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By Nicholas Snow
Momma’s Been Good to Us:
What goes around comes around for Worthie Paul Meacham III
Worthie Paul Meacham III, most famously known as “Momma” and occasionally
referred to lovingly by friends as “Bitch,” has come a long way
since growing up in the Hermosa Beach suburb of Los Angeles. Oh, those who
knew him when he was in his 20s would call him “Paul,” but he’s
so much more than any of these names. In the famed musical Chicago is
the lyric, “When you’re good to Momma, Momma’s good to you…” Well,
Worthie reversed that role and devotes his life in service to others, regardless
of the return.
The Birth of ‘Momma’
Worthie’s initial view of the gay community—and drag queens specifically—was
quite negative because of homophobic conditioning and resultant guilt and shame;
he was told constantly that, “Being gay is sick and wrong ... So
when I came out of the closet and saw drag queens on the street, I would turn
the other way and run,” he shared candidly.
“After a couple of years of saying no to fun because perverted fags were
going to be in the same area, I finally came to my senses and decide to face
my fears,” Worthie continued. “My co-workers invited me to go to
Dragstrip 66 (a popular late night monthly theme club) the following month
and I proclaimed that I would go in drag. That night finally came around and
I was scared as hell. I went with my friends to the club and found myself getting
a lot of attention. A couple of hours later, the club announced there was going
to be a contest. So I went with my friends into the main room.
“There were seven contestants and all looked as if they were ready for
a contest ... they went down the line and then it was announced that they were
missing a contestant,” Worthie revealed. “So the emcee said that
they had been watching a girl all night and it’s ‘that girl!’ As
I was looking around, I knew that the person was around me, and then all of
a sudden my friends said, ‘It’s you!’ They pushed me through
the crowd and I found myself at the foot of the stage.
“I am not a small sparrow, but the crowd lifted me up and all of a sudden
something took over and I grabbed the mic and started to tell the crowd a couple
of jokes. At the end of my mini set, I gave the mic back to the emcee and said, ‘Thank
you for your time.’ I started to jump off the stage, when the emcee grabbed
my arm and said, ‘Wait, we don’t know your name?’ Well, I
didn’t have a name. You know those drag queens, they have amazing names,” stressed
Worthie. “So I turned to the emcee and said, “Sweetie, I’m
old enough to be your mother!” And he said to the crowd, ‘Who thinks
Momma should be in the contest?’ The crowd went wild and at the end of
the contest I was crowned ‘Miss Dragstrip 66!’”
Within a year, Momma was working around Los Angeles six nights a week doing
eight shows.
The Rise of Momma
Among her many career highlights, Worthie explained of Momma, “My first
thought is working with the world-famous director, Franco Zefferelli. Mr. Zefferelli
chose me back in 1995 to do his version of the opera Il Pagliacci. The opera
had its American premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in October of 1995.
In 1997 I went to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for three months to
do it again. I was able to meet the Clintons and was invited to the White House.
I took the opportunity to meet with my governmental representatives in Washington
and let them know what a diva was looking for as representation in our government.
That also opened the door for me to perform in three productions of the opera
Carmen, performing the role of Lilas Pasita in the second act. This fall I
will return to the stage as Lilas Pasita at the Los Angeles Opera.
“I have been seen on Will & Grace, and doing the Evita sing-along
for Disney. Many people know me from different music videos,” he continued. “Aerosmith
used me a lot when I did their video of ‘Pink’. And I couldn’t
forget ‘Dragstrip 66,’ where Momma was born. We just celebrated
our 15th anniversary this year!
“Over the years I have met many wonderful and famous people,” explained
Worthie. “Whoopie Goldberg and her production company have been very
helpful to me over the years. I also do a lot of private parties, and I am
sworn to secrecy about who I meet... .”
About that fabulous wardrobe, Worthie explained, “Well, Momma has a big
say in any design of anything she wears. My good friend Chris Newlander was
my first designer. Chris is responsible for my figure. He has made all my bras
and was my only designer for the first six years. Since then, I have had many
people help with my clothes. For the past nine years I have had a woman by
the name of Kat Thompson do most of my wardrobe. Just because I work for Bob
Mackie doesn’t mean I can afford Bob Mackie, however, Mr. Mackie has
blessed me with couple of fabulous gowns over the years.”
Momma Goes to the Movies
Each year, the most celebrity-intense night of Outfest, the L.A. Gay and Lesbian
Film Festival, is the awards night, at which Momma takes center stage each
year as the trophy girl—talk about a high profile live audition for
the industry’s movers and shakers! Worthie, however, began his relationship
with Outfest 16 years ago as a volunteer.
“I really enjoy being the trophy girl at the award ceremonies. I have
been able to give out awards to friends and future friends. I have met some
very talented and interesting people through Outfest. It is one of the best
things that happens in gay L.A.”
