A full half century since she was crowned Fire Island’s first ever Homecoming Queen and partook in the first ever Invasion of the Pines in response to an injustice against a friend, Thom Hansen aka Panzi is experiencing a full circle moment… and continuing to make history in the process. [Cover photo: Susan Kravitz]
Thotyssey: Panzi, hello! Thanks for finding the time to chat with us today during this very busy time for you. The U.S. is having a crazy summer of course, but have you been able to enjoy the season so far?
Panzi: Yes, I am having a great time. People are so excited for me, and it is so heartwarming; I really feel at home.
Congratulations on being named Fire Island’s Homecoming Queen for the 50th anniversary of that pageant! It’s a truly epic crowning, given that you are also the original Homecoming Queen. How does it feel to be part of that full circle moment, and to be so entwined in the history of Fire Island?
It feels right! I sort of wanted this, but tried to put that part of my ego away and let it be. But as we got closer to the contest, I changed my mind. Some close friends whom I can trust talked me through it.
The dreamy quality of Fire Island comes from the fact that in many ways its changed with the times as younger generations discover it… but in other ways it remains wonderfully frozen in time.
When I first arrived there, I was sixteen or seventeen… and it blew me away. I could not believe the beauty and splendor and freedom, and I was determined to come back. And I did! Yes, it has changed… but so have I. Everything changes, and we morph into the splendor in our own ways.
When I spent my first full season there, I was young. At the Ice Palace (best disco around) and the Copa, the drugs were easy to get; the drinking was carefree and excessive; and the sex as daily. It was paradise for a young gay man. That was 53 years ago, and I have changed along with Cherry Grove over the years. Now, it is a place of beauty, serenity and family.
Do you live there year round?
I only come on long weekends; I have always needed to work. Actually, I do not like to stay for long periods of time; it is easy to get bored and tired of the environment. Coming only on weekends and vacations makes it always special. and a little bit of paradise!
On the “change” front, the business end of the Island has been going through it these past few summers! The Ice Palace, Cherry’s on the Bay and the Pines are all under newer management. Do you have any thoughts regarding how everyone is doing?
Change of ownership of the business is nothing new… I think io have seen four owners of the Ice Palace and three of Cherry’s, and three of the grocery store, and so on and so on and so on. The world changes, and Cherry Grove is no different.
Can you tell us a bit of your origin story: where are you originally from, and how did you discover drag?
Jersey City. I was always gay — growing up, my love fantasies were George Reeves (Superman, when I was five or so) Herman [aka Peter Noone] of Herman’s Hermits, Ringo Starr of the Beatles; Jim Morrison of The Doors, etc.
I had sex before I started high school (St. Peters Prep for Boys — they prepared me for boys!). By the time I was halfway through freshman year, I easily found sex multiple times a week. I came out to my peers in biology class in junior year; I dated a member of the football team. The senior class voted me the “most valuable queen” award. I was heavy into drugs, and sold them in school to support my own habit. I discovered being 16 in the Village was like going to heaven. I could get anything I wanted, and I did.
The challenge at first was that there were no peers–no role models–just the Catholic church. So I thought being gay was just a curse, and a disease, and a sin. My first lover, Carlos, taught me different by bringing me to Greenwich Village, where I discovered being gay was nothing like what i thought it was. I quickly made friends close to my age, and many, many lovers. I danced and drank in all the bars – the Gold Bug, the Roundtable, The Sanctuary, Julius’, Ninth Circle, Bon Soir and many more notable places and after hours clubs.
First time in drag: my lover and I, his ex-fiancé and his best friend bought tickets to see Melba Moore at The Waldorf, and after getting a bit stoned they decided it would be easier to get a good table if we were even — i.e. two guys and two gals — so they made me dress up to get a better table. And we did. It was exhilarating.
Later while I was still in high school, a group of friends decide to create a drag troupe of five girls called Mom’s Greenery, We performed every Sunday night at the Gold Bug for about a year. I was still a senior in high school, and I recall that because I invited the high school senior newspaper to see my show. My characters were Alice Fay, Liza Minelli and Marilyn Monroe… and I was great! When the group disbanded I continued to perform in Atlantic City, the Upper East Side and other places. I was part of a mother daughter act with Caleb Stone, who did Judy Garland. I don’t know how I did it, living with my parents; I was a drag queen, a gay sexually active teenager, a drug addict and full blown alcoholic.
You mentioned earlier that you were sixteen during your first trip to to Fire Island.
Yes, and it was magical. A lover was trying to impress me by taking me to the Bartender Awards on Fire Island (hosted by the famed drag queen of the Upper East Side, Gypsy). The moon was full, the ocean was still, the Meat Rack was a few walks away, the drinking was excessive … i could not wait to come back. And I did.
