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Chris Corsini
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Out100's Chris Corsini Uplifts Deaf Folks Through Music and Astrology

The gay artist also known as MDL CHLD makes it his mission to represent marginalized people.

Chris Corsini wears many hats. The 2021 Out100 honoree is an artist, tarot card reader, energy healer, and ASL interpreter who fights for the inclusion of deaf, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC folks in the spheres of arts and astrology. Corsini's regular horoscopes and meditation workshops have garnered thousands of views on Instagram and YouTube, as has his work as an artist.

In addition to ASL interpreting live performances of music stars like Jay Z, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, and the Jonas Brothers, Corsini has released tracks under his artist name MDL CHLD like "Funk (About You)," which feature queer, deaf, and BIPOC folks from around the world in front of and behind the camera. (Corsini is gay but not deaf.) He created this extraordinary production in the midst of a global pandemic with the help of green screens, video conferencing, and ASL interpreters.

As Corsini summarizes, "The largest obstacle we faced was trying to navigate the pandemic, while living overseas, and working with deaf talent located around the world. We couldn't easily travel so luckily my team and I organized video conferencing, real-time ASL interpreters, and greenscreen keying that helped us solve the problem by editing it all together in post-production."

Despite all the hurdles, the former competitive dancer describes this work as "absolutely necessary."

"We strive to normalize accessibility in everything we do by working with deaf community members (specifically from the LGBTQ+ / BIPOC communities) to create accessible music, art, and online content; representation is always a priority in our music videos," he says. "The work we do is not only deeply nourishing to the mind, body, and soul, it's also fun, inspiring, and thought-provoking."

Corsini will be bringing this inclusive spirit to his next music video shoot in Lisbon, Portugal, which will interpret the song's lyrics into sign language woven into dance and choreography. "More accessible music and video content!" exclaims Corsini, adding, "We did this for live performances, but now we're taking it to the screen!"

This year, he also received the Well+Good Changemakers Award for his contributions to wellness and relaunched his website, Inward Boutique (inwardboutique.com), which offers access to workshops, classes, and products. "It was nice to be recognized as someone who inspires conversations and promotes positive change by providing accessible and inclusive online content, healing workshops, and inclusive music and entertainment," he says.

A version of this article appeared in Out's 2021 Out100 issue, which is on newsstands November 30. Since this is also Out's 300th issue, we are running a $3 promotion for a one-year subscription. Subscribe now (the promotion ends on December 1). Otherwise, support queer media and subscribe outside of the promotion -- or download yours for Amazon, Kindle, Nook, or Apple News.

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Drag queen Billy L'Amour
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How Drag Queen Billy L’Amour Lives His Life Extra

Read how wig entrepreneur Billy L’Amour uses his drag to live life unapologetically.

To live life extra means being able to overcome fear to do what truly makes us happy. For drag queen and wig entrepreneur Billy L'Amour, living life extra involves expressing himself unapologetically and staying true to his passions in life. And he first fell in love with what eventually would become a huge part of his life while he was a teenager.

Billy recalls that, "I first did drag during my time at an all-male comedy ballet company called Les Ballets Grandiva and we danced classical ballet like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, but in drag. That experience taught me how to become a performer and how to stand on stage as a fierce queen."

That first experience in drag emboldened something within him and Billy knew he needed to continue performing. He recalls what it was like just starting out in drag, an experience that solidified his passion for the art form.

Billy reminisces, saying that, "coming up in drag, I was a club kid who created his own looks out of nothing. For many of us starting out, we didn't have the designers that queens have now." Billy then jokes that, "when we wanted to create a look, we were told to 'go find some plastic in the street to make a head sculpture,' that's what the early days of drag were like."

Throughout his time performing, Billy crafted his drag persona, Billy L'Amour, after going through the journey of finding pride in his gender identity. Billy uses both he/she pronouns and uses his drag to express the femininity in himself.

He muses, "I created Billy L'Amour who is a singing, dancing, showgirl goddess from the Las Vegas of the 1960s, or from the Folies Bergere in Paris. She is an old-school showgirl. Her inspiration is Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame whose motto is 'Life is a banquet and most poor bastards are starving to death,' you've got to live, live, live! And that is how I live my life, following my passions and living to the fullest."

Drag queen Billy L'Amour

Although Billy expresses his individual self with his drag, he also lives life fearlessly by becoming an entrepreneur, which hadn't always been the plan.

Billy states that, "besides my drag, I also live life unapologetically with how I've remained true to myself and taking a chance on an unconventional path. I could've been traditional and become a hair stylist, but that wouldn't have rung true for me. I had to follow my passions."

And Billy will continue to be fearless in every aspect of his life, finding meaning in what he does. Thinking of what comes next, Billy has a mission in line with the passions he loves.

"When I look to the future, I see myself continuing to do what I love, and I'm so happy to say that I love what I do. I'd love to bring more visibility to drag and to help inspire people to appreciate drag in all its beauty."

Watch Billy below in the new Lexus RX commercial "Extra".

See All 2023's Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People
Artists
Disruptors
Educators
Groundbreakers
Innovators
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Daniel Reynolds

Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.

Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.