Sunny Drake

Writer, actor, producer. My main blog is at www.sunnydrake.com My blog explores femme, queer and trans* politics on a variety of topics including sobriety, relationships, bodies, sexual assault, anti-racism and misogyny

[sunnydrake]

White people – WE CAN NOT GIVE UP. We (Sunny and Chanelle) are deeply upset, angry and devastated along with the rest of you, but white folks let us remember it is not us who will bear the brunt of the hatred, racism, Islamophobia, sexism, disableism (and insert every other nasty) that Trump is channeling and amplifying. That means it would be very easy for us to give up, turn our backs and shrink into our own little worlds. NO, WE WILL NOT GIVE UP. This is a powerful political moment – yes, a moment in which we need to mourn yet also get up and do the work to transform this shit that has been simmering, the shit that has already been hurting so many Black, Indigenous, Muslim and other racialized communities, women and others. Friends in the US: we are with you. We don’t know what resistance and transformation in these next stages looks like, but we will be doing our utmost to figure that out alongside you all. We are sitting here with this question for white folks: when you look back will this be the moment you shriveled and shrank inside your skin or the moment when even if you are afraid and disheartened, you rose to the mammoth challenge and were part of transforming the world into the beautiful place WE KNOW it can be? -Sunny & Chanelle

[sunnydrake]

So excited to read Jia Qing Wilson-Yang's book "Small Beauty"!

[sunnydrake]

I'm SO EXCITED about having a bunch of poly/ non-monogamous folks in the audience tonight followed by a post show poly mixer hosted by Chanelle Gallant! The show is relatable for monogamous folks too, but there's so many layers and stories in there particularly for non-monogamous people. Rarely do we get to see our stories refelected in theatre, books, films or TV. It will be a treat for me to get to perform for an audience that will get the layers in a lived experience way. With such a strong response to the show, we've added some more advance ticket sales for tonight, fri, sat matinee and sat night, and a small number of tickets on the door - get them quick. CAN'T WAIT! Tickets at www.sunnydrake.com ‪#‎NoStringsTO‬ ‪#‎PolyNight‬

[sunnydrake]

It's happening! Set loaded in, lighting focused ready for long day of tech tomorrow. I've got such a great team! "No Strings (Attached)" Mar 16-26 at @yyzbuddies

[sunnydrake]

No Strings (Attached) teaser episode 3 of 3: Good

Jimmy obsesses over the 10 second conversation he had with his crush. Probably none of you have ever done that, right? Toronto premier of "No Strings (Attach...

BUT WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT? Episode 3: Jimmy obsesses over a 10 second interaction with his crush. Um, but none of you have ever done that right? #NoStringsAttached

[sunnydrake]

I used to struggle with jealousy so much more than I do now - to be in the dreamy partnership I have today took years in the making. I'd do fierce private battles with the green-eyed monster until I decided to try a different approach and I invited the monster to a cup of tea. Here's what happened, including tips on dealing with jealousy for both monogamous and non-monogamous folks. https://sunnydrake.wordpress.com/2016/02/29/the-green-eyed-monster-navigating-jealousy/

[sunnydrake]

No Strings (Attached) teaser episode 2 of 3: The Date

Jimmy's adventures in casual dating - today's episode: when clothing comes off the trans man, cis panic ensues. (CONTENT WARNING: sexually explicit) Toronto ...

NEW EPISODE

Please share widely. @sunny drake. #NoStringsAttached

[sunnydrake]

I hover at a red light late at night on my bike. Two guys drip whiskey. Eyes slide up my skin tight gold pants to my shimmery jacket. "Hey baby you wanna-" His words tumble back down throat as gazes lock on my hairy face. My femme camouflage trip switch **** I retract hairy face inside scarf - suck sparkles under skin - sink jacket over pink studded belt - avert eyes – don’t stare at the beast - siphon up grey from asphalt – think grey – act grey – nothing to see here – a blip in the road - I’m not here - I don’t exist **** "That’s a man!” Laughter smacks me in the face. No fists. Just laughter. I dash the red light before amusement turns sour. Anger pumps legs home. Angry gold shimmery legs. Rage that so many women have to deal with this harassment every day. Fury that femme men and genderqueers have to grey ourselves to feel safe. I will play that game – the I don’t exist game - for a moment to feel safe, but do not confuse that with disappearing forever. I will bust out all the brighter as soon as I have crossed the street.

