This summer, many of us followed the story of Miles DeNiro, a Washington D.C. based drag performer who goes by the name of Heidi Glüm. After a brutal hate crime against her went viral on the internet, she was put in the spotlight, and many came to stand by her side. Though you might know Glüm's name from the attack, you should know her for so many more reasons!
When it comes to well-rounded talented queens you don’t get much better than Heidi Glüm. For a relatively young queen, Heidi has certainly made a name for herself. Originally hailing from Los Angelés, California, Heidi got her start in drag after moving to New York City. As the drag daughter of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 4 winner, Sharon Needles, and a key member of the legendary Haus of Haunt, this queen has had some great accomplishments! Not only is she now regularly hosting and performing at shows all over the East coast, but she’s also had several modeling gigs.
In March of 2012 Glüm did a photo shoot with photographer and artist Leland Bobbé as part of his Half-Drag Project. The project, as the name implies, featured queens half made-up in drag, and half sporting their everyday boy persona. It was a huge hit and went on to be featured on dozens of fashion blogs and websites including Italian Vogue.
However, this wasn't her only photo shoot that received national attention! Later the same year, Glüm did a photo shoot with Jeremy Kost, a nationally known photographer who specializes in works surrounding gender and sexuality. The photo shoot that he did with Heidi also received national attention when she became a cover girl for the August/September 2012 edition of Artvoices Magazine.
However, this wasn't her only photo shoot that received national attention! Later the same year, Glüm did a photo shoot with Jeremy Kost, a nationally known photographer who specializes in works surrounding gender and sexuality. The photo shoot that he did with Heidi also received national attention when she became a cover girl for the August/September 2012 edition of Artvoices Magazine.
After her time living in New York Heidi moved to Washington D.C. Today Heidi is still busy as ever with her shows, hosting and performing in drag shows in New York, D.C., and Virginia. In addition to the gigs she is booked for as a guest performer, she is also able to be found every month at her D.C. shows, #BingBangBingo at The Mellow Mushroom and Gay Bash at Black Cat.
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Heidi is one of our favorite queens so we wanted to check in with her to see how everything was going since the horrific incident a few months ago:
Drag Official: Tell us a little about your drag background.
Heidi Glüm: Well, I was a little Club Kid demon in the NYC nightlife scene for a while - coming from a broken home I loved the weird family I had made. I started hanging out with Veruca La Pirhana and eventually we became really great friends and roommates. I'd never had a friend like her before. Ever. I'm a very fickle person. I'm good at reading people from the second I see you. I know if you're bullshit or genuine just by sight. It's a gift, but its also a curse; I have few friends, but I have very good friends. I don't need a bunch of fake people around me. I surround myself with incredible people who inspire me. Veruca's drag was the first interesting thing I'd really seen - she's an amazing performer. It was then I knew what I wanted to do. I was completely smitten with DRAG. I love it - it's my sole source of income and it's my life. Every day I'm doing something drag related. Sewing, stoning, styling hair, shopping. I'm constantly learning new things and storing them in my brain for future shows. I'm so thankful for meeting V and becoming a Queen. I finally found my calling - its been a terrible dark journey...but thats life.
Heidi Glüm: Well, I was a little Club Kid demon in the NYC nightlife scene for a while - coming from a broken home I loved the weird family I had made. I started hanging out with Veruca La Pirhana and eventually we became really great friends and roommates. I'd never had a friend like her before. Ever. I'm a very fickle person. I'm good at reading people from the second I see you. I know if you're bullshit or genuine just by sight. It's a gift, but its also a curse; I have few friends, but I have very good friends. I don't need a bunch of fake people around me. I surround myself with incredible people who inspire me. Veruca's drag was the first interesting thing I'd really seen - she's an amazing performer. It was then I knew what I wanted to do. I was completely smitten with DRAG. I love it - it's my sole source of income and it's my life. Every day I'm doing something drag related. Sewing, stoning, styling hair, shopping. I'm constantly learning new things and storing them in my brain for future shows. I'm so thankful for meeting V and becoming a Queen. I finally found my calling - its been a terrible dark journey...but thats life.
D.O.: Can you walk us through the incident that happened at Manny & Olga's?
