The West Hollywood Cheerleaders are Making History for the Future

You probably have seen them at every SoCal Pride – from Los Angeles and Long Beach to Palm Springs and San Diego, they’ve been there. You may have seen them at your local bar in their black, white, and reds, causing mischief and raising money, they’ve been there. You may have seen them at several non-profit events, volunteering in their signature style, they’ve been there. Flashback to the mid-’80s when a large number of the population of the West Hollywood community was dying from AIDS, they’ve been there. Started by 13 gay men in 1986, the West Hollywood Cheerleaders banded together in their less than polished drag to bring color, cheer, and life back into a mourning community. Not only would the group become a source of hope, awareness, financial aid, and education for the LGBTQ community, but it would also become a safe place for the group itself, with many of the members having overcome addiction, surviving family abandonment, and healing from years of bullying. The Cheerleaders would become a forceful family, unto their own, to be reckoned with. 

Over the past 3 decades, Weho Cheer has adapted and matured along with an ever-changing culture. Their mission of ending AIDS and HIV stigma became official as they achieved non-profit status and became more formalized in their rules, strategy, and community alliances. The group has always maintained diversity in its numbers – all body types, all ethnicities, and all cheer abilities, the only requirements being commitment and an open heart. The Weho Cheer style of drag has always been fun and unique. Though newbies are given a course in makeup techniques, perfect drag is not the point. Beyond the regulation style uniform and white shoes, the Squad curates their individual style whether it be polished, messy, goth, retro, glam, $300 wigs, $25 Party City wigs, it’s all about the mission.

With the advancements in the medical industry, HIV/AIDS is no longer the death sentence it once was. There is a new generation of LGBTQ that did not experience that horrific period where we suffered both socially, politically, and mortally. The immediate need for the West Hollywood Cheerleaders has changed, and these history makers are looking towards the future by adopting a broader mission of recognizing and celebrating young leaders who facilitate dialogue and shine a light on the most critical challenges faced by youth today. Weho Cheer has created The Varsity Awards, for those 16-22 living in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura Counties who have show leadership in social and community issues. The Cheerleaders are passing on the pom-poms to future generations, continuing their mission of education and visibility.

Nicklaus Fox, a West Hollywood veterinarian, has served as the current Leader of the West Hollywood Cheerleaders for several years. He has kept the group alive through periods of waning membership and stiff drag competition from the Drag Race world. He has continued the group’s mission, for the community and as his own testament, having come to this journey by way of his own HIV diagnosis, estrangement from his family, and internalized homophobia. He’s been there, he knows how it feels, and he has taken that opportunity to inspire others. His saving grace? His alter ego Helen Back…

How did you come to find out about the West Hollywood Cheerleaders, how did you first get involved? 

I think it was around 1998 when I attended my first ever gay pride parade in Long Beach. Being a naive country boy from Montana, you can imagine my excitement when I saw the West Hollywood Cheerleaders, in all their glory, marching down the parade route. At that very moment, I pledged to myself I would become a Cheerleader. It was later that year I auditioned and made it onto the squad. It was truly an honor and a privilege to be a member of the legendary West Hollywood Cheerleaders.

What about its mission affected you the most?

The West Hollywood Cheerleaders were founded in the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic in 1986. The squad’s original mission was to bring joy and laughter to those living and dying with AIDS. It was our unique and highly visible platform of self-expression in the LGBT community that helped bring attention to the AIDS crisis. For me personally, I found that drag allowed me to connect with and eventually address the shame I had growing up gay. It was a win-win for me. With time, I was able to heal my inner little gay boy and throughout my tenure, I was able to give back to the community. 

What is your personal experience with HIV/AIDS?

I was so naive when I first moved to LA thinking HIV would never affect me. I didn’t realize my own internalized homophobia and shame would put me in a position that would compromise my emotional and physical health. As with many young gay men, I struggled with drugs and alcohol. It was during this struggle with my shame and addiction that I tested positive for HIV. It’s a long story, but I eventually found sobriety and a renewed interest in carrying the message of the West Hollywood Cheerleaders. 

Can you share your coming-out story?

My coming-out story is kind of sad. I grew up in a conservative family in Montana without any positive gay role models that I could identify with. In hindsight, I’ve been gay since I was a young boy. Instead of nurturing my sensitivity, my parents shamed me for being a sissy and too emotional. I adapted. I acted like a straight boy/man for years. In college, I started to notice men and my attraction to them. It was a difficult journey for me to accept that I was/am gay. My family, in so many ways, pushed me away. As you can see the rocky coming out story, my naivety moving to LA and the internalized shame set the stage for my struggle with drugs and alcohol and finding my true self. The West Hollywood Cheerleaders gave me a safe space to own my queerness and evolve to a point where I could reconnect with my family and them to me. 

