Q&A: Dominique Jackson on the Final Season of 'Pose' and ...

Model and actress Dominique Jackson can't say a thing about the third and final season of one of the most groundbreaking LGBTQ+ series ever ... Photo:Starz Q&A:DominiqueJacksonontheFinalSeasonof‘Pose’andWhatGaveHertheStrengthtoPushThroughthePandemic ByChrisAzzopardi|2021-03-29T12:45:57-04:00March10th,2021|Entertainment,Features| FacebookTwitter ModelandactressDominiqueJacksoncan’tsayathingaboutthethirdandfinalseasonofoneofthemostgroundbreakingLGBTQ+seriesevermade.It’smidFebruarywhenweconnect,justweeksbeforeitwasannouncedthatsevennewepisodesof “Pose,”theFXdramaaboutNewYork’sdragballsubcultureduringtheHIV/AIDScrisis,willpremiereMay7.Andthenitwillend,withatide-changinglegacyforeverlinkedtoitsname. Whenitdebutedin2018,theseriessetarecordforthenumberofoutLGBTQ+peopleinitscast,especiallytranswomenofcolor.Atthetimeofourtalk,Jacksonsaidthecastwasintheprocessofshooting.Butwhenpushedtooffereventheslightestteaseofwhat’stocome,sheremainedplayfullytaciturnabouthercharacter:“AllIcantellyouisElektraisgoingtobeElektra.” ElektraWintour,ofcourse,isthefiercelyresilienthousemother,wholastseasonformedhernewhouse,theHouseofWintour,andwentfull-ondominatrix.Inseasontwo’slastepisode,inaleatherbustier,withawhipinherhand,sheorderedaclienttoheel.Andthenthere’sthatdeadclientwhosebodyshehousedinherapartment.  Sono,Jackson’slifedoesn’tcompletelymirrorthatofhercharacter.Buttheirexperiencesare,tosomedegree,shared.LikeElektra,whoisthefictionalprotégéofball-cultureiconslikeCrystalLaBeija,PepperLaBeijaandParisDupree,JacksonalsofoundrefugeintheundergroundworldofballroomculturewhileinBaltimoreandNewYorkinthe’90s,afteraperiodofchildhoodtraumasheexperiencedwhilelivinginthedual-islandnationTrinidadandTobago.ShejumpedaroundtoseveralhousesprimarilypopulatedbyBlackandLatinxtransoutsiders,eventuallysettlingintotheHouseofSinclairinNYC,asafehaventhathelpedhersurvivehomelessnessandsubstanceabuse.  Asidefromherbreakoutroleon“Pose,”JacksonisupendinggendernormsonthethirdseasonoftheStarzseries“AmericanGods,”aseriesaboutthecultureclashingofOldandNewGods.Sheembodiesthelatestincarnationoftheshape-shifting“Mr.World”asaferocious,bat-wielding,glamBlackwoman,nowcalled“Ms.World.”  JustaftergivingakeynoteaddressattheNationalLGBTQTaskForce’sCreatingChangeconference,whichwasvirtualthisyear,JacksonspokeabouthowrelivingElektrahelpedhersurvivethepandemicandwhy“Pose”actorsotherthanBillyPorterdeserveawardsacknowledgement.Shealsoexplainedhowthesuperherofantasyworldof“X-Men”aidedinhersurvivalasatranswoman,eventhoughsheinitiallyhesitatedbecause“everyone,thepeople,aretalkingaboutit”ontheinternet.Inotherwords,theyreally,reallywantDominiqueJacksontoplayStorm. How’reyoudoing?Howhaslockdownbeenforyouthispastyear?  