photo courtesy of Mike Wood
 

Interview with Latex Lily, promoter

By Scarlet Apron*

From catechism in the Bronx to a Cambridge barroom full of rubberized hotties, Latex Lily has bloomed into one lovely flower powerhouse.  A petite, energetic fixture of the Boston area goth/fetish scene since the sorely missed days of Manray, Lily (real name withheld), 27, of Latex Lily Productions has been running some of the best alternative nights in New England.  Her venues include XMortis, a monthly dance and performance event; Night of the Dolls, an equally unusual cabaret of edgy fashion and strong drinks; and Dead Pool, haunting billiard antics for those who like to be behind the eight ball. Passing the dark tiara to a new generation of undead darlings, Lily was also the smarts behind the past two The Miss Gothic Massachusetts Pageants. Plus, she also performs at Smack!, a fetish-themed event in New York. With 2000 plus friends on her myspace page and three current club nights to incarnate, where does she find the time to be so organized, spooky-eyed and adorable?  Let’s dig deep and ask her.

What was it like growing up?
My dad was a New York City cab driver, my mother was a kindergarten teacher. I went to Catholic School and I remember I was just a little kinky, definitely had an interest in bondage as young as six. I remember having thoughts and the older I got, I realized, it’s OK to think like that. I read an article that said people who are into the lifestyle are pretty normal and healthy for expressing themselves. 

Why did you leave the Bronx for Boston?
I came to Boston University to study psychology and graduated in 2000. 

What about people’s minds gets you going?
It was just always an interest of mine -the particular way people are drawn to certain things, especially kink aspects. You start to think: Is there something wrong with me?  Is it different?  It is special?  Why does this excite me? And yet I’m OK. 

How did you get into the fetish scene?
It was during college when I became more comfortable with going out to the nightclubs by myself. I had already been doing the goth thing in NYC as a teenage, so the fetish thing was the next step. I remember I’d just bought a black latex (Edit: PVC) trench coat and I was dying to wear it out. It was when Hex was open downtown, I went by myself.  I was sooo scared, I was shaking in my boots and practically ran out.  

So you got used to being a freak by night? How did the shows start?
Before XMortis and Night of the Dolls, there used to be a night called Hell at Manray, run by Cusraque, a friend of mine.  So, I used to help him for Hell. I learned a lot. I definitely took the next step and I give him homage. And I used to be a Fantasy Factory dancer and performer. At some point, I was on that stage almost every single Friday. And this was before I started my own night!  Now, I work with Patrick Fitzgerald on these nights. He is my partner and he designs the flyers, helps me hire talent and deal with the general running of the club.

Best part about running goth/fetish events?
I love working with other people.  I’ve worked with people like Blackcat Burlesque and Shaun K., who used to do the B&D Balls. He had an idea for a gothic fashion show, “Fashion Victims.”  I thought it was a great. We worked together, finding the models and the designers. I even got on the cover of The Boston Globe wearing one of the outfits.  t was a big night!  The best part is, knowing that I’m still doing stuff people like.  People say to me ‘I like this’ or ‘Thanks for putting it on.’  You still get thanked. People loved Manray so much and it’s still giving them a place to wear outfits and hear music. It’s a big deal to a lot of people. It is to me.

Worst part?
Sometimes you get criticism on stuff you can’t help. Like, ‘I don’t like the way this one performance went.’  I’m, like, I know!! (anguished tones). Or ‘This person was really mean to me at the club.’  Oh, owh, I’m sorry!!!  I can’t do anything about it.  One of the worst ones, was when we didn’t have coat check people and all the coats fell down because there were so many people, it was February, hanging their coats. I was like, ‘Ahhh!!!’

Contrast New York City with the Boston latex scene?
New York recently had a weird scattering. The Bank closed and then the Batcave, so they had their own world turned over, so they’re at the same stage we are. They have weekly and monthly events down there, but many of them are smaller or similarly sized to TT’s.  And they have special events that are larger than we have here, like a great night called Contempt or the wonderful Smack! party.  It’s kind of on either end, but I think it’s more consistent in Boston.  And people actually dress up a lot more here, you wouldn’t think, they really do dress up more here.

 Your sexuality is very much upfront, what sort of messages did you get growing up about what it meant to be a woman?
My mother was sort of a prude and my grandmother was sort of a snob. They each taught me that a woman’s sexuality was a very important aspect of her humanity and could be downplayed or played up. My grandmother taught me that being feminine was not the same as being weak.  Femininity and sexuality can be strong and purposeful aspects to a woman. My mother was more of a tomboy feminist. She taught me that a woman has choices. So while the two teachings were different…they very much meshed together into the final person I ended up being.There is nothing weak or wrong with femininity… ne can have a commanding presence… and feminism is just an attempt by women to have more choices. I would never look down upon a man for his gender (sex)… unless he wanted me to. 

What’s you day job?
I work for a cancer center, but I’m not going to give out the name.

Obsessions/Hobbies?
I love horror movies; I love the Hell Raiser series.

You have a minor in archeaology, care to lay a weird archeological fact on us?
Hatshepsut was the only female pharaoh.

Favorite toy?
I have a beautiful metal dildo.  I love metal things and it’s this beautifully curved, little thing, like a shiny sword.

Name your poison?
Zombie.

CD in your CD player?
Anything Depeche Mode works for me.

Book on your night stand?
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.

Turn-ons?
Nice hair.

Celebrity you want to get into latex?
Michelle Pfeiffer because I liked her so much as Catwoman.

Are Mom and Dad proud?
Yes, of both aspects of me, actually, of the college graduate, the day job and the night job.  They love the fact that their daughter, kinky as she may be, gets to do a whole lot of stuff she loves. 

Food you can be seduced with?
Chocolate.

Check out Latex Lily’s Birthday Bash, XMortis Apocalypse, April 11th at TT the Bears in Cambridge.  Find information at myspace.com/morbidiqua. Night of Dolls comes to TT’s April 25th, info at myspace.com/nightofthedolls.

*Contact Scarlet Apron at scarletapron@yahoo.com or myspace.com/scarletapron with fetish news and events.