Kevin Cook -- a.k.a. Poison Waters

Poison Waters, aka Kevin Cook, is one of Portland, Oregon's premier entertainers. At the age of 20, she won the title of Rosebud XIII, the oldest underage gay and lesbian title in the country. Since then, Poison has performed on every stage in town. The spotlight hungry Poison has participated in and hosted an endless docket of benefits, revues and shows for various local and regional charities. It has become obvious to her that networking and self-promotion are the key to a fun-filled and fully scheduled "drag career"

I proudly call myself a Drag Queen! I am an entertainer who performs in drag. I believe a Drag Queen to be the initial term used back "in the day", long before "female impersonator", or "illusionist" came along, and I prefer to stick with that. Frankly, I don't care what they call me…. as long as they call me!

I'm not trying to "pass" by any means, and I don't impersonate any particular female anymore. I am my own character, Poison. The times I've been asked to however, I've attempted Diana Ross. Even though all the negative things you hear about her are probably true, there's no denying she's beautiful and has amazing stage presence! I'm encouraged and inspired by those entertainers who can fulfill their dreams, entertain us, and continue to live a "normal" life. People who can "deal" with success and not fall into a trap that often snare many celebrities. I strive to be positive and pleasant at all times, remembering each person is a person.

I've been doing drag since I was 20, but, often, it seems like I've been doing it forever. There are times, though, it seems like I just started! Fourteen years have gone very quickly! I appear twice a week at the Silverado, Portland's Favorite gay men's bar. For over two years I've hosted the 'Church of the Poison Mind'. Every year, for over a decade, I have been the MC for 'Peacock in the Park', the 2nd largest GLBT Outdoor event in our State. I also MC the Gay Pride Parade each year on Stark Street (our Gay Avenue).

My first performance was at the long since closed down City Nightclub, again, back in 1988. I was so excited I could hardly stand it! My very first boyfriend made my gown. I no longer have either! It was a floor length; spaghetti strapped evening gown, with a high slit. It was bright fuchsia and came complete with an eight foot matching fabric stole. I topped it all off with black evening gloves, what now look like the tiniest rhinestone jewelry set and get this, my own hair! That night I just knew that I was the hottest thing. Looking back, I should have stayed home or waited for Halloween! I looked dreadful! But, again, back then I was the toast of the club! I lip-synced 'One Night Only' from the Dreamgirls soundtrack. I was such a dork back then, I didn't realize until years later that that song began with Jennifer Holliday's voice, then switched to Sheryl Lee Ralph's voice with two back up girls! So, there I was, thinking I was a hit, performing four different voices! Oh well, live and learn!

I normally lip-synch, but have performed live many times. My favorite artist and song practically change weekly! Right now, I'm enjoying Anastacia's re-mix of 'For Once in Your Life'. Thomas Lauderdale's, Pink Martini, has featured me singing 'I Enjoy Being A Girl' on several occasions. I've also used my own voice when filling in for Darcelle XV as Hostess at the popular cabaret of the same name. One of the highlights of my career has been my portrayal of Jacob in last springs Musical Theater Company's 'La Cage aux Follies'. I'd never acted before and was very excited to participate in this project! I played Jacob, the butler/maid and sang in that role adding more and more make-up until I was in full drag by the end! The five-week run of 'La Cage' was a lot of fun. The musical was the inspiration of the hit movie The Birdcage; I played the Hank Azaria (Agador/Spartacus) role. It was fun and I enjoyed getting lots of laughs and being the comic relief! My character had many fun costume changes and a lot of great lines!

In 1992, I ran for and won the title of Portland La Femme Magnifique. This was the 11th year of the Darcelle XV pageant. The theme was By The Sea. My costumer at the time created a beautiful seahorse for me to "ride" while dressed in a mermaid costume. One of the other categories is Las Vegas Showgirl. I'd never worn one before and was thrilled to help create the costume. After I won that night, I was qualified to compete for La Femme Magnifique International Pageant'; "the search for the most beautiful female impersonator in the world". I'd never done anything like this before, there were girls from Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington and Oregon. I had a lot of fun and really enjoyed just having fun and not stressing about the competition itself. I met lots of new people that year and really value the experience.