H.G.: I was finished with my monthly show Gay Bash at the Black Cat here in DC, and as the Supermodel of the Underworld I can't eat before work. I have to retain my svelte figure for the children! So I'm so ready to go home after a long night (I had a crazy work week in NY as well, I had just gotten back into town and I was running on negative zero energy!) and just relax with my partner, Pietro and our teacup chihuahua, Belladonna, eat some food finally, and get some rest before I had to leave for my next photoshoot and show. I'm waiting for my food - the only place open at that late hour near me was Manny and Olga's. So everyone from the area is there, of course. It's always uncomfortable being in drag surrounded by people who are definitely not batting for your team and clearly have a problem with you being there. A girl approaches me - my first reactions to seeing her for about 3 milliseconds is "intoxicated - annoying - friendly." As a Queen you deal with this for a living (strangers, people constantly around you, questions, photos, introductions). I'm off the clock and could care less so I give in to her fantasy. She asks me where I was coming from, what I was doing there, did I do my makeup? This is where things get a little fuzzy - it's a blur of one giant fight for me, but in fact I was attacked twice. She rubs my cheeks and says I need to blend them. I laugh at her sarcastically and do the exact same thing back. Her makeup is on my finger (it's a lot darker than me). I pretend to act disgusted and rub it off on my dress. Well, that really offended her and she decided she needed to attack me. She attempts to steal my purse from my hands while pulling my hair. She jerks me around a little and I don't do anything. I'm pulling back and yelling at her. She starts to punch me in the face and I manage to pull back and kick her swiftly in the vagina so that she lets go of me. It works and she backs off. I grab my purse off the floor, my broken earrings - get on my phone and ingore the things shes yelling at me while I wait for my food. This is when her friend comes in and tries to get in my face trying to make me look like the bad person. This is the point where the video online picks up. I give both women ample warning to NOT touch me. To LEAVE ME ALONE. I have already been attacked once and I'm not sure if I have the strength to hold myself back anymore. She gets in my face and says shes going to beat my ass as she backs me into a corner. I'm a rape survivor, I don't like when strangers touch me. Especially in a forceful manner. She won't heed my warnings in plain English - so I spit on her so she can understand how I feel when she touches me. My words weren't working so I needed to try a different approach. I certainly do NOT want to touch her; she looked homeless. She smelled homeless too. I was positively disgusted by the fact that she was holding onto my arm so tight. Well, she got the picture then attacked me after repeatedly saying she was going to. Her little friend jumps back in.... And the rest is in video and print. It was a terrible night and I'm still dealing with the emotional and psychological scars this has left me with. My hair continues to fall out from being pulled on so hard.
H.G.: I was finished with my monthly show Gay Bash at the Black Cat here in DC, and as the Supermodel of the Underworld I can't eat before work. I have to retain my svelte figure for the children! So I'm so ready to go home after a long night (I had a crazy work week in NY as well, I had just gotten back into town and I was running on negative zero energy!) and just relax with my partner, Pietro and our teacup chihuahua, Belladonna, eat some food finally, and get some rest before I had to leave for my next photoshoot and show. I'm waiting for my food - the only place open at that late hour near me was Manny and Olga's. So everyone from the area is there, of course. It's always uncomfortable being in drag surrounded by people who are definitely not batting for your team and clearly have a problem with you being there. A girl approaches me - my first reactions to seeing her for about 3 milliseconds is "intoxicated - annoying - friendly." As a Queen you deal with this for a living (strangers, people constantly around you, questions, photos, introductions). I'm off the clock and could care less so I give in to her fantasy. She asks me where I was coming from, what I was doing there, did I do my makeup? This is where things get a little fuzzy - it's a blur of one giant fight for me, but in fact I was attacked twice. She rubs my cheeks and says I need to blend them. I laugh at her sarcastically and do the exact same thing back. Her makeup is on my finger (it's a lot darker than me). I pretend to act disgusted and rub it off on my dress. Well, that really offended her and she decided she needed to attack me. She attempts to steal my purse from my hands while pulling my hair. She jerks me around a little and I don't do anything. I'm pulling back and yelling at her. She starts to punch me in the face and I manage to pull back and kick her swiftly in the vagina so that she lets go of me. It works and she backs off. I grab my purse off the floor, my broken earrings - get on my phone and ingore the things shes yelling at me while I wait for my food. This is when her friend comes in and tries to get in my face trying to make me look like the bad person. This is the point where the video online picks up. I give both women ample warning to NOT touch me. To LEAVE ME ALONE. I have already been attacked once and I'm not sure if I have the strength to hold myself back anymore. She gets in my face and says shes going to beat my ass as she backs me into a corner. I'm a rape survivor, I don't like when strangers touch me. Especially in a forceful manner. She won't heed my warnings in plain English - so I spit on her so she can understand how I feel when she touches me. My words weren't working so I needed to try a different approach. I certainly do NOT want to touch her; she looked homeless. She smelled homeless too. I was positively disgusted by the fact that she was holding onto my arm so tight. Well, she got the picture then attacked me after repeatedly saying she was going to. Her little friend jumps back in.... And the rest is in video and print. It was a terrible night and I'm still dealing with the emotional and psychological scars this has left me with. My hair continues to fall out from being pulled on so hard.