In the age of PREP, there’s a new generation that doesn’t understand the loss our community felt during the AIDS epidemic. What would you like to tell that generation? 

This is a great question. With the profound advances in HIV prevention, the PREP generation will never know the immense loss the older generation experienced with the early AIDS epidemic and I’m grateful for this. The younger generation will have their own set of challenges and, I hope as I age, I can be there to support them through it gracefully. 

What has been your favorite moment from being a Weho Cheerleader? 

I’m not a dancer. It doesn’t come naturally to me. So, when I’ve memorized the routine, the music is poppin’, the squad is in sync, it’s when we hit the crescendo and the crowd goes wild. I love that. At that moment I feel complete. 

How did you become its current leader?

Over the past decade, the number of active members was gradually declining. As you know, a strictly volunteer organization faces a particular number of challenges. I saw that if I didn’t step up to keep the squad visible the organization would cease to exist. By default, I welcomed the responsibility of maintaining the organization’s non-profit status while we reorganized and restructured the West Hollywood Cheerleaders. 

Tell me about Helen Back…what does that name mean?

Helen Back is a nod to my descent into the darkness and despair of addiction and making it back alive. 

What have you learned from being Helen Back the most?

Self-awareness, self-love, empathy for myself, compassion for others, leadership, diplomacy, confidence as a man, even more confidence as a drag queen, teamwork, reliability, resilience, the artistic value of drag, and to count to 8 (LOL).

Who taught you how to do drag?

I’m self-taught. YouTube videos and a lot of trial and error.

What sets your drag apart from other drag queens?

I am not a professional and I’m the first to admit it. I love to share any new tips or tricks with the squad… like applying eyelashes, setting your makeup so it doesn’t run during the parade, lightweight boobs, two pairs of pantyhose instead of shaving your legs, up wigs are cooler than down wigs, etc.

You are a very popular vet in your business career, why do you love animals so much? 

I love this question. I grew up on a big sheep and cattle ranch. So, all types of animals have been a huge part of my life. I have three rescues Fifi, a tripod, she’d been hit by a car and was found running the streets of East LA; Leonard, a semi-feral kitty who now has early dementia and high blood pressure and Martin, my COVID puppy.

What do you think about the current boom in mainstream drag?

I love it with the one criticism. RuPaul has forced the drag community to really step up their game. She’s elevated the quality of drag, but she has also set the bar so high it inadvertently excludes many who would like to experiment with drag. Don’t get me wrong… I love RuPaul and all the queens… it’s a less inclusive community for those who are just starting out or experimenting.

I hope there is a way the Cheerleaders can host a reunion party/event where everyone feels welcome and included with their vintage drag, bearded drag, competition drag, boy drag, whatever allows your own level and comfort of self-expression and creativity. 

The need for Weho Cheer has certainly changed over the years, how are you keeping the organization relevant? 

Great question. As the landscape of HIV and drag has changed, the West Hollywood Cheerleaders have seen a need to pivot in a new direction. We are launching a new young leaders scholarship program. The West Hollywood Cheerleaders will recognize and celebrate exceptional young leaders in southern California who inspire a positive impact in their communities, perform outstanding acts of kindness or create change through activism. The Varsity Awards will shine a light on our next generation of community activists. Please visit WehoCheer.org to donate and support our next generation of young leaders. 

What accomplishments of Weho Cheer are you most proud of?

Over the past 35 years, the West Hollywood Cheerleaders have proven to be a beacon of light in the LGBTQ community. We survived the AIDS epidemic, and we are currently in the process of surviving the COVID pandemic. We are resilient. 

How has West Hollywood changed the most over the years?

West Hollywood, the city, has changed significantly over the years. Gentrification has forced the demographic away from “boys town” to a more affluent neighborhood. 

How has the philanthropic community of Weho changed the most over the years?

I have found that it is more difficult to get people to donate to issues related to HIV. With the advances in medical prevention and treatment, it gives the false impression that HIV is no longer a problem. WRONG. HIV is still a huge problem in many communities and especially young people of color ages 14-24. We must continue to work hard and get the message of testing, PREP, and treatment as prevention to everyone in the LGBTQ community. 