[sunnydrake]

No Strings (Attached) teaser episode 1 of 3: Botching Valentine's Day

Think you were awkward on Valentine's Day? Well Jimmy botched it way worse than you! Toronto premier of "No Strings (Attached)" at Buddies in Bad Times theat...

Jimmy botched valentine’s while trying his best to be a “good radical queer”

[sunnydrake]

Stan Grant: the Australian dream is ‘rooted in racism’ | The New Daily

Indigenous journalist Stan Grant has been praised for a 'Martin Luther King moment'.

Yup. Essential watching for all Australians

[sunnydrake]

What does it mean to make an event or performance “accessible?”

I will never forget the year I spent being unable to use my hands for the most basic tasks. The challenges in my day were going to the toilet, turning the pages of a book and opening a door. I reme...

 I'm  thinking a bunch about what it means to make a performance, event or the rest  of my work "accessible". It's a word that we throw around a lot –  yet many of us don’t stop to really consider what that means and why it is so  important. In reality, every single one of us has access needs – it’s just  some of our access needs are prioritized over others. What does access look  like for sober folks? People with physical disabilities? Deaf folks? Parents?  Fat folks? Low-income communities? Check out this article.    #access, #sober, #disability, #accessible event, #accessible performance,  #fat #Deaf #queer performance, #trans performance, #scent-sensitivity,  #parents, #low-income

[sunnydrake]

A sex work activist on why it's so important to believe Stoya.

A smart and important article written by my partner Chanelle Gallant for MTV News on rape and sexual assault of sex workers and stigma for sex workers.

“the belief that a woman is the rightful sexual property of one man — her father then her husband — and if not, then she is the sexual property of all men. By this definition a woman perceived to be a slut or sex worker can’t be raped.”

#rape, #sexual assault, #sex work stigma, #sexual violence, #intimate partner violence, #survivor

[sunnydrake]

Dear My Sweet Queer Family: Let’s Combat Femmephobia - The Establishment

We must be better allies to one another.

Yup, femmephobia is real and we can each intervene to support the amazing femmes in our lives

#femme, #ally, #femme ally, #femmephobia, #femmes are the best

[sunnydrake]

So excited to have my work included in this amazing femme anthology about to be published! Presales available now for Glitter & Grit: Queer Performance from the Heels on Wheels Femme Galaxy. Heels on Wheels Roadshow ‪#‎femme‬

[sunnydrake]

Join us: Jan 22 for the first International Day of Solidarity with Trans Prisoners #transsolidarity #transprisoners http://thndr.me/FrUhNP

[sunnydrake]

Access Fundraiser for No Strings (Attached) by Sunny Drake

Join me in donating to ASL interpretation & other access costs for an awesome theatre show with queer and trans content

We wanna get some cash together to make a theatre show with queer and trans content accessible to Deaf community, low income people, sober folks, and parents.

No Strings (Attached) has toured to audience and critical acclaim in 40 cities around the world and been translated into 3 languages - we're soooo delighted to premier it in Toronto! We wanna make sure we remove as many access barriers as we can - which costs money. 

We want our friends, loves and communities to be able to come. Our access goals are inspired by conversations, connections, relationships, and collaborations with queer and trans activists organizing around ableism and access critically and broadly. While this campaign focuses on funding for a specific production, we also hope to contribute to larger dialogue about how we come together, build connections, and promote a culture of what Mia Mingus calls "access intimacy": where the access needs of our friends, loves, and communities are met, felt, and deeply understood.

Plenty of amazing perks too...

Please donate what you can and share widely!

[sunnydrake]

A Dominant in Lust, Love and Heartbreak

reposted from The Rumpus Do you know what it’s like for a dominant top to get a crush, for someone like me, whose mouth waters for submission from my lovers? I still swallow hard and hope the perso...

Gorgeous essay by my beloved Chanelle Gallant - so proud of her for the vulnerability in her writing (and life) - a trait often not afforded to the stereotypes we have about Dominants.