Jerick Hoffer, The Lady Who Lunches

Every time I see Jerick Hoffer, I’m surprised by how tall they are. Perhaps their soft-spoken, almost demure demeanor makes me think they’re shorter than they really are.

I met Jerick more than a year ago when I’d asked them to host an Academy Awards fundraiser as their drag alter ego, Jinkx Monsoon. I had seen Jinkx perform and had been blown away by her voice and charisma. Meeting Jerick, then, and seeing how quiet, almost shy, they were came as quite a surprise. Jerick is friendly, though, and thoughtful. We’re hardly close friends, but we always hug when we greet each other. Today is no exception.

They started by apologizing for being late. “Now that I’m drawing my eyebrows on, it’s important that I get them right,” they explained. “I don’t think I did this time,” they laughed.

The past year has been a good one for Jerick’s career. Highlights include: being brought on board as the “hostess with the mostest” for Le Faux at Julia’s on Broadway (a role once filled by Shannel, another former Drag Race alum), a successful run as Angel in the 5th Ave Theatre’s production of Rent, and headlining in Balagan Theatre’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Moore. Of course, Jerick is starring in season five of RuPaul’s Drag Race as Jinkx Monsoon. His success is well deserved.

Jerick’s turn as Jinkx has been met with an outpouring of support, but it hasn’t been without criticism. Drag Race judge Michelle Visage has frequently criticized Jinkx for her lack of glamour on the runway, and Jinkx’s portrayal of Little Edie Bouvier in the recent Snatch Game episode, while critically praised, had the other contestants, who didn’t understand the reference, unsure of just what to make of her. Of course, the blogosphere went all a-twitter, with the gay glitterati berating the other queens for their ignorance of gay icons.

“I normally stay out of the kind of stuff, social media, and pretend that I haven’t read it all,” Jerick confessed. “I finally had to say something publicly, saying that you guys should really calm down. It’s not the end of the world that Roxxy doesn’t know who Little Edie was, and Michelle was just being Michelle Visage, so you should just calm down about the whole thing,” they added, laughing.

And Jerick, of course, is seeing the show for the first time along with the rest of us. They already know who was eliminated and when, but just like us, this is their first time seeing everyone else’s confessional videos. They said it was a little weird.

“I prepared myself for the worst with this kind of stuff, and so far, the worst hasn’t happened,” they said.

Jerick started working and playing young. A native of Portland, OR, they’ve been performing since the age of 12 and professionally since the age of 17.

“I came out at 14,” they told me. “And I became sexually active at age 17.” They weren’t active without proper sexual health education, however. “I was lucky to grow up in a neighborhood where there was a resource center for queer youth, so I’ve known about safe sex practices and sexual responsibility since I came out to the world as a gay man. At an early age, I learned that it’s not about what you do. It’s about doing what you do as safely as possible.”

Having all of your dreams come true, becoming a famous reality TV personality, that’s a wonderful thing. But it feels really rewarding to give a special thank you and a shout out to the people who’ve helped me out along the way.”

While growing up, their family wasn’t well off, but they were well cared for.

“My family went bankrupt somewhere along the lines of my childhood,” they said. “I grew up in a fairly modest setting. My aunt, my grandmother, and my mom did everything they could to make sure that I wasn’t wanting for too much as a child. So, I know the kindness of others and support and help from the people that you love, whether they be family members or friends or people that just kind of believe in you, it can supplement your livelihood when you don’t have a lot to draw on yourself.”

“That’s a convoluted way of saying I was po’,” they laughed, “so now I appreciate everything that life hands me. I was raised to just believe that you get what you give, and if you’re willing to be generous, kind, and selfless to others, then you’ll receive that same kind of kindness in return.”

This experience, then, of relying on the kindness of others, taught them the importance of generously giving. Giving back for Jerick includes, among other things, volunteering for an ad campaign reminding people of the importance of getting tested for HIV and STDs for Gay City Health Project. This Seattle non-profit provides free, anonymous, or confidential HIV/STD screening.