The entire time I've been doing drag, I've been a member of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court. In our Court, the reigning Emperor and Empress appoint their Prince and Princess. I was chosen to be Princess XXV by our Rose Empress XXXVII Eden Express. Again, I had a wonderful year devoted to friendship, raising money for charity and new friends. Thirteen years after I began performing in drag, I decided it was time to run for Empress here in Portland. It had taken me many years to develop my character, fully understand the mission and goals of the ISRC and become a Community leader. I spent a lot of time on my own personal growth and maturity and developing business and personal relationships with my entire Community. I'm really learning each day the power of positive thinking and acceptance. I am actually on the Board of Directors for three different non-profit organizations as well as the La Femme Magnifique Board of Governors, the Camp Starlight 2002 Advisory Committee and the Planning Committee for the Oregon Humane Society 2003 Black Tie Affair.

Since I was crowned Empress in October of 2001, I have received three honors that I am very proud of. In November, I was one of three recipients of the 2001 Red Ribbon Award from the Coalition for AIDS Education. Each year the Award is presented to three members of our Community who have dedicated their time and energy to the education and promotion of AIDS awareness. It was a great honor and I was humbled by my selection., for my consistent work in the field of education and awareness in our Community. In April I received the Sanford Director Memorial Citizen of the Year Award, and in May was presented with the Oregon Bear's 2002 President's Award, for outstanding contributions within our Community.

I believe in momentum…absolutely! The more you do, the more you can do. The more you give, the more you get back. I'm surrounded by an amazing source of support in our Community, and I'm very appreciative of that fact. One of the three Boards I sit on are for the ISRC, which is the oldest non-profit GLBT organization in the state of Oregon. We are one chapter of about 60 in the International Court System. I'm also on the Board for the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. And lastly, I'm on the Board for Esther's Pantry, our local food bank for people disabled due to AIDS.

Over the years I have participated in many stage, show, movie and theatrical productions. While working at a local club called Darcelle's, the USA Cable Network hired the entire cast to be extra's in a Movie of the Week starring Roddy McDowell. We never even saw him! Oh well. The set was supposed to be Mardi Gras, New Orleans. We had to be there at 5am, it was dark and cold! We were filming the scenes in a jazz club that was filled with people. It was very interesting; it took forever, with many takes of the same scene, over and over! We were in the Las Vegas type showgirl costumes…what a long process, but still, lots of fun!

In 1996, my High School won a national contest to be part of a 10-year reunion documentary. It turned into another Movie of the Week on NBC, called 'Class Reunion'! The producers were Bunim and Murray, who produce the 'Real World and Road Rules' for 'MTV'. Our special was filmed mostly and set up like Real World. There were two houses with different people in them, of course with some "issues" that needed to be addressed. There were lots of phone interviews with the production people in LA many months prior to our actual reunion. It was lots of fun! They seemed interested in my "drag" personality; they wanted to work that angle in a bit. I sent lots of photos and videos and pictures. At first I was a bit disappointed I was not chosen to be in a house. But, after the show aired, I was very thankful! Some of my classmates made (in my opinion) big fools of themselves. I can't be certain how I would have been portrayed. In the end, I actually got a lot of exposure from my brief appearance (in drag) at the Reunion. I was given the mic and did a "routine", most everyone thought it was entertaining. I made sure I looked great! It was a wonderful experience.

The Portland Rose Festival is the 2nd largest Floral Celebration in the United States. We are second only to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. There are three parades each year for our Rose Festival, one being the Starlight Parade. Our most popular radio station at the time KKRZ, the morning Zoo, was having a contest to find some drag queens to be on their float. I was chosen along with some of my friends. It was so great. The crowds loved us! It was nationally televised and I was thrilled to be a part of it!

Each summer we have the Peacock in the Park show in the amphitheater in the beautiful Rose Gardens of Washington Park. "Peacock" is a fabulous outdoor variety show; mostly drag performers, and picnic. The outdoor venue holds around 5000 people, and every year it is jam packed with people spilling out all over the sides! The show is in its 16th year, and is the primary fundraiser for the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund. This summer's scholarships will put us over the $100,000.00 mark! We have a hand picked cast, some out of town guests. The event is totally free and open to everyone. For over 10 years, I've been the MC, and love the rush felt when I am being introduced and when I step on that stage to the roar of ovation! Looking out at all of them in the June sunshine is what I look forward to each year!

