Interview with Emauel Xavier

Spoken word artist, author and poet Emanuel Xavier talks about his inspiration, his favorite gay and the one man that just doesn't get it.

You founded the House of Xavier in 1998. Tell us about this fusion of the ball culture and poetry?

It's been a lot of fun to watch it become such an underground New York City tradition. I simply wanted to pay tribute to two cultures which influenced me in positive ways. It's not as exciting and intense as an actual ball where the categories involve voguing and runway, but if you enjoy spoken word poetry, it's a creative twist on slam competitions. It's rather geek-friendly. However, there are trophies and fun categories such as Best Erotic Poem in Sexy Underwear or Lingerie and Best Love Poem in Fire Engine Red. It requires a lot of nerve to go up and spit a few words on the mic while wearing something fun just to fit into the category requirements.

Abuse, homelessness, prostitution, drug dealing... You've had a pretty rough past. Was poetry your healing outlet or was there one cathartic event that helped you turn everything around?

I was driving straight into a wall before I discovered poetry and decided to pursue exploring my emotions more creatively. It saved me in so many ways because I was finally passionate about something that could help heal my wounds and inspire others to do the same. It was a difficult but important transition and I'm just glad, despite all the obstacles, I never gave up on myself. It's been quite a journey but it's important to stay positive and look forward to growing as a person. The hardest part was to believe in myself and recognize the negativity I needed to break away from.

How have you changed since 1997 when you published your first anthology Pier Queen to now?

I'd like to think I've grown, not only as an artist, but as a person. I've had the opportunity to enjoy new experiences and dialogue with different types of individuals. I've been fortunate enough to meet some of the people who have been inspired by my work and learned that, although I may have initially started writing to express my own experiences, I was giving a voice to others along the way. I think I also developed a great sense of humor with which I could look back and laugh at myself.

You call yourself a revolutionary and not an activist. Can you be one without being the other? How so?

I'm just an artist trying to give voice to my experiences. Sometimes what I believe in or have to say may be considered radical or "revolutionary," I'm simply expressing how I feel. That it may or may not coincide with other agendas is relative only in that I get a little more exposure because of who I am and what I do. I understand that it's important, but true "activists" are out on the streets fighting for our rights on a regular basis. Maybe I inspire them but they definitely inspire me and I can't even try to fill their shoes.

What's the one thing you want most but just can't have?

A wider audience of people who appreciate my work as an artist despite the fact I'm gay. I accept the fact that I will always be labeled as a gay artist but it would be nice for more people to look past that and discover something more universal in my work.

Who's your favorite gay person in the whole world?

I love Rosie O' Donnell. I actually met her briefly during the time I was still indulging in criminal activity. The drug dealer I was working for was ironically a huge Broadway fan and took me to see her during her stint in Grease. We were yelling from one of the side balcony seats and caught her attention as she was trying to get through the show.

Afterward, we happened to be walking by as the cast members were coming out and she singled us out to security and called us over. I thought she was going to have us arrested, which she probably should've, but instead she asked if we wanted to take pictures with her. I remember her asking if Madonna sent us. I suppose we did look like Blond Ambition back up dancers.

Who's the one person in the world that just doesn't get it?

Oh, there are way too many, but Reverend Phelps still remains a favorite. I dedicated a poem from my last collection to him- "Children of Magdalene." It's about the hypocrisy of religion.

Can you tell us about your new anthology?

I will be editing a collection of queer Latino poets for Floricanto Press but I am also working on a new collection of my own poetry (both due out in 2008). I think it's a little more mature and philosophical than my earlier work, maybe even more confessional. However, like my previous efforts, there will be a few poems that will probably work better on the stage than on the page. I emerged from the spoken word scene and am a huge fan of the Beatnik poets so there will always be a performance aspect to my poetry, no matter what the critics have to say.

Sometimes an artist's best work manifests during times of struggle. Can good art exist without pain?

There will always be struggle and, therefore, there will always be art. It's just simply more motivating to create and easier to find your voice when there is a challenge to overcome. Even in my own most romantic poems, there is always a subtle element of melancholy. I read somewhere that all artists are emotionally crippled in some way which drives their passion to express themselves creatively. I'm not ashamed to admit I've experienced a lot of pain which I explore in my own art.

Do you have any advice for those poets out there that are still looking for a muse?

Reading is great source material for inspiration. Sometimes you come across a word, a phrase or even an entire poem that totally moves you. Once you're on to something, try not to let it go, if even just for yourself. You could later go back to it and either have a good laugh or find something worth sharing with others.