Queerying: Chad of DC Cowboys

Birth Sign: on the cusp: Scorpio/Sagittarius
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 135 lbs
Boot Size: 15 (just kidding—8)
Fantasy Man:This hour? Justin Timberlake (There’re so many!)
Life Philosophy:Work hard, play harder
What Makes You Click? (Turn On’s): great smile, good personality, sense of humor, and a six pack of abs doesn’t hurt
Chad, thank you for doing this interview. So along with being a dancer for the group you are also the Communications Director? How did you get involved in the group?

Chad: Thanks for interviewing me! This is my fifth year with the group. I joined in late 2001 and from the get-go, I volunteered my skills as a graphic designer. Over the years, the group’s director, Kevin, delegated more and more of the advertising and marketing materials to me. Last year, Kevin started to bounce more ideas off of me, and I stepped up my responsibilities. It was around that time that he crowned me the “Communications Director.” My first order of business was to redesign the website. After months of organizing and developing, we finally launched the new site this past June. Most of the credit goes to my college friend John for all his hard work. This year we also decided to produce another calendar, the group’s third. I volunteered to design it, as well as shoot the video for the DVD. I’d never done anything like that before and found it was quite a challenging project. But I’m thrilled with the results. Hopefully everyone else is too…

You’re originally from Florida, that is a big difference from DC. What are the biggest differences in culture and lifestyle?

Chad: Well, I grew up in a small town in Florida and knew that I wanted to live in a big city after college. I’ve been in DC for almost 10 years now and really consider it my home. I would say the differences I notice are not just based in locale but also with where I am in my life…. I’m not that wide-eyed 20-something any more. DC definitely has a lot more to offer… there’s many more opportunities… more people, more diversity, more places to visit whether it be theaters, museums, bars and clubs. There’s always something going on and always new people to meet. I’m generally not that into politics—a rarity in DC, I know—but it is exciting to live in the nation’s capital.

What with the nickname “Chandy?”

Chad: **laughs** Not sure I should share that story. It’s a little embarrassing. But here goes… One Halloween in college, I went in drag as a cheerleader named “Cindi.” I’ve sort of always had this childhood fantasy about being a cheerleader. Well, that fantasy lives on today… I often find myself in a cheerleader type role when I’m with a group of people, such as the Cowboys. A year or so ago, a close friend asked about this cheerleader obsession and I told him about “Cindi.” He decided that my new alter-ego would be called “Chandy”—a combination of “Chad” and “Cindi.” And thus, Chandy was born. I don’t perform in drag and it’s not a separate identity or anything. It’s just a funny nickname that stuck.

Ok, I see you’re a Dixie Chicks fan just like me. Did you see them in DC? Thoughts on their new CD? I think Not Ready To Make Nice is one of the most passionate and cathartic songs ever done, what do you think?

Chad: I love the Dixie Chicks! Unfortunately I missed their DC concert. I really love the new CD! I’m so proud of them for coming back so strong… and for not backing down. I think for all the fans they lost in the “red” states, they’ve gained back in the “blue” states. That’s so awesome! I think my favorite song on the new CD is the title track, “The Long Way Around.” I relate to that song a lot. However, you are right about “Not Ready to Make Nice”—there is a lot of passion there. I get chills every time Natalie sings, “And how in the world can the words that I said, Send somebody so over the edge, That they’d write me a letter, Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing, Or my life will be over.” Amazingly powerful!

You have one of the cutest grins ever, it really draws people in and I’m sure you already realize your ass is a lethal weapon. WOW! How often are you hit on dancing? Ever had that one (or 5) just sweep you off your cowboy boots and thrill you for the night?

Chad: WOW… thank you! That’s quite a compliment! Not sure I’ve had my ass called a lethal weapon before. **laughs** Believe it or not, I’m not hit on that often. Occassionally someone will come up to me after a performance, but most of our fans like to admire from afar. Plus, I like to do the chasing, most of the time. So usually I’m the one going up to guys.

The two biggest events in your life are what? Why?

Chad: Oh god! That’s a tough question. One would have to be coming out as a gay man. I was somewhat of a late bloomer and didn’t really put it all together until after high school. But once I realized that I was gay, everything just made sense. Not that being gay is easy and not that being gay defines my life, but it’s touched every aspect of my life… who my friends are, where I live, what I do, becoming a DC Cowboy. It’s so much easier to live life when you’re honest with yourself. I’ll pick something stupid for the other one…. let’s see…. I’ll say being cast as the title character in “The Gingerbread Man” in the 1st Grade. **laughs** That really sent me down a path of becoming a performer.

There is a sexual fluidity between dance and eroticism, why do you think that is?

Chad: Probably because dance is so physical… whether you are dancing alone or with someone, there’s movement of the body… you focus on your body and the way it moves. When you are with someone, it’s a way to connect those two bodies together. It’s like foreplay. Someone once said, “Dancing is the perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire.” I think that says it all.

What can a guy do to absolutely steal your heart, about 120,000 want to know right now? Help them out with how to make Chad take notice of them.

Chad: Well, the first thing that gets my attention is a sexy body…. which can be anything from a handsome face, huge pecs, a tight t-shirt, a round ass or most importantly, a welcoming smile, a whimsical look in his eye. I’m also drawn to a guy who shares my same energy level. He must have enthusiasm and a zeist for life. It helps if we get excited about the same things. But he needs to bring a certain energy to the table. However, a huge turn-off is when a guy is overly aggressive and comes on too strong; someone who tries too hard. I’m a good listener and take a genuine interest in people. And I expect the same. It helps if they are a fan of the DC Cowboys.

You have to have a cowboy fantasy, what is it?

Chad: Mmmm… after Brokeback Mountain, it’s gotta be something with Jake Gyllenhaal. **laughs** I still have this notion that a cowboy must be a rugged, handsome man’s man, despite the fact that I’m not. **laughts** So, I think my fantasy would involve a really hot, hairy-chested stud in a cowboy hat, tight jeans and boots riding up on a horse to sweep me off my feet…. take me to the barn and have his way with me.

How do you like those QC T’s?