to grow and develop as a person, for the benefit of themselves and the community, so to say where I will be at in five years is hard to do. I'd love to say what my dreams are, but I'm working everyday to improve myself to get closer to those dreams, but I don't think the United States of America is ready to accept me as the First Lady...maybe one day.
Jim: List your titles, contests and accomplishments as an entertainer.
Priscilla: My accomplishments as an entertainer: I feel that I have accomplished a lot as an entertaine when I am sought out by the straight members of society to entertain them in their homes and their events outside the bar scene. As I stated earlier, I entertain at lots of private events for charity and personal Parties for the older generation for which I am sure this would have never happened, and I am glad to help society and myself grow.
Jim: Tell us something that most people really do not know about you.
Priscilla: Ha ha, something they don't know? Because of who I am and being an entertainer, I feel secrets would be detrimental, and I feel privileged to allow the community and everyone I meet to freely know me for who I am and not just what I may want them to know about me. You have to take the good with the bad in everything and this allows me to be myself at all times; never being scared of what people may think of me and who they think I am, but being proud because they always know me for me.
Jim: Final comments?
Priscilla: Wow! I feel like I've been typing forever; but seriously, it has been my privilege to let you know who I am, and if I can be a positive role model to just one person, then everything I've done to this point has been well worth the fight! Please everyone call me Cilla, all my friends do!
xoxo,
Cilla divine
Please visit myspace at: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=53969111
Interviewed by Jim Lawson
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