How Long Is “Sissyboy”?

Mark "Zebra" Thomas was a filmmaker, performance artist and circus performer who in 2002 moved to San Francisco, where he became a fan of an outlaw drag troupe called "Trannyshack." After pulling up stakes and relocating to Portland, Oregon, Thomas set out to organize a performance company that would embrace some of the traditions of drag shows but combine them with the outsider spirit of punk rock, the anything-goes atmosphere of the circus, and a strong dose of political and social satire. Attracting a number of like-minded men, many of whom felt like outcasts or misfits within both the gay and straight communities, Thomas and his new compatriots founded a drag troupe called "Sissyboy," which gleaned outrageous comedy from subjects that many artists would consider off-limits. While "Sissyboy" became an underground sensation in Portland, for the participants its greatest success was bringing together a community of like-minded people who celebrated their ability to live productively outside the rules. Filmmaker Katie Turinski offers a look at the history and impact of Thomas's company as they prepare for their final shows in the documentary Sissyboy, which received its world premiere at the 2009 South by Southwest Film Festival.