With her drag striking a balance between political activism and superfun weirdness, Anne J. Tifah is truly a drag performer of this moment… and likely for many moments to come!
Thotyssey: Thanks for chatting today, Anne! How has Pride Month been treating you so far?
Anne J. Tifah: Hello! I’m so happy to be with you today. Thank you so much for having me! I’ve really been putting the “DEMON” in “priDEMONth” so far–just causing trouble wherever I can! Unfortunately also dealing with some health situations this month, so it’s a nice reminder that rest can be part of Pride Month, too!
Health always comes first! Were you able to perform at the recent “Sissy Fest” at Rubulad? I was there for nice chunk of that, super fun!
I was honored to be there, yes! What an amazing show that was. I was in the final set of the night, and got to close it down with some hardcore folks who stayed the entire time and danced until the last second. The energy there is the best drag fever dream, too. What an awesome venue!
How might you describe your drag today, as far as looks, numbers, POV, etc.?
Anne has been going through some changes lately, for sure! I have lived in Brooklyn now for a year and a half, and had to break down a lot of what my character was leaning on for a while. I’ve always loved to add a political tinge to whatever I’m doing, but sometimes got lost in the message and forgot the art and the fun. I also skipped over a lot of skill sets and detail in the name of rebellion, without understanding how I was preventing my own growth. I also wasn’t always sure drag was something I wanted to do long term, and what drag was allowed to look or function like–especially outside of the hustle of bars and nightlife.
Performance-wise, Anne loves to create a moment, or a world you can get lost in. She loves an immersive five minutes that should leave you saying “I’m not sure what that was, but I’d love to see more of it.” She loves to be the SpongeBob in a room full of Baywatch babes.
Otherwise, I have been proud to recently start working with Act Up NY to try and create new avenues for drag and nightlife entertainers of all kinds to be more politically involved, outside of just voting. Showing up to radical actions in drag, bringing radical messages to the stage, and reminding people there’s still so much work to be done–and sharing resources and information with community members who love, support, and trust us. If drag is for everyone, then drag performers also should be for everyone, and use our power towards collective liberation!
Where’s your original hometown, and how did you become Anne?
I was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona to supportive, but religious, parents. I was a private school kid in high school, and didn’t come out until sophomore year of college around 2009. The coming out process was rough at first, but I am very fortunate my parents actually adjusted really well once I gave them the space to. In my adult life, I got engaged and moved to Portland, Oregon and that is where Anne was born!!
My “big kid” job is working as a professional ASL Interpreter, and I originally become connected to the drag scene in Portland through a performer named Rita Lynn who asked me to interpret her weekly shows to create spaces for the LGBTQIA+ Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities to feel welcome. As our team and presence grew to more and more shows and events, I was constantly inspired and blown away by the art of it all. You can’t be that close to the fire without it licking you a bit! I started on a “Baby Queers” open stage night, and the rest is history.
I chose the name Anne J. Tifah for two reasons. The name Anne Tifah sounds like “Antifa” and was chosen during 2019. We were fresh off the rise of No DAPL, the BLM movement, Abolish ICE, etc. and at the time I was heavily involved in the political and protest scene as both a participant and ASL Interpreter on the front lines. I noticed a huge disconnect between the protest community and nightlife community at large, and wanted to highlight the humanity in both. A lot of people claim radical buzzwords, but aren’t armed with the education and history around them. That can really water down messaging, which in turn can actually ignite much more emotional and confrontational interactions between community members who don’t know they’re fighting for the same thing. Many people are also already anti-fascist in their actions or beliefs, but don’t know they are, or are scared of what “radical politics” can or should mean.
I want people to know “Antifa” isn’t a dirty word. I want people to engage with the idea of radical politics in a way that makes them curious, not scared, and almost trick people into realizing they’re already there!
And the “J” is because my legal initials are “AJT,” and I love consistent branding, lol!
We are in wild times, and a lot of people who think they are enemies with each other are actually ultimately on the same side, like you said. Certainly the echo chamber of social media algorithms are making us all crazier and more divided. It’s hard to strike a balance between getting legit political and social info online while also tuning out all that noise, right?
OMG, absolutely. The worst part of needing to use the internet to mobilize is we are simultaneously teaching our enemy all of our tactics, lingo, pedagogy, and networks. In turn, we becomes silos instead of open fields. We have become our own noise. We blame our neighbor for the actions of our oppressor. We forget that grace and teaching have always been important parts of the movement. The means of production, provision, and personhood are all controlled by The State–how do you destroy something you’re forced to participate in?
An unfortunate side effect of teaching and including people with privilege is this “Columbus” effect where our initial discovery and outrage overshadows the thing we are outraged about. Anger is ancient and has been refined over generations, and I think there is absolutely something to be said for the radical fight manifesting through grace and patience of those experiencing the worst types of oppressions. “Nobody is free until we are all free” is not just something fun to chant at a rally. It means none of us are immune to the consequences and atrocities we commit against ourselves. If we start to see each other as crabs and not holders of the bucket, I think we would learn to focus this momentum in glorious ways.
I actually have high, high, high hopes for this next wave of youth who are choosing something different. Not just in the US, but internationally, I see youth connecting across battle lines that countries and borders had drawn for us previously. I think people are waking up to the ideas of collective liberation. From science, we know biodiversity is required for a healthy planet. It’s not always easy, but it’s the way to go. We need all of us!
I’d also like people to know everything we’re talking about now is the same fight with a new coat of paint. We have so much more to learn from each other than we have to fear about each other, and that’s where it starts–knowing where we are coming from to build out where we are all going!
All very well said, and hopefully well heard! Well, one great platform you’ll be a part of in person is the return of “Stand Up NYC,” drag artist and producer Julie J’s recurring massive popular showcase at 3 Dollar Bill where proceeds go to important charities!
I am so excited! Talk about doing the work! I always say “find your front line” and make changes in the spaces you’re already in. “Stand Up,” is one of the most perfect examples of that. This will be my third event with “Stand Up NYC,” and honestly they get better every single time. Julie J was someone I met before moving to NYC, when I was visiting. She said “when you move here, let me know.” And I did, and she showed up for me in the most amazing ways. She and the entire “Stand Up” family have become really special and important to me.
What else is coming up for you?
I’ve got a few gigs peppered into the rest of the month. Next week on the 18th, I’ll be at Hush for “Lip Sync Tournament of Champions” hosted by Janae SaisQuoi.
And then, Pride Weekend Proper is just around the corner!
I’m ending the month on the 29th at “Big Top: A Circus Themed Pride Party” produced by Chlomosexual at The Meadows in Brooklyn. In July, I will be going back to PDX for a two day drag festival called “Dollapalooza 3000” produced by Katya of Klip Klop Productions. You might also see me interpreting a show here or there!
And looking ahead… you’ll be in Bushwig in September! That’s everything… congrats for making the lineup!
Thank you so much! It felt like I had received a college acceptance letter with a full ride scholarship, lol. I had the honor to be chosen last year for the open stage, but it was unfortunately cancelled last minute due to the weather. But I did get to volunteer back stage during the final set, and being surrounded by everyone was thrilling; I was hooked immediately. I am unbelievably shook and thankful to have been included in the main lineup this year.
Excellent! Okay lastly, the most serious question of the day: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag?
I never leave the house without some lash glue, a blotting sponge for the sweats, lip gloss, and a fresh blunt! I also have a mini-bottle of Tobasco I keep with me literally at all times, for the late night post-gig munchies!
Now that’s what I call a bag! Thanks, Anne!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Anne J. Tifah’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Thotyssey 