This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
How has your experience in adult entertainment shaped your perspective on romantic love?
My existence in the adult entertainment industry shaped a whole genre of erotic love for trans women. When I first started in the adult entertainment industry, it was extremely dominated by cis white people. I started making it an open place for Black men who love transgender women and loved them in a way to sexually express themselves.
I've dated one or two of the gentlemen who I had as clientele when I was in the adult entertainment field. When it came down to us expressing the love that we had for each other, I was really skeptical like “Damn, should I be open about the fact that the gentleman that I'm dealing with was once a client?,” because then you have the scrutiny from the girls saying, "Oh girl, how are you dating a date?" or the scrutiny from the outside, like, “You can't turn a hoe into a housewife” type of situation.
So now I'm very guarded. I don't know if a different gentleman really wants me, or wants to deal with me for my popularity. I don't know if a gentleman really wants to deal with me for his fantasy. I don't know if a gentleman really wants to deal with me for some type of exploration, like trying to find himself with me.
You recently served as a panelist for Facebook Dating's “Black Is Love” and talked about how trans people are often left out of conversations about Black love. What do you think needs to happen to change this?
I think that we need to have more representation of Black trans women being in love. At times, there are some trans women who actively play a part in the sensationalism of relationships. We fall victim to what we use as a weapon. Now, of course, all of us don't do this, but it does happen. We need to better normalize the relationships between trans women and Black men. Like, he's dating a woman. We are women too.
Earlier this month you were a guest on RuPaul's Drag Race. I know RuPaul is a personal hero of yours. What was that experience like?