Lockdownwaskindofapushtorevitalizemyself,apushtoreallylookbackatmyself,lookbackatmylife,understandthethingsthatwerehappeningformeandstarttocreatewhatIwanted.Ofcourse,inthebeginning,therewasapanic,therewasgreatfear,therewereeventimeswhereIjustfeltlike,youknow,justgiveup.Becauseduringthepandemic,wewerelockeddownanditwaslike,“Ohmygosh,I’mblessedwithalltheseamazingopportunitiesandnowI’mgonnalosethem.”Therewasthatfear.  AndthenGeorgeFloydwasmurderedandthatjustpushedeverythingoverthetop.Andtranswomenwerebeingmurderedbacktobackeveryweek.Iwasreadytogiveup.Ididn’tgiveup,butIwasreadytogiveup.Ijustfeltlikethere’snoplaceforusinthisworld.IftheywerekillingBlackmen,whataretheygonnadototranswomen?Andtherewewerebeingmurdered.  Whatkeptyougoing?  I’mthetypeofpersonthatIreallylookedintomyselffirst.ItriedtofindoutwhatIcoulddotomakethingsbetter,andinspeakingtopeopleanddoinglittleElektrathingsonTikTok,itgavemehoperelivingmycharacter,toreallyjustdosomethingbesidesjustsitinthehouseandworry.  MyfiancéandIweredoingchallengestogether.Thatreallyhelpedtobrightenmeup,pullmeoutabit.AndIrealizedthatsittingthereandpanickingwasnotgoingtohelpme.Itwasjustgonnamakemesick.Itwasgonnakeepmeinthatdepressivemode,andIhadtofightthroughit.IrememberhowIfoughtthroughnothavingagreencardandfoughtthroughwantingtobeontelevision,justfightingallmylife,andIwaslike,“Nowisnotthetimeformetostop.” Ireadrecentlythatwhenwe’reexperiencingdespairit’simportantforustorememberpastmomentsofresilienceinourlives.Itcangetyououtofthatspiral. Yeah,itdid.  Youfamouslydon’tdomanyinterviews.BasedonwhatI’veread,youdon’tliketalkingsomuchaboutyoursuccess,becauseyoukindoffeellikeitpaintsafalsenarrativeforthetranscommunityasawhole.Isthatright? Well,yeah.I’mreallyselectivewithinterviewsbecauseIfeellikesometimesit’sjust,“OK,letmegetthestory.”Andyougivethestoryandyoukeeprelivingyourtraumas.It’sjustsomethingthatisputoutthereoverandoverandoveragain;itbecomesexhaustingrelivingyourtrauma.I’mrelivingtraumabysomeofthethingsthatwehavetodoon“Pose.”So,forme,Iwantinterviewstobeaboutandreallyformycommunity.Ireallywantthemtohaveamessagethat’sgoingtobesenttomycommunity,andnotjustanarticletosay,“Oh,werepresentedthetranscommunity;wehaveDominiqueJackson.” Sohowdoyounavigatethatbehindthescenes?Howdoyouknowwhototalktoandwhonotto? I’mapersonthatbelievesindoingresearch,andIhaveagreatmanagementteam.SotheyknowexactlywhatI’mlookingfor.Andtheotherthingis,I’maboutmywork,andI’maboutputtingthatontothescreen.AndIputeverythingthatIhave(intoit),becauseIwantpeopletounderstandthatbeingtransisjustapartofmyjourney.Thatdoesn’tmeanthatIcan’tbeagreatactor.Itdoesn’tmeanIcan’tbethebestdoctorthereis,itdoesn’tmeanthatIcan’tmowthelawnorlayconcrete.Itdoesn’tlimitme.AndIwantmycommunitytoknowthathardworkdoespayoff. I’mcurioustoknowwhatsomeofthequestionsareaboutbeingatranswomanthatyoudon’twanttoansweranymore.Anddoyoufeellikeit’satrickysituationthatyou’reingiventhefactthatyou’vebecomethis accidentalactivist?  