I have known Momma for longer than I can remember, and when interviewing her,
I always ask, “Any conversations with any of the gay networks about your
own show or participation in a show?” It’s a no-brainer that one
would put Momma on TV.
Worthie responded, “Well, yes and who knows? Network television is very
frustrating. There are too many cooks in the kitchen. I am working with a wonderful
production company right now that has a vision of a great show for Momma. As
you know, it’s not good to speak of things that haven’t been signed,
sealed, delivered. So everyone pray for me that this deal will go through.”
While Hollywood’s call seems to be getting louder, Worthie hasn’t
quit his day job, which he loves. “For over 16 years I have worked at
E.C.2 Costumes. I have been the manager for 14 years and love what I do. We
are the costume warehouse of Bob Mackie, Ray Aghayan and Ret Turner. All three
men are award-winning costume designers and have made television history. It
has been a joy to be a part of their creative family.”
The Life and Times
of Worthie Paul Meacham III
“Like any gay child, life was not normal and simple,” confided
Worthie. “My father and mother were very involved in the community. They
taught me about local charity and giving back to my community. My father was
involved in local politics and was a favorite son of the community. My mother
came from a wealthy family in the area and owned a lot of land around the South
Bay. They were local royalty. I was treated like a prince as a child. I did
local theater when I was young, and every one of my parents’ friends
were expected to come to my shows.
“My father was a weekend alcoholic, and from Friday afternoon till Sunday
night there was a party happening at our house all weekend long,” Worthie
continued. “My mother was a famous local caterer and was always asking
for my help in the kitchen. As [like] any teenager I hated my life and family.
I also have a younger brother who is a complete opposite of who I am. We were
raised in different ways. I am six and a half years older, and by the time
my brother came along, they had relaxed their parenting skills.”
Of course, time heals all wounds as Worthie reflected. “Looking back,
I really had a wonderful childhood. Both of my parents showed love to me and
were involved in my life. They made many sacrifices for me. I am a person who
always expects more from everyone. I was always let down by my own expectations.
Today, I have grown up and have realistic ideas of what life is about. I am
very content person and do and go almost anywhere I want to.”
But what influenced Worthie’s values as a child and teenager for both
the better and the worse?
“Theater, God and church,” he responded. “As a child,
theater was my church. I was involved with children’s theater from the
age of eight. I received my SAG card when I was nine. I worked in commercials
and some television shows. That lasted only a couple of years. I grew up very
early in life and was too tall for my age. That ended my childhood professional
acting career.
“I was one of those closeted gay people who loved church,” he
continued. “I have always felt close to God, and have always wanted to
do the right thing. I really felt let down by acting, so I got involved with
my local church. I found that I was really doing something that I was good
at and was respected in. I went to Bible College and became a pastor for 12
years. I stayed away from the gay community for so long, because of AIDS. I
had lost five good friends by 1986, and with that, lost my connection to the
gay community. I was in West Hollywood in 1984 with my church, Hope Chapel.
We met in Plummer Park on Sundays in Fiesta Hall. I buried many of my congregation
in the ’80s due to AIDS.”
So at what point did Worthie come out of the closet?
“Well, believe it or not, I was always out of the closet,” he explained, “but
then in 1979 I went back into the closet when I was told that being gay was
a sin. From 1980 to 1991 I was in and out of ex-gay therapy and was in denial
about my sexuality. At the end of 1991 I found out that many of my ex-gay friends
had been cheating on their spouses, and other team leaders were having homosexual
sex behind the backs of church leaders. I woke up one morning in January of
1992 and said ‘Enough! This has never worked for me and I need to move
on with my life.’ The negative was that I had to leave everything and
everyone behind—my friends, my education, my career, most of my family.
“It was a complete start over,” Worthie acknowledged, and admitted
that it was very positive in retrospect. “A clean slate is a great thing,” he
explained. “I could decide what I wanted to do for a career and where
I wanted to live and what kind of friends I wanted to have.”
Shining His Light
At almost seven feet tall when in full drag, Worthie as Momma is truly a pillar
of light. I wondered at what point he was determined to make a difference
in the world and how he sustains this commitment.
“I never thought that my life would make a difference. But that is the
magic of my story,” Worthie expressed. “A little bit over time
makes a difference. Giving to people is always a joy. Sometimes the work is
hard and long, but the results have always been amazing to me. Over the years
I have had more than 120 people stay with me at my house. Out of all those
people, I can only think of two people who stole from me. All the others have
been very grateful to me and have been a blessing in my life. I have never
helped anyone or any certain organization to get attention. But I always demand
a certain level of respect for my time and efforts.
“To be quite honest, over the years I have taken many breaks from
my charity work,” Worthie added. “Ten years ago, I was on boards,
producing events, fundraising. I had a great time giving back in so many ways.
