Our Talk With the First-Ever Mx. Mid-South Pride, Nonbinary Drag Performer Zoloft
This story was featured in our print and digital September/October issue.
Every day, it gets more difficult and dangerous for entertainers to live in their truth. For drag entertainers, breaking boundaries, standing firm on human and LGBTQIA+ rights, and helping us all live in our truth come with the job.
Zoloft (Ama), the first nonbinary drag performer to be crowned Mx. Midsouth Pride earlier this year, is one of those entertainers. Zoloft is a math instructor by day and a drag entertainer by night. They’ve performed (with a small hiatus) for about two years and continue to be the perfect prescription for fans, offering a much-needed escape from the sadness in our world.
I sat down with them to learn more about their drag, life, and what inspires them as an artist.
Why did you choose Zoloft as your drag name?
Zoloft is a medication I’ve been on since I was 11. I was thinking of drag names, puns, and references and it just made sense because drag and taking Zoloft were both such life-saving, self discoveries for me. I love people’s reactions to my name.
What made you take the leap to perform?
The story is kinda weird because I was at my friend’s bachelorette party in 2021. I was in a relationship at the time and we were going through some rough patches. We went to a strip show and there were drag queens that were there that witnessed me crying due to a disagreement I had with my partner at the time. I was having anxiety about what was going on around me and the drag queens invited me backstage. I just hung out for three hours with these three drag queens in Vegas, and they encouraged me to perform. It was a really cute moment.
How long had you considered doing drag before acting on it?
I’ve considered doing drag ever since I attended a DRU’s [drag] show back in 2018. I was being convinced I should do king drag and I didn’t know how to navigate, but I knew I really wanted to perform again because I’ve been doing theater and dance my whole life.
What makes you most nervous about being a gender non-conforming entertainer?
Honestly, a lot of it is in my head when I am in performance spaces. I feel like I convince myself that I have to prove my worth and my ability to be in that space. Also, I convinced myself that the specific space wasn’t meant for me because in the past they may not have had any gender non-conforming artist.
What is your biggest fear about being a drag entertainer and a school instructor?
I’m always worried about—specifically in this state—all the laws and bills being posed and passed against drag entertainers; that what I do will be viewed as inherently sexual and I would lose my job for it.
Who inspires you as a queer artist?
I love seeing all the queer pop representation and, of course, I’m going to say Chappell Roan. Queer as an identity is living on the outskirts of the norm and she definitely embodies that with her choice of costumes and her honesty as a performer. It’s something I aspire towards. As far as local queens, Miss Liza is an entertainer from Fayetteville, Arkansas. She definitely helped me out early on. She was definitely a guiding force for me.
How does being a drag entertainer play into your work/ life/ family balance?
I’m going to talk about being non-binary first, because I view coming out at work as a step on my drag journey. When I first came out to the [school administration], asking to use a different honorific and pronoun, they said that they were ok with it. About two weeks later, my principal invited me to a meeting where she talked about how I had to make sure not to go too far since I was teaching children. I asked her what going too far meant and if parents or students had mentioned that I’d gone “too far.” She said no one had said anything, but it was just a warning not to talk about my personal lifestyle choices with students.
To me, this narrative was painfully similar to the idea that queer folks are pedophiles. All of that just lit a fire under me. Now that I have begun doing drag, I am open to my students about my drag. I went to school in drag for Halloween and in drag for the prom I had to chaperone. I never bring up drag on my own accord, but if students have questions outside of instructional time, such as how I do my makeup or style a wig, I will tell them. I keep a distance between work and my career as an entertainer, but at the same time, I’m done hiding myself. If I knew that my teachers were queer growing up, it would help normalize queerness for me. If I knew my teacher was public about being a drag performer, that would show me that I can be open, honest, and loud about who I am! My family is supportive and are excited to hear about my drag. I am deeply grateful for that. My life as the drag entertainer Zoloft and my life as the teacher Mx. E are what helps make up Ama. So although I never let any of the various facets of my life take over, I don’t try to hide them anymore.
How does it feel to earn the title of Mx. Mid-South Pride 2024?
It’s validating. Because I wear clothes that are labeled as feminine in and out of drag, people often question when I label myself as non-binary. Drag is a way for me to reclaim my identity and highlight that expression is not always equivalent to identity. Don’t get me wrong. It absolutely can be a tool for some people to outwardly express their gender, but for me I am just drawn to what I find, which happens to be bright, sparkling things. I don’t want to be placed into a box based on what I wear. Earning this title was not only recognition that I am valid as a non-binary entertainer, but that I am able to represent our growing community [of] non-binary entertainers.
I try my best to be a supportive and present member of our community. I go to local shows to support entertainers, I take pictures and post them publicly so entertainers can promote themselves, I attend community events, and I stay out of drama as much as I can. At my job, I am always advocating for my LGBTQIA2S+ students. It brings me joy that I have been recognized and will hopefully act as an example to others. I’m so grateful that Mid-South Pride created this category this year because I wanted to represent our community, but I wasn’t entirely comfortable competing in the other categories. I’m a Memphis transplant, and I’ve been here for seven years. I consider this my home, and now I am a part of [its] history!
How do you keep yourself grounded?
I’m not the best at keeping myself grounded, to be honest. There is a reason I take Zoloft after all; I’m always full of intrusive thoughts. I think the biggest thing I try to do is find comfort in people around me in my community. I’ll always talk things through with people who help me slow down and think, or just listen if I need to vent. I’m very grateful for my supportive circles.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
You are not late to the game. It may seem that way when you are joining a community where many newer entertainers are in their early-twenties, but everyone’s trajectory is unique.
How about advice you would give your future self?
Your definition of success may change. What you want for yourself now, you may not get, but you will find new ways to succeed. It hasn’t been linear in the past, and it may never be linear, but there are ways to find personal victories.
What is a fun fact you want people to know about Zoloft?
I’ve got to do some pretty amazing things, but by far my favorite has been opening for Chappell Roan in Little Rock. She’s an artist I’ve been a fan of since 2021, and to see a drag queen (she is a drag queen) take off in mainstream pop music has been so cool! I was honored [she] and her team recognized my drag.
To learn more about Zoloft and their upcoming shows follow them at @amazoloft, or Facebook: Ama Ehrmann