Well,yes,andyouseethat’swhyI’mselectivewithmyinterviews.BecauseIam,kindof,andthat’swhatI’vebeendeemed.ItwasnotwhatIwastryingtodo.Itjusthappened.IrealizedIwasgettingsomanyresponsesonInstagramofhowIinspirepeople,andIwaslookingatmyselfgoing,“Who,me?”Forme,it’snotabout,“Oh,lookatme,I’manactivist.”It’sjustthatIknowthatIwantwhatIwant,andIknowthatI’mgoingtohavetoworkhardtogettoit.  Andquestions—itdepends.IfI’mspeakingatacollegeorI’mspeakingtomycommunity,it’sadifferentstory.Butwhenitcomestomysurgeries,somepeopleasksomereallystupidquestionslike,“Whatmadeyouwanttodothat?”AndIalsohaveabook.SoIfeellike,youknow,sometimespeoplecanjustreadthebook.Imean,it’sasrawaspossible.Andyouknow,youcangetthatinformation. I’dliketoshiftgearsto“AmericanGods.”FromwhatIunderstand,youdidn’tevenhavetoauditionfortheshow;therolewasofferedtoyou.Before,youhadtoreallyfightforroles.Sowhatdiditmeantoyoutojustbeofferedarolelikethis? Itwasbeyondphenomenal.Itwasjustathingoflike,I’mvalidated,I’mseen,theyseemeasanactor.Andthat’swhatthisisallabout:It’saboutthevisibilities,aboutbeingseen,it’saboutbeingacknowledged,andbeingacknowledgedsothatpeopledon’tfearyou.Thisisnotaboutacknowledgementandvaliditytosay,“Oh,look,I’maqueen.” Thisisabout:Iamhere,Iamahumanbeingjustlikeyou,soseeme,allowmethecomfortandallowmetheabilitytofail,ifthat’showyouseeit.Butdon’tjudgemejustbasedonmyjourneyasawoman. Doyoufindthatyouarenowbeingofferedmorerolesingeneral? (Laughs.)Well,I’veonlyreallybeenofferedtwo.(Theotherwasinthemovie)“ChickFight,”andstill,ofcourse,Ididalittlereadingforthem.Itfeelsgreat.It’sjustaphenomenalfeeling,andtoknowthatattimesIfeltashamedthatIdidn’tgotoschoolforthis.Butitjustgoestoshowthatsometimes,somethingsarejustinyou.  Workingat(BronxLGBTQCommunityCenter)DestinationTomorrowandraisingkidsinthepast,Ialwayssay,“Youhavetoguidekids,”becauseifsomeonewastheretosaytome,“Look,Iseeyouliketobuildcharactersandact,Iseeyoulovethestage”insteadoflimitingmefromthestagebysayingtome,“Look,onlygirlsdothat”ormakingitaboutgender—itwaslimitingtome.Andso,whenIdancedandIdidballet,Iwaslaughedat,andIwaslike,“Listen,Iwasn’tevendoingthisforanythingbutfortheart,fortheloveofbeingabletoescapenormalityforasecondandbringsomethingelsetolifeandseepeopleenjoyit.”IlovedwhenIdancedandpeoplejustsatinawe.ItmademefeellikeIhadpurpose. IsthatthesamefeelingyougetwhenpeoplewatchyouasElektraandtheytellyouhowmuchtheyloveyouinthatrole? Sometimesthatcanbeabitoverwhelming,because,again,Iwasn’treceivinglovelikethatbefore.Soit’slike,“Wow.”It’scomfortingtotheheart,itmakesmefeellikeI’mapartofthehumanrace.ItmakesmefeellikeIbelong. InhonorofWomen’sHistoryMonth,who’satranswomanyou’dliketohighlightwhohasbeeninfluentialinyourlife? Wow.Icouldnotjusthighlightone.ThatwouldhavetobeBrendaMilan,itwouldhavetobeJessicaFox,itwouldhavetobetheincomparableTommieRoss,mymother,fromtheContinentalPageantrySystem.Gosh.Idon’twanttoleaveanyoneout.Anotheroneofmymothers,AuraSt.Claire.  