by Mia McKenzie
For BGD’s Crush of the Month, we choose one bold, brilliant, badass QTPoC who has inspired us with the amazing things they’ve been up to in their work and life. We interview said crush-worthy individual so that you, faithful BGD readers, can share in our swooning!
Our Crush of the Month for August is actor, writer, public speaker, advocate, and thinker Kingston Farady.
The short on Kingston:
Kingston Farady is a rising voice and figure in the Transgender Rights Movement. He is a trailblazer hailed for publicly proclaiming his transgender identity on the Real World Explosion SF (Ep. 7, 2014). From there, he bravely continued to bring visibility to black transgender identities by playing the critically acclaimed lead role in legendary queer director Cheryl Dunye’s 2014 short film, “Black Is Blue” (feature length coming in 2016).
I first spotted Kingston in a promo for Cheryl Dunye’s short film Black is Blue and I was like: oh daaaaaaaaaamn! LOL. I’m married and I don’t eem mess with dudes like that and plus he has a boo but I’m just sayin’, y’all. I’M JUST SAYIN’. If he performed a monologue from A Raisin In the Sun in his undies, I wouldn’t be mad. He’s foine. He’s also smart, driven and…well, read the interview below and swoon for yourself!
Mia: What do you find most sexy about yourself?
Kingston: Shit ::looks at self in mirror:: good question. I’d have to say my chest. I’ve put a lot of work into building it ::laughs:: I guess that carries a different meaning for guys like me. What I mean is, I’ve spent countless hours in the gym working my chest out. Plus, I have two diesel mastectomy scars that line each pec. To me, they’re sexy. When I see them, I’m reminded of just how powerful I am.
Mia: What’s your type? What sort of folks turn you on?
Kingston: People who can’t help but to be their powerful selves turn me on. Unless your “powerful self” includes killing puppies or something. Then … eek. But yea, unabashed authenticity draws my attention, and playfulness. A person must be playful to turn me on! Like – I’m likely going to want to have a SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) street-style battle, in our drawers, before we hit the sheets.
Mia: Are you crushing on anyone right now? Do they know?
Kingston: Absolutely. There’s this one person I crush on every-single-day … my sweetheart, Amaryllis DeJesus Moleski. She’s fierce. Talented. Hilarious. Fine. And, my best friend. Like – my homie, fo’real. We may or may not have SYTYCD street-style battles in our drawers.
Mia: Have you ever had your heart broken? If so, what’s the most important lesson you learned from it?
Kingston: Oh my gosh ::laughing:: yes. So many of my life lessons have come out of heart break. I actually think heart break tends to be the catalyst towards gaining a new perspective. Because really, anyone can break your heart – lovers, friends, family, society – and when they do, it changes us, sometimes dramatically.
As for my greatest lesson to date – don’t be changed for the worst. That is, I don’t use heart break as an excuse to hate on myself or others.
Mia: Are crushes (and romance and sex) important for revolution? Why?
Kingston: They’re more than important – they’re necessary. Sexual energy, which comes alive when we are crushing, romancing or sexing, is a potent force that can be harnessed to transcend one’s normally perceived reality. It’s life-giving and fills us with excitement, motivation, and creativity. Transcendence from what we normally perceive is the basis of a successful revolution. You must see something different to overthrow a current system. Plus – Love. Revolution cannot successfully occur without love being tightly woven into it’s fabric.
Mia: How did you first become socially/politically conscious? Do you remember a moment?
Kingston: I don’t think I became socially/politically conscious, I believe I was born socially/politically conscious. I later chose to enrich my comprehension of my consciousness through study and intentional engagement. But prior to that I had no choice but to always be very self-aware; particularly in terms of who I was in the complex (socio-political) context I was born into. See, I was born to a birthfather in prison who was later deported back to Jamaica and a young birthmother in a shelter already trying to care for my older sister. I was placed into foster care and later trans-racially adopted by a family who had also adopted two black girls from other agencies. Did I mention, I also grew up in the north shore? ::laughing:: I say that only because there’s no other place in this country like that region. If you’ve ever seen “The Fighter,” which was set in the town of Lowell [Massachusetts], where I was born – then you’ll have an idea of the cultural nuances I’m referencing.
Mia: What inspires you most as an artist? What drives you? And what’s next?
Kingston: My people, as in trans-, queer, and feminine-bodied POC, drive me most as an artist. Our unwavering strength, undeniable radiance, fly-ass creativity, unmatched beauty and capacity to Love, keeps me climbing. I’m inspired by my mother who passed away when I was a young adult (rest in power) always, my sisters who are the strongest people I know, my sweetheart who is an incredibly sick visual artist, my friends who made spiritual agreements to ride with me in this lifetime, and the Divine Force, which created us all.
As for what’s next … I have a new short film, directed by Kai Alexander Towns, called “Transcend,” which will drop by the end of this year. Plus, “Black Is Blue,” my short film from last year, which was directed by legendary queer director Cheryl Dunye, is going feature length in 2016! Both projects I’m juiced about.
Mia: Make Out With, Date, or Banish from QTPoC Island: (A Twist on Fuck, Marry, Kill): Samira Wiley, Carmen Carerra, Margaret Cho.
Kingston: Why is this the most difficult question yet?! Ugh. I’ve been set-up! ::laughing:: All three of these people are dope. But I’ll say, make-out with Carmen Carerra – who wouldn’t want to? Date Samira Wiley because I think she can dance. And, banish Margaret Cho – she’s (clearly) politically queer but has been quoted saying she’s not actually very queer in her personal life, and this is QTPoC Island.
Want more BGD Crush of the Month? Check out of interviews with bestselling author Janet Mock, artist/activist Julio Salgado and activist Cherrell Brown!
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