What do you miss the most about the early days of Weho Cheer?

It was a simpler time back then… mostly because I didn’t know any better. LOL. On a more serious note, we had a strong sense of community and I’m grateful for the lifelong friends I made along the way. 

You are focusing your efforts on the youth of our community, why is this so important?

Young people don’t want sex advice from their grandma or a 53-year-old cheerleader. So, we need to help our young leaders reach their demographic. Young people listen to other young people, and we want to help facilitate that process. 

What is your message to the community this Pride season?

Great questions. With COVID surging again it is important everyone does their part by masking up and getting vaccinated so we can celebrate like rock stars in 2022. I want everyone to make it through our current pandemic safe and well. 

GED had the absolute pleasure in connecting with Dennis Lynch, an early member of the West Hollywood Cheerleaders who was there in the early ‘90s when the group filed for their non-profit status. Besides the fun and attention the group received, Dennis was fully aware of the impact AIDS/HIV was having on the community.

What made you move to the West Hollywood area?

I am a SoCal native born in La Jolla, California, moved to Vegas at 5 years old until age 26, then I moved to Weho in 1976 with my boyfriend.

How did you get involved with the West Hollywood Cheerleaders?

I worked in banking operations in Beverly Hills where I hired my future roommate, Ron Haney (aka Trampeda), who was in the West Hollywood Cheerleaders. Through him, I auditioned and became Weho Cheerleader in Oct 1992, when I was 41 years old, with my first performance on Halloween in the very spot where the Cheerleaders originally started in 1986.

What is your Cheerleader name?

My Cheerleader name is Ms. Gloria Hole!

What was your personal experience with the HIV/AIDS community?

From 1977 thru 1992 I was married to a woman, through the worst of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and ended that relationship and moved in with Ron and his boyfriend the weekend of the riots of May 1992.

Besides being a member of the gay community, I worked with Ron and other friends at a viatical company that bought life insurance policies from gay men with AIDS. It was very rewarding to help my sisters in financial need and I made some incredible friends while working there and the company helped our support efforts for the AIDS Walk LA.

What was your drag like?

My only previous drag experience before joining the Cheerleaders was as Elvira at Halloween at the bank I worked for. As a Cheerleader, it was camp and fun-themed drag at Drag Strip 66 (since closed).

What did you love most about the Cheerleaders?

The Cheerleaders brought so much joy to our community and through fundraisers for APLA and Being Alive, it was wonderful. My best friend was Volunteer Director for Being Alive, so we participated in many fundraising functions for them.

As an elder in the community, what would you like the younger LGBTQ community to understand the most about that time?

I think one of the things for our younger LGBTQ should understand about that period is how scary and devastating it was for everyone before the life-saving drugs developed to combat the disease and all our heroes that worked so tirelessly to raise money.

How did being a West Hollywood Cheerleader change you the most?

Being a West Hollywood Cheerleader made me appreciate our community more and being a part of efforts to raise awareness and money to help our community made me a better person and friend.

What is a personal favorite memory from being a Cheerleader?

There are so many favorite memories during my 10+ years involved with the group it’s hard to choose just one. The 1994 Gay Games as part of Team LA in New York as well as the 25th Anniversary of Stonewall was an epic week, but also the Gay Games in Amsterdam as participants was phenomenal! Performing in a faux Pride Parade for the incredible Diana Ross/RuPaul music video is a standout and my photo in Variety dancing with Roger Clinton at the movie premiere for Volcano was awesome and our cameo in the Movie Blast from the Past with Alicia Silverstone and Brendan Fraser was captured forever to enjoy.

What are you most proud of the West Hollywood Cheerleaders?

I am very proud of all the fundraising and volunteer work that the group has done over the years and all the happiness, joy, and camaraderie we helped contribute to our community.

What do you miss about those early days?

I really miss the friendships and sisters I made and the joy of being a part of our community’s history and visibility. I profoundly hope that the Cheerleaders will continue the good fight and be a constant beacon of love and inclusiveness for our community. The group has continued to be relevant in our community because its mission is clear and helping that community has been, and still, is of the utmost importance.

What is your message to the community this Pride season?

My message to our community for Pride and throughout the year is never forget to love, support each other, defeat hate, and promote inclusiveness for everyone.

In honor of their 35 years, we give three cheers to the West Hollywood Cheerleaders, the original superheroes of the West Hollywood community and beyond. Please consider donating their Varsity Leadership Awards at www.WehoCheer.org.

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