First visit to the CSD: Jorge González remembers

Christopher Street Day will take place in Berlin on Saturday, July 22nd. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected again for the annual spectacle around the Victory Column. “Let’s Dance” juror Jorge González (55) still remembers his very first CSD visit.

“It was in the 1990s and I had never seen anything like it,” he said on the sidelines of the Lieferando Drag Outfit Design Contest, which took place on Friday before the Berlin CSD. The 55-year-old sat on the jury of the competition. The delivery service called on designers to give free rein to their creative ideas on the topics of food and drag.

Dear Jorge, do you still remember your very first Christopher Street Day?

Jorge Gonzalez: Of course. That was in the 1990s and I had never seen anything like it. In Cuba I had to hide my homosexuality. A scholarship enabled me to study nuclear ecology in what was then Czechoslovakia. But even there they were secretly gay. When I saw the first CSD after my diploma in Germany, I was totally flashed and thought what a good thing.

Do you like going to CSD events?

González: In addition to the parades, there are many great educational events. I’m happy to support that because the topic of diversity is very important to me as a whole. Being in the public eye gives me the privilege of reaching out to the outside world with my attitude. In everything I do, I always try to convey to people: “You are good the way you are!” Everyone should be allowed to be how and who they are. This is my mantra, which my grandmother taught me.

This time, in the run-up to Berlin’s Christopher Street Days, they rated looks on the themes of food and drag. What did you pay particular attention to when designing?

González: Creativity, individuality and passion are the keywords here. These are valuable bases for a good design. Then it was important whether the designs could be realized at all and, of course, whether the subject of drag and food was addressed at all. I have to say: “Chapeau!”

The winner was the Maki Dress by Svenja Neubauer, which costume did you personally like best?

González: I actually liked the winner’s outfit the best. It’s young, fresh and wearable – a very good mix of the given themes of food and drag.

If you put yourself in a food costume, what food would you like to be?

González: A vanilla and chocolate sundae, because that is pure diversity. I always say: “Some people prefer vanilla, others chocolate. But we have one thing in common, we love ice cream.”

The drag queen scene has become more and more popular in recent years, where does this hype come from?

González: I think we are developing further on the issue of acceptance and tolerance. A lot is being done for it. Diversity is currently the focus of society, there are numerous campaigns and we are more enlightened than before. Even if there is still a lot of catching up to do. Drag has many facets and is steadily establishing itself, but slowly as an art form, or at least being accepted as such. But the media and streaming services also contribute to the popularity, for example with formats such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” or the show “Viva la Diva – Who is the Queen?” on RTL, which I’m also part of, and where (mostly) straight men from outside the scene transform themselves into drag queens. Formats like this and campaigns like Lieferando’s Drag Outfit Design Contest show people: colorful is beautiful, colorful is fun and colorful doesn’t hurt anyone because it strengthens togetherness. For me, drag is so special because it combines art with diversity. Drag is pure diversity. It breaks the norm and stands for freedom. Art also has a political aspect, as sensitive issues are addressed in a provocative manner.

Have you ever been in a drag queen costume yourself?

Gonzalez: Not yet. Let’s see what the future holds (laughs).

With “Let’s Dance” you regularly amaze with your creative outfits, do you do it all alone or do you have support?

Gonzalez: Thank you. Luckily I have a wonderful team with my fashion and fashion designer and my hair and make-up artist.

What has been your most unusual outfit so far?

González: It’s in the eye of the beholder. Basically, my team likes to take on challenges and I love to surprise.

How many costumes do you have in your closet now?

González: Phew, next question, otherwise I’ll count until tomorrow.

And how many shoes?

González: At some point I stopped counting. hundreds. I can reveal so much, there is no more room at home.

As a passionate high-heel wearer, do you have a very simple tip on how walking in high heels is guaranteed to be a success?

González: Good posture is essential, it not only helps when running, but also impresses. For the perfect run, I always say, “Toe, heel.”