But, I knew that I had to get out of the way so that others could take over
and learn.”
For those wrestling with the reconciliation of their spirituality and sexuality,
Worthie explained, “The good news is that there are many different ways
to seek out help and answers via the internet. Thirty years ago, there was
nothing out there. If you were gay, you didn’t say anything to your pastor,
priest or rabbi. You went in silence and prayed that no one saw you coming
out of the local adult bookstore. Today you can Google anything and get answers.”
What Goes Around
Comes Around
Worthie could be no more worthy of the awards and accolades bestowed upon him—past,
present and future—as over the years, while being an outstanding role
model in honoring and expressing his truth, his life force, he has helped raise
over nine million dollars to fight AIDS and breast cancer, and to fund and
support youth services. He has received five WeHo Awards for Outstanding Drag
Diva, Community Leader, and is the 2008 recipient of the Christopher Street
West Harvey Milk Humanitarian Award for his outstanding work in the LGBT community.
Over the years, Momma has helped with almost every AIDS service organization
in Southern California; Youth Service Groups such as the Trevor Project, GLASS
(Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services) and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight
Education Network); and many breast cancer charities as well.
Additionally, he explained, “I have also worked with many religious groups
to help them understand who gay people are in their churches, and have spoken
out about my own ex-gay recovery. So many people who leave these ex-gay groups
are very wounded and need a lot of T.L.C. to find themselves again. There are
thousands of people in our community that are in the closet about being a part
of these groups. In the past we had shame that we felt we couldn’t share
with our community. Slowly, more people are coming forth with their stories
and asking for help and understanding. As we continue to tell our stories,
and how our ‘lifestyle’ is not a choice, we will help future generations
to move forward.”
At the time of our interview, Worthie had just returned from the world’s
largest LGBT youth conference, “True Colors.”
“I was so blessed to meet young people from the age of 14 to 20 who know
who they are, and where they are going,” he recalled. “As a result
of what we have accomplished by laying the foundation of pride and equality,
these young people are benefiting and are going places we could only dream
of.”
About his spiritual philosophy, Worthie expressed, “Love, Love, Love!
It seems so simple, but I believe that our journey in life is to be a loving
representative of God.” In the workplace, he stated, “Be professional.
I have lasted this long in the community because I didn’t become a drug-addicted
alcoholic or an egotistic bitch. So many other divas have come and gone. They
made some huge unprofessional mistakes in their careers. Nobody wants to work
with a jerk.
“Most people would mention something about fame and fortune,” Worthie
stated about things for which he is grateful, but confided, “I have very
little of both.”
Worthie is grateful for “being really one person ... That might sound
strange, but when you are not who you really are, then you become many people
to many different communities. In or out of makeup, I have found my true base
of who I really am. I don’t have to be ashamed of wearing makeup or dresses.
I have kicked ass in the different areas that have excited me, and I have friends
and family that celebrate what I do. I have received thousands of letters and
emails of thanks for lifting people’s spirits, and a couple of people
have told me that I have saved their lives. Unbelievable!”
Also near and dear to Worthie’s heart is work on behalf of “our
transgendered brothers and sisters. There is still such a prejudice and ignorance
about who they are, and what they are. I have met some very brave individuals
who are doing great things for their community. Just like I knew that I was
different at age six and knew I didn’t fit in to what society expected
from me, many of these transgendered young people know at a very young age
that something is not right.
“There is a new group that I am helping with that are working with families
with children that have come out as transgendered—I’m talking as
early as six! This is new territory for everyone, but I know that when we give
an individual a chance to find out who they are and what’s it’s
all about, they have the chance to move on and conquer the dreams they have.
That’s a great celebration for everyone in society,” he added. “We
all win!”
More than His 15 Minutes
While Momma is world-famous, Worthie is somewhat anonymous. “It really
is the best of both worlds,” he explained. “Momma gets to be the
red carpet, paparazzi whore. Worthie gets to use her money and fame to do what
he wants to do. For many years I would sit at the French Market [a very gay-friendly
restaurant and shopping complex in the heart of West Hollywood] and overhear
conversations about Momma and how they were her best friend. But I was sitting
right next to them and they had no idea that I was Momma.”
Momma is all about telling people who she is. “Something that I have
been saying for many years is, ‘When we don’t tell people who we
really are, all we are telling people is that we are ashamed of who we are.’”
With Hollywood’s call getting louder than ever, the story of Momma is
being, “reworked as we speak,” explained Worthie, but his story
of activism and courage in the gay community is being told in what you have
read here. “I really don’t try to believe my own press, but others
remind me of who I am and what I mean to them. That’s a blessed life!”
For more information about Momma, contact her management at
InTheMedia@aol.com or 213.891.9345. Article provided by GayLinkContent.com
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