Dear Campus Queers,

I'm Peaches Christ and I am like so completely thrilled to be launching my very own advice column here on the Campus Pride world wide website! Allow me, if you will, to introduce myself. Firstly, I have to say that it's been over thirteen years since I graduated from Penn State University and I look back on my ye old campus days with great fondness. I know, I know- based solely on my appearance you must be asking yourself, wow, did she graduate from college when she was ten years old? And the answer to that question is simple- yes. While I may have been a young college student, that never stopped me from staying active. I majored in Filmmaking and got a minor in Women's Studies. I was a busy member of the Student Filmmaker Organization and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Student Alliance. I was part of an activist student group called DIVA (direct initiatives via action) and even hosted campus visits with some of my queer idols, including Quentin Crisp and John Waters. After finishing my senior thesis film Jizzmopper: A Love Story, it was time to move on.

I graduated from Penn State in '96 and immediately flew to San Francisco with nothing more than a wig and a dream. I'd hoped to become a working underground filmmaker. Upon arriving, I fell in with a group of creative misfits performing at the now legendary Trannyshack nightclub. Back then we were grunge queens performing on a stage built on beer boxes. It was a wild and trashy time and it was here that I met my creative family. I created my own midnight movie event called Midnight Mass, and began screening my favorite cult films preceded by a fully realized stage-show and drag spectacle. The event grew to become the countries longest running and most successful midnight movie event next to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We even got our own National TV Show. Who knew?!?

While continuing to produce Midnight Mass, I began making my own no-budget short film horror parodies. Three of these movies make up my Tran-ilogy Of Terror. I'll be the first to tell you that they're ridiculous, absurd, silly little movies and it blows my mind that they've been screened now all over the world. People think they're art! Ha! I was also the subject of an uber-revealing Madonna style drag-umentary, Spin The Bottle, where the filmmaker tried hard to expose me. Can't expose the willing! And lately I've even begun a Campus College Tour screening these movies and appearing as Peaches at campuses everywhere. I sing and dance and screen the movies, tell stories, answer questions, sign autographs and a good time is had by all. I love visiting the colleges!

This year I've made my first feature film and its been the biggest, hardest, most fulfilling thing I've ever done. The directorial debut of my alter-ego Joshua Grannell (better known as yours truly, 'Peaches Christ' or sometimes just "PC" for those in the know), All About Evil is a wild ride that's as horrific as it is hilarious-- boasting bold performances by Natasha Lyonne (But I'm A Cheerleader, American Pie, Slums Of Beverly Hills), Thomas Dekker (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, A Nightmare On Elm Street), cult icon Mink Stole (Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Hairspray, Serial Mom), and Cassandra Peterson (although her fans may know her better as Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark). It's a black comedy set in the world of a classic old horror movie. I can't wait to show it to you guys!

And so you might be asking yourself, how does all of this qualify her to offer advice to students? Well, get this- I'm asking myself the same question! I have absolutely no idea. But I do have a hunch, that I might be better at answering certain questions in a way your college advisor won't. Not that I'm against your advisor or anything, but I might be able to offer guidance on a wider variety of subjects. I'm not a big fan of taking yourself too seriously, so please send me any question you'd like answered and I promise to do my absolute best to give you a worthwhile answer that will not only improve your life but make the world a more glamorous place.

Sex, school, relationships, identity, career, makeup- no topic is off limits. I really am so looking forward to all of this and hope you'll join me in helping one another out, one problem at a time.

Welcome to the Church Of Peaches Christ!

Fiercely Yours,

Peaches
xoxo