D.O.: I know that charges have been filed against the girls. Were the charges filed as a hate crime? Did they file any counter charges against you?
H.G.: The police report the girls filed was filed with lies. They stated "everyone was fighting" and that I "fled the scene." I am not being charged with anything - I am the victim in this case.
D.O.: Where in the process are the court proceedings at the moment? Have any verdicts or sentences been given?
H.G.: Unfortunately the girls have been given a plea bargain. They plead guilty and are getting 48 hours of community service to be completed over a 6 month time period. If they avoid arrest in those 6 months when they return to court the charges will be dropped. I am INSULTED. It feels like that night all over again.
H.G.: The police report the girls filed was filed with lies. They stated "everyone was fighting" and that I "fled the scene." I am not being charged with anything - I am the victim in this case.
D.O.: Where in the process are the court proceedings at the moment? Have any verdicts or sentences been given?
H.G.: Unfortunately the girls have been given a plea bargain. They plead guilty and are getting 48 hours of community service to be completed over a 6 month time period. If they avoid arrest in those 6 months when they return to court the charges will be dropped. I am INSULTED. It feels like that night all over again.
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D.O.: What has the most difficult part of the legal process been for you?
H.G.: This is my first time ever dealing with police, court, legal anything. I'm a good person. I don't get into trouble with the law. I don't follow politics, law, any of this stuff. It was irrelevant to my life before the attack - why would I care? I don't understand the system. I don't understand things people say sometimes - all this legal jargon is so bizarre! I've never felt more like a child. It's not my world, I don't want to be in it and I've had to force myself to research things that I have zero interest in and that confuse me.
D.O.: What kind of a reaction has there been to your attack from the drag community? From the trans community?
H.G.: The drag community online has been incredible! Girls from all over the world have reached out to me and it's been so inspiring and uplifting. It's definitely been a boost I need to get through this. The scene here in DC has been great, too. Unfortunately one bitter, old, rude queen who was recently on her death bed asking for prayers had the audacity to lie and say I called her a racial slur and that I got what I deserved. She also referred to me as a 'Drag Mop.' I know what I'm going to be for Halloween now, thank you. My trans sisters, brothers and friends have been just as great, if not better. I'm fighting this battle for them. While I may not identify as trans, this was a transphobic attack and I'm going to fight this battle for them. After I was attacked maybe 6 or more trans women were attacked, some murdered. This is a very scary battle and I'd be a monster if I didn't try and help however I can. We're all a family - you hurt one, you hurt us all.
H.G.: This is my first time ever dealing with police, court, legal anything. I'm a good person. I don't get into trouble with the law. I don't follow politics, law, any of this stuff. It was irrelevant to my life before the attack - why would I care? I don't understand the system. I don't understand things people say sometimes - all this legal jargon is so bizarre! I've never felt more like a child. It's not my world, I don't want to be in it and I've had to force myself to research things that I have zero interest in and that confuse me.
D.O.: What kind of a reaction has there been to your attack from the drag community? From the trans community?