The Invasion of the Pines is another annual tradition that turns 50 this year, that you were a major part of. There’s a lot to explain about what happened on that original day, but in brief: you and some other queens on Cherry Grove were outraged that a sister was mistreated and kicked out of the Pines for being in drag, back when Pines management under John Whyte and vacationers were shunning visibly queer people and elements to be more “manly” and hobnob with rich straight folks. So a few weeks later on July 4th, you and several others at the Grove rode a water taxi to the Pines in full drag to disrupt that scene, and were met mostly with glee from the people there.
That’s become an annual tradition, where folks now doll up in drag and ride the ferry from the Grove to the Pines on Independence Day. It’s a tradition that you continue to be a big part, of in terms of planning and visibility. Could you ever in your wildest dreams have thought that you were creating a cultural movement 50 years ago that would continue for half a century?
Never, never, never. In fact, I recall that the second one… we did it as a spoof, and I thought, who cares if no one notices? The worst that could happen would be that we bought a few drinks, danced and came home. But no, it was another spectacle… and thus the tradition began.
Do you have any tips for people who want to partake in the Invasion this year?
You must crossdress to get on the boat, and it is mandatory that you have a great time. It is a day of freedom and expression and joy.
With the current administration’s war on drag and trans identity, does the Invasion feel like it’s suddenly just as symbolically important as it was 50 years ago?
It’s scary that we are at the same place today as we were 50 years ago in terms of acceptable and trans and drag.
On Instagram, I saw a shot of you and John Whyte, that original Pines owner from when you first Invaded, looking friendly with each other before he passed in 2004. Was there a longtime actual rift between you two in the years that followed the original Invasion? Did you see him evolve a lot over that time?
He was trans-phobic, period. He hated drag queens, though he profited from the Invasion nonetheless. He finally gave up to save face and began to participate in the celebration, offering a rose and champagne to all the Invaders.
You’ve been involved in performing and cultural arts on the Island for years. Do you ever want to just do a live Panzi drag show again?
I don’t know. You know, if you read the bios of some great performers, whether in drag or not, they often say the best roles are the second fiddle and not the star. I like that — too much of one thing / person can be tiresome or boring. Just give them a little stardom and pizzazz and leave!
You were known to TV viewers as a second fiddle on camera to sis Brini Maxwell (Club Cumming’s craftsmistress), first in her cult classic 90’s cable access campfest The Brini Maxwell Show and then in that show’s later incarnation on the Style Network! You two reunited for a live one-off tribute to that a year and a half ago at Red Eye, which we discussed on my podcast then. Any plans to bring that back in any capacity?
I don’t think so. It was a difficult time in my life; I am still working a very strenuous career, and I did not have enough time to really prepare… so I messed up a lot. I am sure Brini was not happy, as she is a perfectionist and would never ask me again!
Tell us about the Fire Island Invasion book, created by you and photographer Anderson Zaca.
Anderson first approached me 18 years ago. I don’t always speak to people because I found that everyone wants a piece, and none for me. So I gave up most interviews and stuff. Everyone else made money except me! I am a capitalist at heart.
However, there was something about Anderson that made me light up, and I listened and let him come on The Invasion every year. His photography and vision is art, not just a picture–it tells a story, it is unique and beautiful. I never thought the book would ever come out after 18 years! But then he surprised me a few years ago, and it was actually happening. And here it is! It was published and on the bookshelves in Europe — can you believe it!? Barnes & Noble recommended it for a Mothers Day table book! It is a riot!
And I understand that documentarian Parker Sargent will screen her 2016 film “The Panzi Invasion,” which details your role in the original Pines Invasion, at the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater on July 3! Do you recall how you felt when you first saw that doc?
It is always weird seeing myself–I wish I did this, and I wish I said that–you know how it is. But it is an honor.
And this just in: after the July 4th Invasion, there will be another Panzi-centric event at the Community House: a live jukebox stage musical called Panzi: Queen of the Pines on July 5th and 6th!.
What else is coming up for you?
Michael Fisher is filming a movie called Panzi that addresses the Invasion, but also transphobia in the gay community and the world at large. It is a big project–here we are today and it is the same as in 1976, scary. A film script has also been written by Kurt Voelker, and is currently being shopped in Hollywood. So who knows!?
And finally: do you have any words of wisdom or comfort for young people who feel concerned about living out and proud in these harrowing times?
My activism is rampant. First I say to all the young LGBTQ+ community around the country, who do not have the support we enjoy in New York, that you are not alone. We are here. We are visible. And we will fight.
To the entire LGBTQ+ community, I say: get off your asses and fight. They are coming for us already, and it will only get worse. Do not be complacent. Preserve your future, and fight your lives.
Thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do, Panzi! Happy Invasion!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Panzi’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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Thotyssey 