Babalon Killz (she/it/they/he) came to us from Laramie, Wyoming. At 18 years old, they discovered the local drag scene, and shortly thereafter, they were a part of it. They got the Killz name from Scarlet Killz, (who actually has no relationship to the Denver Killz drag family), and created their first drag persona, Slayton Killz.
The Dragonets of Laramie, at that time were quite popular, not just for queer audiences, but for the straight, cis population too. “I was the straight people’s favorite,” Babs says. Slayton’s horror drag paired with nu metal music was the perfect recipe for everyone in the place to scream and chant and fall in love.
Fellow drag artist Giselle Moncur says, “I’ve known Babalon since she started drag in Wyoming—My favorite thing about her approach to drag is the artistic authenticity she brings every time she performs. She is so thoroughly herself, and it’s so refreshing to see.” Three years later they moved to Colorado, and people assumed they were part of the Colorado Killz family. They told me about one such instance when they competed in IzzyDead MotherEffer’s Weirdo. IzzyDead announced Babs as a granddaughter (in drag) of Yvie Oddly. Afterwards, Babs went to inform Izzydead that she was of the Laramie Killzes and not the Colorado ones.
But as it turned out, Izzydead predicted Babalon’s future, in a way. On 31, July 2022, We welcomed Babalon into the Denver Haus of Killz, making her a great granddaughter of Yvie Oddly, grandchild of Neurotika Killz, Heavenly Powers and Thunderella Wonders, daughter of
me. She shed Slayton Killz and metamorphosed into Babalon. Or as she says it, “Babalon just dragged Slayton into an alley and killed her.” She went on to say, “Slayton was a she/her who did face value performances… back when I was Slayton, I really did not do deep stuff. I didn’t really think about it too much… It just kind of was performing.”
Babalon, by contrast performs from the heart. Her name is a reference to the whore of Babylon from revelations—a love and sex goddess who doesn’t believe in body shaming—“the mother of abominations.” “Every act now (as Babalon) I want to feel within my soul, and have it be an expression of my sexuality, my gender, my feelings,” she says. “Have it be me, not just things that I like.” It worked. Babalon’s arrival was a sonic boom, heard by the entire alternative drag community in Denver. Their passion and authenticity is truly something to behold.
Babalon and Slayton are just their feminine personas. They also have a masculine persona named Incubus. He is a way for them to work through their negative feelings about their masculine aspects. Incubus helps Babalon figure out what they want their masculine side to be. Since exploring Incubus, Babalon has actually come out as gender-fluid. When they aren’t on stage, Babalon works on the custodial staff of an elementary school.
It’s an interesting place for them to be, given the controversy and legal attempts against drag performers in schools. Babalon is wary of the parents, but doesn’t compromise on their self expression. It’s important to them to be visible to the queer kids who need to see an example of a grown up trans person thriving. They’ve also gotten to see teachers explain queerness to little children in ways that aren’t too mature or complicated, which proves it can be done.
Babalon is also one of the least selfish people I have ever met, which is honestly refreshing and surprising in the world of performance artists. When asked what their selfish wish would be, if they had to make one, they said they would want an island somewhere, where queer people could be safe and loved and live as a community. When pressed to come up with something truly selfish, they couldn’t. Babalon has a bright future in the Denver drag scene and beyond it. I know I’m not the only one who can’t wait to see what they come up with next. It will be spectacular, authentic, and good for the world.
Images courtesy of Lucyfer Photography
