RuPaul Charles spills the tee on his life journey--from 80’s punk rock beginnings to snatching an Emmy in 2016. Program was recorded on June 25, 2017 at the Taper Auditorium in Los Angeles Central Library.
I’m a straight woman, Rupaul has taught me so much through his talks and teachings that I am often looking to him for his perspective on many topics 🤷♀️🤷♀️
I was just watching Nelson Sullivan's old videos of Ru in New York City back in 1986-1988. I'm still inspired by that young person who had a dream and believed in it. An American success story who held the ladder for others to climb up, too. Thank you for being unapologetically yourself.
Those Nelson Sullivan Videos are Priceless. Not only do we get to see RuPaul and Lahoma, and Lady Bunny, we also get to see NYC when it was an amazing time to live there. Those videos are a time capsule. 😊
His wisdom, elegance, humor and yes....deep level of spirituality are all evident in what he says, and does. The drag costume/makeup/hair/stance part are undeniably stunning and impressive; it's easy to be distracted by the sheer physical beauty in Ru's transformation. But really, I view this amazing guy as a major force for good, for a kind of soul-integrity. In a way he's the poster kid... for living life, whoever y'all happen to be!!!
Cynthia Hawkins You said this so eloquently !! And You are spot on !! His speaking is flawless!! There is also a comfort zone that humans fall into, we are so uncomfortable with change !! It is sad, I find change uplifting, and have always seen the growth with change !!!
Oh yeh your right Donald Trump is the best there is.. don't be stupid Ru's values and way of dealing and looking at the world should be implemented throughout human kind.
You see constant glimpses of Ru’s soul and ideology woven into the foundations of dragrace, but it’s amazing to witness it so deeply and directly. This is wonderful!
Every single word that leave ru's lips is a fucking master piece of a lesson to live by. And she makes it sound simple but in the reality when you feel it in your core, you know that is a a lot of work, Im just grateful she presents these keys to us so freely and selflessly, it is up to us to live up to the challenge. Ok I'm out. #GirlBye
This has hit me, grounded me and flown my soul out in the universe more then anything I think I’ve ever experienced in my entire life. RuPaul you’re a master, you’re a hero and an inspiration for all of us.
Mama Ru, you're the auntie I always wish I had. I can relate - I once went to a conference based on tolerance and speaking across differences and all the group did was talk about differences and oppression. It was painful to not elevate the conversation and be forced to stay stuck.
From personal experience: I spent years in my 30's as a beauty queen by day (beauty pageants all over the country) and a drag king by night (performing locally and in New Orleans). It was the most liberating time of my life to be able to be on the far end of each spectrum. I was always an open minded person and drag started as a joke with a friend, but it turned into something that was an incredible journey. I still do it a couple of times a year (health issues and age) and love being in that area of my own head. It takes a ton of self confidence and self awareness to push yourself over those limits and taking that stuff off the shelf! Very very powerful message RuPaul. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
I didn't think I could possibly love him any more than I did. I was wrong. He represents the best parts of humanity. I am so thankful that kids have a person like this to look up to to know they will be okay.
I relate to his spiritual inner journey soooo deeply, I definitely cried at a few parts. So inspiring, a true legend and someone I personally look up to.
The charisma is limitless. It's a truly rare thing to be this high minded and yet down to earth. He is so sincere, so thoughtful, so successful and yet I sense virtually no arrogance
Ru is great entertainer, a gorgeous drag queen, an xtremely intelligent, compassionate, inspiring and interesting man. He is the sort of leader the USA needs to turn to, to morph into the next level and reconstruct their belief systems. Congratulations to Ru, for getting her MUCH deserved star on the Hollywood walk of fame......Sissy that Walk Girrr.....
Rupaul Charles you are my spirit animal. Thank you so much for always being a beacon of light and utter inspiration. You ground me and of course entertain me. Thank you. 😊
I'm honestly so thankful that a spirit of this capacity continues to shine amidst the dense programming that continues to thrive in this world. Ru is definitely a sensor, and can percieve and process the esoteric/extoeric in a brilliant way. This type of language is truly inspired.
I helped you RuPaul, hang posters up for your band in Atlanta... I Love 💘 You and so happy to hang w you here on You Tube. David Knoll was my husband in NYC, we met in Atlanta. You stopped by our apt on E. 43rd and I wasn't home. Sry to have missed you. LoVE to U my FrIend 💘
Ru Paul, for the record - I always feel like I never fit in and feel that I am an imposter. I speak in groups and no-body hears me or stops to listen, I dress quirky and love all the things that people don't seem to, am very different from my family too. I know how you feel!!xx Guess I'm lacking a lot of confidence by it too by it... Loved listening and watching you!!
Rupaul seems like a genuine cool ass dude. And a good person. I know he was very supportive and gd friends with Kurt & Nirvana on their rise to fame. Seems like a real open minded legit dude.
Love Ru for so long. He is unique, handsome, elegant, talented, intelligent, humorous, beautiful, spiritual, it doesn't stop! He is THE perfect role model for all of us regardless of ur sexuality. Thank u Ru for opening the door to so much, a life of choices, beauty, fun, gratefulness, sincerity, love and deaest kindness. GO GIRL!!!!
For anyone who wants the list of books and movies mentioned by RuPaul, we put together a blog post awhile back: www.lapl.org/collections-resources/blogs/lapl/rupaul-recommends
Let me say this....I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Ru!! I can appreciate that he doesn't view himself as black....or white...or gay.....or straight.....he's "just Ru" and I can completely relate!! However, enlightened as he comes across, the reality of things is he does not know what lies beyond this world. I heard him make statements like (I'm paraphrasing) the devil is in your mind - it's not real. You are a God, and can live exactly how you'd like because nothing will happen. Drugs are fine....etc....The bottom line is those are his opinions and not him or anyone for that matter can speak on such things. I wish him the best of luck however, and really enjoy listening to him.
I'm reeling from "thought sphincter" as well 🙃😜🤣! As an insomniac as well, I have enjoyed the use of an audio book to fall asleep to. It's s been awhile since I used that technique to sleep I'm overdue using that method however!
One thing Ru talks about that I am so grateful i’ve mastered is looking at myself,my actions and how im perceived with a third eye. I get what he is saying about drag going “mainstream”,as popular as it may seem our culture as a whole is very much “Sleep” and will never,well at least in our time,will ever wakeup. I also agree with him on the spirituality,praying to something...anything,higher than you is the key not a particular religion but a spiritual connection with a greater energy or being. I love Ru!
RuPaul is lovely so smart and articulate, i`m quite sure he lived 1000 deaths as he said, but at the same time i notice must be hard for him trusting people and find true people in such whimsical world where everyone seems to want a piece of him. I only can imagine the betrayals, the lies and the hardships he had to endure to get where he is.
Thank you so much for sharing this inspiring talk. Listened to this last night, while I could not sleep, because my mind was stuck in thought about feeling stuck in my life ❤️ (I'm a Danish person, so in the moment I'm writing this, it is early morning here)
I have a very small list of heroes. RuPaul Andre Charles is at the top of that list. He tells kids that there is family for them, even if their birth families reject them. He gives hope. Bless him.
Dear Ru If you are reading this thankyou so much. Thankyou to the producers also. This is literally life changing. I think I just got healed. 🥰 Let love rule. Lu x
What an amazing Bodhisattva! Thank you for your LIGHT Ru Paul. I AM the East Village cynic and Lordy Lord Lord, time for me to take my inventory, loose the baggage and smile...but darn it's sooo hard to smile in this town. God give me strength...as you give me strength.