“I’ve heard the success stories of queer youth in very same situations to me,” they said. “I’ve heard the success stories of queer youth who were kicked out of their house just for coming out to their parents, and had it not been for the charity of others, who knows where they would’ve ended up, who knows how their life could’ve taken a turn for the worse, and instead they’re now fully happy, healthy, full-grown adults living their lives whether or not the rest of their family accepts them. They’ve found a chosen family in their community that’s helped them get through the hard parts. In my own moments, of my own life, I know that, had there not been certain resources or certain friends out there, who knows where I’d be right now? I hope that some of the things that I do and some of the ways that I give back will provide the same kind of success stories for others in the future.”

I suggested that RuPaul herself is known for this same generosity of spirit.

“I felt that way, too,” they agreed. “And meeting her, I felt that I was right about assuming that. She’s a tough judge sometimes, but her mission statement is clear, and she really lives up to it.”

Jerick’s hard work is paying off. Their plans for the year include auditioning for another piece at Balagan Theatre and a couple of potential projects under negotiation at 5th Ave Theatre. “I probably shouldn’t say what until they’re official,” they admitted. This year is really about Jinkx, however, with the publicity they’ve received with their Drag Race appearance.

“Having gone on RuPaul’s drag race, a lot of opportunity has opened up for me to travel a lot. I’m hoping that through traveling, I’ll get the opportunity to shift the focus, to hold up the magnifying glass a little bit to Seattle and the wonderful things that we have here.”

Jerick is keen to ensure that his time in the spotlight includes the recognition of the people that have been there with them along the way to his success.

“We have some amazing drag talent [in Seattle],” they said, “like Ursula Android, Dina Martina, Jackie Hell, Robbie Turner, and Ben Delacreme. If I get to help their notability because they’re the kind of people who inspired me on my way to auditioning for RuPaul’s Drag Race, then I’ll be happy.”

Again, for Jerick, it’s about a generosity of spirit as much as anything else.

“Having all of your dreams come true, becoming a famous reality TV personality, that’s a wonderful thing. But it feels really rewarding to give a special thank you and a shout-out to the people who’ve helped me out along the way.”

I think the number one message I would give to queer youth today is to be smart and to be safe, and that’s in all areas of life.”

It’s also essential for Jerick to use their platform to bring hope to the queer kids who may be watching them or even idolizing them. It’s inspiring to hear them talk about what they want kids, and even people in general, to learn from them. Where most people might want to push their latest iTunes download, they want people to know about their drag friends. They want people to be kind to one another.

“I think the number one message I would give to queer youth today is to be smart and to be safe, and that’s in all areas of life,” they said. “That means being responsible. It means being tested. It means being friendly and courteous to people, you know? I think to be smart and be safe means to take responsibility for yourself, examine situations from all angles, never put yourself in jeopardy, even if you’re so angry inside that you want to punch a hole in the wall. And I’ve been there.”

“I couldn’t do it because of my nails,” they joked, showing off their delightfully turquoise-painted fingertips.

Jerick is speaking from experience, of course. Being out in high school, even in an open-minded city like Portland, can have its share of trouble. But Jerick is one of those people who’ve used the troubles of their past to make them an even stronger person today.

“I’ve been harassed and attacked in high school,” they admitted. “I’ve felt that kind of rage that can only come from having a bunch of hate thrown at you. I went to high school as a queer teenager. I’ve had all kinds of things said to me. I’ve been harassed, I’ve been threatened, and I’ve been physically attacked before. I know that can fill you with a certain amount of rage. The hardest thing sometimes is to let that rage go and continue to be the kind of person you want to be.”

Of course, they’re not without fear, insecurity, or anxiety. Even on the show, the distress they feel when the judges or queens dress them down for their “lack of glamour” is apparent.

“I think it’s easy when you get a lot of hate thrown at you to turn around and throw that hate back into the world,” they explained. “I think the more that we can reflect upon ourselves and accept that that’s not who we want to be, that’s not the energy we want to perpetuate, then we can put that kind of hate to rest.”

If you can catch Jerick performing on stage or as Jinkx, you’d be crazy not to do it because this queen is definitely going places. For more information on Jerick, check him out at jinkxmonsoon.com