H.G.: The drag community online has been incredible! Girls from all over the world have reached out to me and it's been so inspiring and uplifting. It's definitely been a boost I need to get through this. The scene here in DC has been great, too. Unfortunately one bitter, old, rude queen who was recently on her death bed asking for prayers had the audacity to lie and say I called her a racial slur and that I got what I deserved. She also referred to me as a 'Drag Mop.' I know what I'm going to be for Halloween now, thank you. My trans sisters, brothers and friends have been just as great, if not better. I'm fighting this battle for them. While I may not identify as trans, this was a transphobic attack and I'm going to fight this battle for them. After I was attacked maybe 6 or more trans women were attacked, some murdered. This is a very scary battle and I'd be a monster if I didn't try and help however I can. We're all a family - you hurt one, you hurt us all.
D.O.: Your attack seemed to get quite a bit of buzz from social media sites. Do you think that the publicity this attack got helped to raise any kind of awareness or support for fighting the issues of transphobia in DC?
H.G.: I hope it has - I know there were a lot of meetings about safety and such within the community, but I don't know what if anything has been done.
D.O.: How has your outlook on life changed since this attack?
Well, I'm definitely not taking shit from anyone. Maybe I'll walk away? I want to be more involved in the community, too. I would love to thank everyone and pay forward their kindness. The support is much needed, much appreciated, and I just want to show everyone it wasn't for nothing.
D.O.: Unfortunately, as we all know, this isn't the only incident of its kind. Hate crimes and bullying occur everyday, and many are committed against people who identify as LGBT. Is there anything you'd like to say to the victims of other hate crimes and bullying? Anything you'd like to say to the bullies/attackers?
H.G.: SPEAK UP. DON'T EVER BE SILENT. Silence is not the option. Voice what happened and get help! It might not work in your favor, like with my case - but it's the right thing to do. Stand your ground and fight for your community. They need you.
H.G.: I hope it has - I know there were a lot of meetings about safety and such within the community, but I don't know what if anything has been done.
D.O.: How has your outlook on life changed since this attack?
Well, I'm definitely not taking shit from anyone. Maybe I'll walk away? I want to be more involved in the community, too. I would love to thank everyone and pay forward their kindness. The support is much needed, much appreciated, and I just want to show everyone it wasn't for nothing.
D.O.: Unfortunately, as we all know, this isn't the only incident of its kind. Hate crimes and bullying occur everyday, and many are committed against people who identify as LGBT. Is there anything you'd like to say to the victims of other hate crimes and bullying? Anything you'd like to say to the bullies/attackers?
H.G.: SPEAK UP. DON'T EVER BE SILENT. Silence is not the option. Voice what happened and get help! It might not work in your favor, like with my case - but it's the right thing to do. Stand your ground and fight for your community. They need you.
Prior to her attack, Heidi Glüm was indisputably one of the fiercest queens to grace the stages of drag bars in America. From her polished look to her captivating performances - not to mention her modeling and styling talents - she is truly a full package deal. Since being thrust into the spotlight under such unfortunate circumstances, Glüm has shown that she handles herself with integrity not only on the stage, but off of it as well. Her strength and unwillingness to back down from her adversaries throughout the past few months has been truly admirable. Heidi Glüm has rapidly become just as much of an inspiration off the stage as she is on the stage, and for that we tip our wigs to her!
Want to catch Heidi Glüm live?
OCT 4 - Bier Baron formerly Brickskellar- DC
OCT 9 - #BingBandBingo at Mellow Mushroom- DC (monthly)
OCT 12 - Prime Time- Highland, NY
OCT 26 - Gay Bash Black Cat- DC (monthly)
OCT 27 - Pumps Strip Club- Brooklyn, NY
OCT 31 - Hallows Eve Ball at Empire- Springfield, VA
OCT 4 - Bier Baron formerly Brickskellar- DC
OCT 9 - #BingBandBingo at Mellow Mushroom- DC (monthly)
OCT 12 - Prime Time- Highland, NY
OCT 26 - Gay Bash Black Cat- DC (monthly)
OCT 27 - Pumps Strip Club- Brooklyn, NY
OCT 31 - Hallows Eve Ball at Empire- Springfield, VA
