Richard Luna has become a bit of a legend in Braintree, Massachusetts, ever since local WBZ News reporter Matt Shearer interviewed him at the beginning of July.
In the original video, the Filipino South Shore Plaza mall worker showcases his playful personality and says that, by night, people should refer to him as Maria Christina False Eyelashes, his drag persona.
People were also very taken with his instantly-iconic catchphrase: “Joke only!”
The video went viral, with people praising Richard/Maria-Christina’s humour, charisma and energy, amongst many other things. Several other comments demanded Matt do a follow-up video, which he did.
In the second video, the reporter dug deeper into Richard’s life and what he does when he’s not working as, amongst other things, a greeter at clothing retailer Aéropostale. It turned out to be quite the tear-jerker. Richard hadn’t been able to showcase his talents as Maria-Christina False Eyelashes in years, as he has a disapproving father.
The second video also revealed that Richard works 80 hours a week over three jobs to put his niece and nephew through school, explaining that he’s “given up” his own happiness in order to help his family. Crying now.
He also said he didn’t have a social life due to working such long hours, so Matt responded by taking him to a drag bar and introducing Maria Christina False Eyelashes to some local queens.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE. Grab the tissues.
In a video posted yesterday (30 October), Richard finally got to get back on stage as his true, authentic self and perform a show as Maria Christina False Eyelashes! And there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including from some of Richard’s own relatives. Watching Maria finally take to the stage and slay the house down is the dose of queer joy we all need at the moment, so please enjoy:
If you’re still not crying, you either have the cold, dead heart of a serial killer, or you’re a Republican. Or both.
The post If this video of a mall worker living out his drag dreams doesn’t make you cry, you have a cold, dead heart appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.