Arkasha Stevenson (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Duplicity
Bronze
Domestic Picture Story
San Francisco, with one of the largest gay populations in the country, is home to an eclectic array of homosexual sub-cultures. While Steven Roberts has only been a participant in the drag community for a year and a half, he is already performing in multiple clubs a week. When performing as Duplicity Dilemma, Roberts is always accompanied by his boyfriend of 15 years, Chris Owen.
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San Francisco, with one of the largest gay populations in the country, is home to an eclectic array of homosexual sub-cultures. While Steven Roberts (right) has only been a participant in the drag community for a year and a half, he is already performing in multiple clubs a week. When performing as Duplicity Dilemma, Roberts is always accompanied by his boyfriend of 15 years, Chris Owen (left).
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Roberts applies his make-up in his "drag room" while Owen reads aloud from a book on make-up. While meticulously applying eye shadow, Roberts describes the ritual of transformation from man to woman as a process that has the potential to be very spiritual. “There is a moment when you have your base make-up on and you look in the mirror and you don’t even recognize yourself. That was the moment when I was able to look myself in the eyes and say ‘I love you.’â€
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"We are pretty much married," Owen said while fixing Roberts coffee before the pair take off in their van to The Stud Bar June 7, 2011. Roberts has been performing in drag as Duplicity Dilemma for a year and a half at various clubs in San Francisco after Owen, his boyfriend of 15 years, encouraged him.
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Cloaked in the red glow of a flashing bar sign, Duplicity and Owen steal a moment to embrace before Duplicity goes on stage as the final act of the Meow Mix show at The Stud Bar in San Francisco June 7, 2011.
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Urinating is no small task for a drag queen, Duplicity explains, as she pulls back three layers of pantyhose in order to relieve herself. Before leaving the bathroom, Duplicity checks to make sure the padding around her hips is in place. Duplicity performed to Berlin's "Sex," as part of the Meow Mix show at San Francisco's The Stud Bar June 7, 2011.
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Duplicity is joined on stage by the rest of the The Stud Bar's Meow Mix performers for a final round of applause after their "sexual chocolate" themed show in San Francisco June 7, 2011. Duplicity did not mind sitting on the stage's floor even though it was covered in glitter and chocolate syrup.
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In 1985, Roberts tested positive for HIV. However, the couple has made the decision to not use protection in their sex life. “We are all going to die anyways,†Owen said. “This way I will be with my husband.†The couple hope to show others in the community that an HIV positive person and an HIV negative person can be together. Despite 15 years of having unprotected sex with Roberts, Owen has yet to test positive.