My Church of the Poison Mind started out by accident and is now the longest running Sunday afternoon show in the Pacific Northwest! Each week at the Silverado (Portland's favorite Gay Men's bar) from 3pm-9pm, I host a no cover charge $5.00 beer bust. There are also $1.00 shots of schnapps and Pucker, happy hour cocktail prices and a free pizza buffet. It's really grown into quite a party. It's nice, because it's over early and people can still get up in the morning for school or work. Along with myself, the world famous Silverado dancers take the stage and provide the afternoon's entertainment. I really enjoy the fund raising, and pageants, but this Church is just fun.

The Bridges of Pride is Portland's Annual Pride Celebration. I've been the commentator at one of the three announcer booths for the past several years. It's a lot of fun and I get to enjoy all that the parade has to offer. All the while entertaining everyone within the sound of my voice! Unfortunately, I will miss doing it this year, as I am the reigning Empress, and will be on a float.

For the 1995 Oregon Biennium they commissioned a local photographer to create a display to be shown at the Portland Art Museum. The photos were part of a larger project being put together by photographer Cherie Heiser and an author friend of hers. The idea that everyone has two sides was their focus. Cherie photographed many local celebrities along with everyday sort of people. Everyone was photographed in two looks, both being completely opposite. Cherie photographed me as Poison in all black, and as Kevin in a white suit. The film was also black and white and they came out quite artistically. While we were all being individually photographed, the author would ask us open-ended questions and jot down our ramblings. The finished product was mounting the two opposite photos side by side with a brief essay based on the "interview". The presentation was very nice although I never received a copy. The photos were displayed in several galleries before the few that were selected, including mine, were accepted into the Oregon Biennial. I was very proud to be hanging in the Portland Art Museum for that show, and can only assume that the photos are out there somewhere on display. The larger project was to be a book including all of the photos and essays. I think that would be great!

I tell people all the time that I feel as if I'm living a charmed life. With the exception of the many dear friends and "sisters" I've lost to AIDS, my drag experience has been just this side of phenomenal. So many of the people who helped create Poison Waters and build me up to be who I've become, are no longer with us, but their influence will stay with me forever. I've been able to do things I never thought I'd be doing, and have met amazing friends through drag. I've always been a fun and popular person, but the drag thing has really heightened these qualities. I wouldn't change a thing. When I was announced at our Coronation in October for my Candidate Performance, WOW! I'll never experience that again! It seemed the entire ballroom was chanting, "POISON! POISON! POISON"! All I could see was confetti, balloons and green and white pom-poms being shook all over the place! I could make out the faces of my closest friends and my mother. I'll never forget that performance!

I really enjoy being a positive leader of my Community. I've had many people reach out to me and the many organizations I represent. It thrills me to be able to meet their needs. I thoroughly enjoy educating and inspiring others in my Community. It's been quite a journey; one that I've thoroughly enjoyed and have never considered giving up. I've learned a lot and hope I've taught a lot as well. The most amazing part of my journey has been my complete transition from the negative and bitchy drag queen, to the positive Community Leader I am today. There's a lot that can be done in all of our Communities without a master plan. It seems many of my greatest accomplishments came from random opportunities. So, I'm looking forward to whatever the future brings my way.

I'm one of the fortunate ones who have a very supportive family who perceives my performing as just another talent I possess. They have all seen my shows many times and have been there for my winning moments, and I appreciate and treasure their support. I am not currently in a relationship, I'm up to my neck in a mutual love with my Community, and that is enough for me. I've surrounded myself with a fantastic group of friends who support and help me in all I do. For almost ten years I've worked for our state's Department of Environmental Quality. Our state is our nation's leader in recycling and environmental protection and I am very proud to be a member of our agency.

Whatever the title, wherever the stage, one thing remains the same: the instant bond between Poison Waters and her audience members. So, if the opportunity ever arises, come and see "the smile on the face of Portland", Poison Waters. Perhaps you've heard of her?

You can visit Poison's web site at http://www.poisonwaters.com which includes her column, Ask Poison. Started in 2000 as a feature in 'Coming Up Roses', the ISRC's newsletter, writers email her with questions on etiquette and love, sometimes about fashion or drag stuff. "It's been a very entertaining venture for me. Since adding it to my web site it has been picked up by the Community News, in our state capital, Salem, Oregon". or send her an email at poisonwaters@poisonwaters.com