It’sjustthesetranswomenaretheoneswhohavebeenleadingthischargeforsolong:protectingus;beingouraunts,ourmothers.WhenIwentto(theMissContinentalpageant)in2002,Iwassolost.Ihadnoideawhatwashappening.IjustknewthattherewassomeplacethatIfitin,and(TommieRoss)sawme. Iwalkedthroughthedoorsandsheopenedherhearttome,andI,forthefirsttimeinyears,inalmostadecade,feltlikeIhadamother.IfeltlikeIhadlove.Shedidn’tevenknowmeandsentmeclothes.Allshesawwasapicture,andshewouldalwayssendmethesepostcardsthatsaid,“Mydaughterforlife.”  RegardingyourroleasMs.Worldon“AmericanGods,”whatdoyouthinkthatwecanlearnfromher? Well…(laughs),that’sareally,um,kindofdifficultquestiontoanswersincethisladyiswalkingaroundbustingheadsopenwithbats.So,Idon’trecommendthatyouwalkaround,bashingpeopleintheheadwithbatsforhavinganopinion.ButMs.World,again,it’saboutawoman,andpeopledon’tunderstand,whenyouaremarginalized,anythingthatyougetmakesyoufeellikeyouarecomingoutofthatwhenyouhavefacedoppression.  So,asaCaribbeanwoman,asanimmigrant,asaBlackwoman,asatranswoman—asallthesewomencombinedtomakemywhole—Iseestrings,Iseepower,Iseenowwe’renotlookingtothosethatareinpower.WhenwecreateLoki,it’susuallythismalething.SothereforewhenweseeMs.World,weseethataGodcantransform,aGodcanchange,andMr.Worldnowisoftheworld.Andbeingoftheworld,youshouldbeinclusiveofeveryone.  Howhavesuperhumanfantasyrolesbeenhelpfultoyouinnavigatingyourownidentity? Well,OK,Idon’twanttoreallysaythis,butIhaveto.BecauseIreallydon’twannatalkaboutit,becauseeveryone,thepeople,aretalkingaboutit.Forme,I’mjusthonoredbythemtalkingaboutthis:ButgrowinguptheX-Menwasverydeartomyheart.Because,atthattime,Iwasbasicallyhomeless,andcouch-surfingattimes.Agroupofuswerestayingatoneofourfriend’sgrandmother’shouses;shewasinthehospitalatthetime.Andsowewereallgatheredtherebecausethatwasourplacetostayforthemoment.Ididn’thavetopayforahotelforthenight;itmeantthatIdidn’thavetogotothestreet.Sowhenwefoundcomfortandwarmth,wekindofgatheredthere.Andtherewasthe“X-Men”saga,“TheDarkPhoenixSaga,”thatwasplayingatthattime,andwewerejustsoenthralled.  Andwhilegrowingup,ofcourse,Iwatchedthe“X-Men”andIlovedthem.Ilovedthem,butitwasinthatmoment,andagaininmeetingmychildren’sfamilyinBaltimore,andthencomingtoNewYork,weallwatchedthe“X-Men”becausethe“X-Men”representedus.Wewouldgotothegrocerystoreandhelpsomeonecarrygroceries.Wewoulddoeverythingforsomeone,andtheywouldstillturnaroundandtalkdowntousandcurseatusandthrowthingsatus.Imagineyouhelpedsomeonetotheircarwiththeirgroceriesandtheyturnonthelightandtheyrealizethatyou’redifferentandthentheytaketheirfruitandthrowitatyouandtellyoutogetawayfromthem.Youjusthelpedthem.  Forme,Stormhadanaccent;I’mCaribbean.SoStormwasjustmygirl,mygo-to.Ilovehercharacter.Iloveeverythingabouther.Anditwastheresilience,thebeautyofher,theresilienceofwhereshecamefromasOroroMunroe,fromheroriginstoriesofbeinginhervillage,ofevenhavinganephewandgoingbackwantingtohelphervillagebutyetsheprotectshervillageevenwhentheycalledhertheWeatherWitch.Butshestillprotectsthem.AndIseethatinalotofthetranscommunity. Wearesopushedtotheside,butyetwe’retheretobemothers,we’retheretobefathers.We’retheretoprotectpeople.Wehavekidsofourown.Sothesuperherofantasy,forme,wasalwaysher,becauseitnotonlyhelpedusescape,butitletmeknowthatpeoplesawandwouldrealizethatatsomepointintime,thatbeingdifferentorstrangefromwhatsocietydeemedtobethenormdidn’tmakeusbadpeople.  