From Stonewall to Florida: Drag, Activism, and Keeping Pride Alive in Troubled Times – Eric Swanson

In this powerful episode, Eric Swanson activist, performer, and drag entertainer - aka Miss Bouvier - joins me to talk about what it really means to keep Pride alive when the world feels divided. From Florida’s political battlegrounds to global stages in Amsterdam, Eric opens up about using performance as protest, the legacy of Stonewall, and why LGBTQ+ unity is more vital than ever. What you will get in this episode is truth-telling, hard-won hope, and a reminder that visibility is resistance. We discuss how...

1. Visibility is power and how drag performance keep help keep LGBTQ+ culture alive in places trying to silence it.
2. Global perspectives teach us the power of resilience, rights, and representation.
3. Unity conquers fears - Why division within our community only serves those who want to erase us.

About Eric

As an actor and artist, Eric Swanson has been seen in regional productions of “La Cage Aux Folles “ (Albin), “Hairspray “ (Edna Turnblad), “Hair “ (Margaret Mead), “Chicago “ (Mary Sunshine) and “Simply Gershwin “ with over 400 performances as leading man Frank.

He is a fierce advocate for the arts and arts education having completed his bachelors in Music Education from Adrian College (2007). He is the former Choral Director of Middle and Upper Schools (2007-2012) at the prestigious Roeper School located in Birmingham, Michigan. From 2011-2021 he held the position of co-founder and Executive Director for The Detroit Actor’s Theatre Company. He holds two national directorial credits with his direction of “Pray The Gay Away “ (2019) and “Golden Girls, The Laughs Continue “(2022-currently touring), both produced by acclaimed producers Murray and Peter Present. of the struggle of working full time in the state of Florida as a drag performer.

Miss Bouvèé debuted in March 2020 and is the live-singing drag persona of Eric Swanson. As Miss Bouvèé, she has charmed audiences in self produced sold out productions like her annual murder mysteries “Minnie Behind Bars” and “Minnie’s Merry Murder Christmas” and an original musical comedy “Double Trouble”. Miss Bouvèé travels the high seas with LGBTQIA+ groups like Adventure Bears, Island City Travel, and the national brand OutBound (GayCities Best Travel Group 2024). She has collaborated with cruise lines like Azamara, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity Cruise Lines.

Miss Bouvèé continues her arts and advocacy for underserved communities in Florida. She was vehemently opposed to SB1438 which banned public performances of drag and trans artists in the state of Florida. Her voice rose to national media attention when Out/Advocate magazine (June 2024) did a full feature on her which told the story

In August 2023, Miss Bouvèé starred in the indie drag horror comedy and full feature f ilm “Big Easy Queens” which premiered at Popcorn Frights in Fort Lauderdale. Filmed entirely in the state of Florida during the infamous SB1438 drag ban, the film went on to win nearly a dozen awards including Best Actor for Eric Swanson as Miss Bouvee (Berlin Indie Film Festival), and played at over 40 festivals around the world.

In 2024 Bouvèé was named Out South Florida’s (OutSFL) “Best Local Celebrity”, “Best Actor” and holds the title of “Best Themed Night on Wilton Drive; ShowTunes Tuesday” which she has led for 3 years and counting! Eric Swanson is a resident of Fort Lauderdale

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