Every night, Joshua “Josha” Peay steps into black high heels. He cranks up his radio and practices his dancing, hip shaking and facial expressions in front of a full-length mirror.

By day, the Morgantown sophomore is a communications disorders major and director of the Outlet Alliance. But by night, he is a drag queen hopeful who devotes his free time to preparing for his debut as “Divina DeLong.”

Josha has grown to become a proud, openly gay man over the years with the support of his family. His pride and personality have carried him up the ranks of the alliance and have opened the door for him to the art of drag.

Family

In the sixth grade, someone at Josha’s school asked him if he was gay. Josha’s friend quickly answered for him, saying “Yeah, he’s gay. Go away!”

From then on, he was open about his sexuality. Like his friends, his family has been supportive of him, but he hesitated to tell them because he’d always been told that homosexuality is wrong, he said.

Josha came out to members of his family when he knew the time was right and they would be accepting.

He first told his father, David Peay, whom he lived with, soon after the middle school incident.

“We did a 12-step program to build him up until he could say ‘My son is a homosexual,’” Josha said. “Now, he’s into me being myself and says I’m like a daughter, so he has to approve of guys.”

David Peay said the news was a shock initially. But now he is supportive of his son and even helps Josha shop for his drag outfits.

“I realized that it wasn’t anything I did; he was just born that way,” David Peay said. “I have no problems with it now. It’s who he is and I accept it.”

Josha told his mother while he was in high school. She cried but said she knew all along.

He waited until he got to Western to tell the rest of his family. He said everyone except his grandfather, who doesn’t want to acknowledge that Josha is gay, has been supportive.

Chris Funk, Josha’s friend and previous student director of the Outlet Alliance, said Josha’s family has greatly influenced him.

“His family has a lot to do with the person he is today,” Funk said. “They have helped shape his witty personality and upbeat attitude.”

Outlet

Pride is an integral part of Josha’s life, and he helps others be proud of themselves through the Outlet Alliance. In August, Josha was elected director of the Alliance, which is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and questioning activist organization on campus.

Louisville freshman Denny Bartsch, a member of the Outlet Alliance, said Josha is a fun yet responsible director.

“He is so friendly and bubbly,” Bartsch said. “He is a role model to me. He knows what needs to be done and does it.”

Josha’s duties as director include organizing weekly meetings, overseeing the Alliance’s five officers and helping coordinate activities.

“I put a lot of time into it because it’s a very important cause to me,” he said. “It’s very, very good for Western and the world. It’s a way for our voice to be heard on campus and in the Bowling Green community.”

Since Josha has been the director, the Outlet Alliance has grown to about 50 members, up from the 10 who participated in the group two years ago, he said.

“He has done so much in the past few months,” Funk said. “He’s made me so proud. I couldn’t have hand-picked a better director myself.”

Drag

Since he watched a show on HBO about drag queens eight years ago, Josha has dreamed of becoming one.

“I thought it was awesome,” he said. “I was captivated, but it wasn’t until I saw my first live show this summer in Nashville that I thought ‘I can do this.’ Until then, it was just a big dream.”

Two months ago, Josha met Darren King in Downing University Center. King performs drag under the name “Danielle DeLong.” A conversation about the world of drag led to King taking Josha under his wing as his “drag mother.”

King has helped teach Josha how to do his makeup, and to make his body look feminine by taping up his breasts, tucking his penis and wearing a bra, panty hose and girdles.

“When I’m on that stage, I can be someone else and not worry about it,” Josha said. “There’s just something about being able to get up there and perform with no boundaries. I can make it as big as I want.”

Josha plans to make his drag debut at the Outlet Alliance’s Dec. 5 “Drag’n the Runway” drag show in Downing University Center theater.

In the future, he wants to be a playmate at Play Dance Bar in Nashville, one of his frequent hangouts. He also dreams of winning the Miss Continental Plus drag pageant.

Josha’s close friend, Morgantown sophomore Samantha Sparrow, said he has the qualities to be a successful drag queen.

“If anybody has the personality to do drag, it’s Josh,” she said. “He loves to be the center of attention. He’s hilarious, he’s outlandish and he can make anybody laugh — that boy was meant to do drag.”

Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.

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