Youhavenoidea,ifyousitbackandlistentothethingsthatpeoplewouldsayaboutus,Iwouldevenbeafraidofmyself.BeforeIevenunderstoodwhoIwas,Iwouldhearpeoplespeak,andthewayinwhichtheyspokeaboutpeoplelikemyself,Iwaslike,“Ohmygod,IneedtokillmyselfbecauseIknowI’mdifferent.” Ifeellikeeveryyoungpersonneedsarolemodellikethat,becauseoftentimeswedon’thaveonesinreallifetolookto,sowehavetolooktoimaginarycharacters.  She-Ra:PrincessofPowerwasanotherone.IloveShe-Ra. BillyPorter,DominiqueJackson,MjRodriguezandIndyaMooreatthePaleyFest—“Pose”EventattheDolbyTheateronMarch23,2019inLosAngeles. Regarding“Pose,”whatareyourthoughtsontheresponsefrompeopleintheLGBTQ+communitywhothinkit’stimeforotheractorsfromtheseriestoberecognizedfortheirrolesandtheiraccomplishmentsontheshow? Well,yes,Idobelievethatmycastmatesshouldberecognizedfortheirwork,especiallyAngelicaRossandMjRodriguez.Billyhasbeengivenhisflowers,andIamextremelyecstaticforhimforthat.AsfarasIndya(Moore)andtherestofthegirls,Idobelievethattheyshouldhavebeennominatedatleastforsomeoftheawards.Becausewe’renotjusttellingatruestoryordoingresearchtotellatruestory—we’retellingourownlives.  Wearerelivingourtrauma,wearebeingtriggeredconstantlybythingsthatweovercameinlife,andconstantlygivingitbackandgivingallourenergyjusttobeabletoshowpeoplewhatwegothroughandthosethataregoingthroughitthatthey’renotalone.So,Ibelievethatrecognitionshouldbethereformycastmates.Formyself,Ireally,reallywanttobeundeniablyeverything.Ireallywanttogointofantasyroles.Ibelievethatthere’salotmoreIhavetolearnandIhavetogivebeforeIstartreceivingawards.(Laughs.)I’msoseriousbecause Ijustfeellike,youknow,Elektraisme.She’sdeartomyheart.SheisthewomanthatIsaidIwouldneverbecome,butthewomanthatIwassurroundedbyallmylife.IwanttheopportunitytoshowthatIcanplayoutsidemyself,likewith“AmericanGods.”GivemeavampireroleandIamthere.  Whenitcomestotransrepresentation,whatisthenextfrontier?Wheredowegofrom“Pose”?It’sbeensogroundbreaking,obviously. Yeah,“Pose”hasbeenextremelygroundbreaking,butwehaveotherthingsthathavecomeabout.Wehave“Legendary”onHBOMax.Hollywoodisopeningtheireyesandrealizingthatthisisnotjustacashcow.Thesestoriesneedtobetold,andespeciallyinthistime.Ifeellikewearegatheringallthesestories,tellingthetruthofeverything,removingtheblindersfrompeople’sfaces,sothatwecanmoveforwardandreally,reallygettoequality. AbouttheAuthor:ChrisAzzopardi ChrisAzzopardiistheEditorialDirectorofPrideSourceMediaGroupandQSyndicate,thenationalLGBTQwireservice.Hehasinterviewedamultitudeofsuperstars,includingCher,MerylStreep,MariahCareyandBeyoncé.HisworkhasalsoappearedinTheNewYorkTimes,VanityFair,GQandBillboard.ReachhimviaTwitter@chrisazzopardi. 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