My co-promoters were very influential and guided me through navigating a world in which I was, quite often, the only cisgender female in the room.Įventually, the intense pace of the entertainment industry clashed with my desire to have a family of my own. Many of my clients were Drag Queen Beauty Pageant contestants who wanted Production style routines for the talent portion of their competition.Īfter a few successful years of choreographing for LGBTQ special events and pageants, I became a Pageant promoter for US of A Pageantry. She introduced me to my first drag queen and, after that show, I began working with drag performers from all over Arizona. I got my start as a choreographer in the drag world through a close friend who was a singer and needed help learning choreography. I have been dancing since I was a child and began teaching dance almost 30 years ago. We perform weekly in Charlie’s drag shows and at special events in the LGBTQ community. I direct and perform with our dance troupe, Charlie’s Show Dancers. I am the resident choreographer at Charlie’s Phoenix. Shannon, please share your story with us. Plus, you can find several other LGBTQ+ shops to support cruising down Melrose-the hub of Phoenix’s ‘gayborhood.Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Perkins. Find trendsetting pieces in the shop or hire the lovingly dubbed ‘dynamic duo’ for interior design services. The two had successful careers in the beauty industry before realizing their love of renovating and decorating in 2015-ultimately opening Busted 2 Banging at the beginning of the pandemic.
For more chic home décor, check out Busted 2 Bangin owned by partners of more than ten years-Eric Jimenez and Garrett Loomis. If you’re planning to expand your exotic plant collection, look no further than The Sagebrush AZ -a swoon-worthy plant shop in downtown Mesa. Shoppers can look forward to clothing items from hard-to-find brands like Maison Margiela alongside furniture, body care and decorative home items. Now or Never is owned by partners in business and life Jason Shelby and Wade Parkins who moved their high-end boutique from Tucson to Phoenix in late 2020. Put your money where your mouth is by shopping at one of Phoenix’s LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Trans Spectrum of Arizona also accepts donations to continue its work for the state’s trans community-offering safe, confidential support group meetings for transgender identified or questioning individuals and their allies.
They’ve also done amazing things during the pandemic to serve youth virtually and socially distanced through online programming, free meal pickups, and emergency assistance.