Emilie Hardman at JSTOR Daily:
Before Rollerena was an AIDS activist, she was already reshaping public life. The impetus for lacing up her rollerskates may have begun as a simple longing to avoid the crowds on her Lexington Avenue line, but it evolved into a form of performance and public expression unlike anything New York had seen. Gliding about on tall, black vintage rollerskates, she became a celebrity presence, recognizable by her flowing gown, ornate hats, rhinestoned glasses, and wand. She became New York City’s Fairy Godmother, a surprisingly vital presence for spreading queer joy.
Rollerena’s archive, recently published by Reveal Digital as part of its HIV, AIDS, and the Arts collection, records the evolution of Rollerena as a public self. According to her own account, the persona of Rollerena was born on the evening of September 16, 1972, when a young Kentucky-born Vietnam War veteran first put on a gown and skates. But that favored account skips an earlier version: “Rollin Skeets,” a less transformed, first-draft figure who lightly obscured its creator behind an umbrella hat, horn, and goggles.
More here.
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