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This is The Deviant Dispatch. I’m Mo, your guide to the underground. On Wednesday I write about events. On Friday I write about gossip for paying subscribers like you! Thanks so much for throwing me money to talk about stuff that is too niche to pitch to established media outlets. Make sure to show your love by hitting the heart button at the top of this post or share the newsletter with a friend.
The big story this week is Linux’s continued beef with Covid-19 watchdogs. The club kid, vocalist, and self-described “downtown it girl” has been flirting with controversy ever since she started flying down to Miami to satiate her appetite for clubbing. She then went even harder and announced a party entitled Escape from New York, proposing that more New Yorkers book a cheap flight to Miami for the weekend. I covered the blowback in this newsletter, but it continued this week when Linux landed briefly in Brooklyn.
Last Saturday, Linux posted multiple videos from a packed indoor party where no one was wearing masks. It looked like a ball, but also like the definition of a super-spreader event.
Many people were quick to jump online and call Linux and the other people pictured out, especially since they were already mad at her for throwing the Miami party. Drag queen Lady Bearica Andrews was particularly thorough, calling out all the people she saw at party and tagging them on Instagram. As well as Linux, she also called out the drag queen Ruby Fox, the DJs P_A_T_ , Antpuke, and Nolita, club kid Radical Pom, and former reality show contestant Remy among others. She tagged Gays Over Covid and encouraged people not to book them. While some people agreed with Bearica, others were quick to jump to Linux’s defense.
(Is that me? Am I the nightlife covid watchmen?)
Shots! fired! Charlene has been growing tired with the policing culture around Covid-19 for a while. In the past she’s claimed that on May 31st she’d stop adhering to the guidelines, although recently she’s said that date might be sooner. Maybe she’ll make an appearance in Miami?
Charlene also claimed on an Instagram Story that she got in trouble for not wearing a mask during her new weekly outdoor show The Hole Stretch, but idk from who. I think that the chin guards that drag queens wear as masks during numbers probably don’t do much, so as far as I’ve seen Charlene hasn’t done anything wrong.
Char wasn’t the only one defending partying in the age of Covid. Rising nightlife star Jette Grey (who was subject to backlash early on in the pandemic for being outside without a mask on within 6 feet of someone) had this to say on twitter.
Honestly, spot the lie. Jette Grey tweeted later that day “My original post literally had nothing to do with linux” but still the discourse applies. It also was a chillingly ominous take to have considering what happened next. Linux tweeted the following thread 2 days later, claiming that people were taking vigilante actions against her.
While partying during Covid is not a good idea, doxxing someone in the name of justice crosses a line. Here at The Deviant Dispatch we hope that everyone stays safe so we can see the day where throwing parties is no longer a cause for such backlash.
Of course I’ll be covering any drama that emerges from the Escape From New York party happening tonight in Miami, so stay tuned.
In less intense news, a Brooklyn pageant got in trouble for appropriating trans terminology. Janelle No. 5 announced a pageant titled “Are You The Next Doll?” which quickly drew criticism over the use of the word doll. The word doll is used as a euphemism for trans women in the community, and people were mad that cis men were competing for the term in a drag pageant. Fortunately Janelle changed the name to “Are You The Next Diva?” but I’m sure that detractors are still mad the she and Kandy Muse have the word doll in their instagram bio.
Pussy Riot and Dorian Electra released a song and music video entitled “TOXIC” produced by Dylan Brady. It’s a hyperpop banger with a screamo breakdown and trace-like verses.
If you’re in the mood for a deep dive, music journalist Eli Enis interviewed several hyperpop producers in the scene about it for Splice (including Alice Gas).
Jay Som and Palehound have announced they formed a band called Bachelor. The two indie-famous musicians got together in January 2020, and they’ve released their fist song “Anything At All” via the indie label Polyvinyl.
This is the second queer indie supergroup that Melina Duterte AKA Jay Som has formed. Last year she released an EP with Chastity Belt member Annie Truscott under the name Routine.
Slayyyter has put out another song “Clouds” with a music video premiering at 1pm. It’s about her journey in the music industry, and addresses her fame and the insecurities that come with it. Vulnerability suits Slayyyter, and the song is one of the stronger ones she’s put out recently.
Finally, The Drunken Canal was subject to a hit piece in Soft Punk. The opinion piece by Emma Baker starts by praising the newspaper of Dimes Sqaure (same) before ripping into them for promoting their work in the Cut. Seems like a reach to me, but whatever.
That’s it for this dispatch. If you liked it please consider hitting the heart button on this post or forwarding this email to a pal! If you’re the pal please subscribe. I write twice a week: once about upcoming worthy events (for free subscribers) and once about underground news and gossip (for paying members). You can send me tips about either by emailing thedeviantdispatch@gmail.com . If you care about drag queens, illegal parties, independent music/art/film/fashion, Charli XCX, and rebellion, you need to read The Deviant Dispatch.