St. Petersburg – Every year, performers vie for a chance to represent St. Pete Pride in its annual pageant, held at Georgie’s Alibi. Every win is special, of course, but there’s something spectacularly ground-breaking about the 2014 pageant. The Miss and Mister St. Pete Pride titles went to a transgender couple.
Stephanie Stuart and Aaron Phoenix captured the titles on May 12. A third title of “Mr.” went to Isaiah Sanchez -Hilton.
Stuart, 48, and Phoenix, 24, both identify as transgender and live in New Port Richey. When Phoenix competed in 2013 and placed as first-runner-up, he knew he wanted to try again in 2014.
“I wanted to bring my own level of style to the pageant and to prove to myself as well as everyone else that kings can be just as glamorous and entertaining as the queens,” Phoenix said. “This year it was about carrying on a tradition. When I heard interest in the [Male Impersonation] pageant had dropped, I wanted to do everything I could to remind the judges and the audience that kings deserve their space on the stage and in the community.”
And Stuart was encouraged to enter after Phoenix’s near win last year. The couple discussed the possibility of both competing and winning in 2014.
“We laughed about it and thought, ‘Yes, what a dream,'” Stuart said. “But dreams can come true and I really feel both blessed and honored to reign, especially with him.”
Stuart is originally from Lakeland, where she worked for many years as a performer. It was after the death of her late partner in 2011 that she relocated to Clearwater, then to New Port Richey. Stuart and Phoenix met at a Kings for a Cause benefit at Bayou Bleu in New Port Richey two years ago.
“She grabbed my attention,” Phoenix said. “I went to her show that night and it was love at first sight.”
Stuart equates their meeting to the film An Officer and a Gentleman.
“I do remember meeting him at Bayou Bleu and then he walked into Chill Chamber, walked all the way around the bar coming straight at me,” Stuart said. “He grabbed me and kissed me. Yes, love at first sight.”
So how can two transgender individuals compete in a pageant that’s about impersonation? Easily. Neither has completely transitioned just yet.
But that doesn’t mean both Stuart and Phoenix aren’t happy in the genders they represent on a regular basis.
“Transition isn’t necessarily about the medical or legal technicalities of what you do,” Stuart explains. “It’s a whole lot more of who you are and how you live your life.”
Stuart had her name legally changed years ago and Phoenix is in the process of doing just that. But regardless of the legalities, both are happy and in love. Fortunately, the LGBT community has been supportive of the relationship, Stuart said.
“We do hear some negativity from those who believe we don’t belong in the drag community because we live our lives as the gender we represent on stage,” Stuart said. “However, we’ve received far more love and support than negativity from the LGBT community.”
Phoenix admits that life hasn’t always been so cheerful. He moved to St. Petersburg before there were protections for transgender individuals and, because of a lack of non-discrimination laws, he was fired from three jobs because of his plans to transition.
“Long story short, I have come from living in my car on the streets of St. Pete to representing the city as Mister St. Pete Pride,” Phoenix said. “It’s an incredible sense of accomplishment.”
And this year marks the first time Stuart has had a chance to compete for Miss St. Pete Pride. She served as a caretaker to her late partner, who battled brain cancer for seven years, and was only able to take part in St. Pete Pride for the first time as a spectator four years ago. She performed the second year she attended and will serve as Miss St. Pete Pride this year.
“I really feel blessed to reign,” she said. “We believe our wins brings to the forefront that all four letters of the acronym have a space at the table and have contributed throughout history to the steps we’ve all made toward equality. It also reminds people of the basic reason for pride — no matter who you are, love is never wrong.”
Phoenix is the current reigning Mr. Chill Chamber and Stuart is a former Miss Lakeland, Miss Southeast Continental Elite and Miss West Central Florida.
Stuart, Phoenix and Sanchez-Hilton will perform at the St. Pete Pride street festival on June 29 and will also ride in the St. Pete Pride Parade on the evening of Saturday, June 28.
You must be logged in to post a comment.