Heath V. Salazar - Photo by Julie Riemersma

GAY JESUS

THE SULTRY SAVIOUR

THE ONE AND HOLY GAY JESUS is an internationally recognized drag king serving up a mouth-watering communion of Latinx wine and non-binary bread. Born of virgin-ish loins and baptized in sex-appeal, he’s best known for his multidisciplinary protest pieces decked out in draglesque. Featured on Season 1 of CBC Arts’ docu-series Canada’s a Drag, Gay Jesus has been at the forefront of the Drag King and Burlesque scenes in Toronto, Canada throughout his career.

In 2018, OutTV dubbed him one of the Ten Canadian Drag Performers to be Following and, in 2019, he was chosen as the Producer’s Choice Feature by the FIERCE! International Queer Performing Arts Festival where he debuted his first short film Préstamo, a collaboration alongside award-winning director Tricia Hagoriles. In 2020, his poetry drag short All of the Above debuted on CBC Gem as a part of the CBC Arts & Buddies in Bad Times virtual cabaret Queer Pride Inside. That same year, he was also featured in a printed spread by The Dance Current, Canada’s Dance Magazine.

Photo by Julie Riemersma

Activism sits at the heart of Gay Jesus’ work. In addition to utilizing drag performance as a form of activism, Gay Jesus is adamant about prioritizing fundraising events in his community and has had the honour of working with a number of charities and organizations he’s passionate about including Rainbow Railroad, Kid’s Help Phone, the 519 and many more. Every year on his birthday, Gay Jesus throws XMAS IN JULY, a choose-your-own-charity birthday fundraiser! In 2021, the event raised over $700 for more than 13 charities and organizations via one-time donations as well as year-round support.

Most recently, Gay Jesus was a Drag Mentor for Opera Q’s production Drag Messiah and has also made appearances as a speaker and lecturer at a variety of community panels as well as universities and colleges throughout the pandemic.

Photo by Julie Riemersma

Gay Jesus is proud to work so closely with his community and, when he’s not onstage, is quickly found in the audience cheering at the top of his lungs for his fellow Drag Monarchs, Kings and Queens.