Written by Juliette Wood. Photo by Annie Campbell.
Liam “Leemur” Dean, a senior performing arts major and soon-to-be-famous drag queen, has just booked a role acting in a scene opposite Laverne Cox in her series “Clean Slate.” It’s a coveted speaking role, in which Liam’s character kicks LGBTQIA icon Cox out of a bar. For Liam, who had already performed on Broadway by high school, the role itself isn’t life-changing. It’s more like one of many achievements propelling him to what he’s always wanted to be: a star.
When getting to know Liam Dean, it’s important to him that people know what has made him who he is, and what he believes has driven his success. He talks about his youth with gratitude. He talks in particular about two foundations of his childhood. You couldn’t guess them if you tried: a conservative upbringing, and “The Wizard of Oz.”
If you talk to someone in the LGBTQIA community about growing up in a conservative household, you likely won’t see any big, delightful smiles. This is what you see with Liam, who attributes his work ethic and motivation in life to the conservative mindset of his family. “It’s so funny because I’m like the ultimate gay,” says Dean, “and there’s a life-size cut-out of Trump in my fucking dining room at my dad’s house.” Dean grew up being the most outspoken of his siblings, and certainly the most self-assured. And though his parents always held strong conservative beliefs, being gay was fortunately never a problem he had to face at home. “My dad was really cool about it; I think because he knew he couldn’t do anything. I’m going to do what I’m going to do, which is how they raised me.” Experimenting with drag happened during spirit week in high school. Dean dressed in drag every day of that week: “It was awful, I mean terrible. My make-up was shit; my outfits were shit. But it was so much fun. That’s when I realized it was something I really wanted to do.” It was over dinner that week at a Mexican restaurant that Dean told his mom that he wanted to be a famous drag queen. Her response? “Okay honey, what do we need to do? Do we need to buy you boobs?”
Dean wouldn’t consider himself a conservative now, but he believes growing up with that get-it-yourself structure and two supportive (though not always fully understanding) parents is a major reason for his self-confidence today. “Thank you, Bill and Stacy, for giving me the guidelines of life and teaching me to be motivated and to want to work. It’s just that my way of working is being on stage, and being a star,” he says.
Liam Dean’s drag name is “St. Leemur” or “Leemur,” which has been his nickname since he was a kid. He has performed and competed eleven times at Club One, placing 3rd in his last performance. He’s auditioned for RuPaul’s Drag Race twice, getting farther in the process each time. In terms of Drag Race, “If anyone could do it, it’s me,” he says, “and I tell people that because I want to believe in myself. I’m going to get on that show.” You can see the self-made, bootstrap mentality in Liam when he talks about his potential for fame. “I’ve always kind of been a selfish brat a little bit, but it’s a blessing. It’s what sets me apart. My family could never relate to the drag or the acting, but they could relate to me making it mine and getting it for myself,” he says.
Though he was accepted at home, growing up gay in St. Louis, Missouri was of course still a challenge. Besides having a supportive family, Liam also had a religion of his own to turn to for guidance: 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz.”
Dean always knew he was gay, and so did the other kids. When he felt isolated or unsure of himself, he turned to Dorothy in her red ruby slippers. His eyes literally twinkle when he talks about it now. “’The Wizard of Oz’ has crafted the way I think about life. I know it’s just a cult-classic film, but something about Dorothy realizing that home is where the heart is at and that you’re always going to have those people that love you no matter where you go in life, was just so important to me as a kid,” Dean says. He watches “The Wizard of Oz” every birthday. It helped raise him and reminds him of how loved he will always be, no matter where the wind takes him. His obsession with the film is inseparable from his identity: “My family knew at a very young age that I was gay because I would wear, like, my GAP clothes and then my ruby slippers everywhere. I wore my ruby slippers to go fishing with my grandpa.” Now, in his kitchen in Savannah stands a life-size cut-out of the Wicked Witch. In his living room, a set of collectible theatre chairs painted with the characters’ faces. The film is his life’s cornerstone.
“Drag has taught me to love myself. My family and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ taught me to love myself. And when you love yourself, it’s much easier to give love to other people.”
Dean films his scene with Laverne Cox on the 15th and 16th of May. For him, it’s the perfect role to serve as the launchpad for the rest of his career. “It’s the best situation. It’s gay, it’s funny. My character is in drag. I’m nervous about it and I’m putting myself in an uncomfortable position, but that’s my favorite thing to do. Everyone should put themselves in uncomfortable positions, that’s the only way you can grow and succeed as a person.”
Liam plans to move to Brooklyn, NY after graduation to pursue drag and acting. If you want to follow his career, be sure to check the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race every once in a while, or follow him on Instagram @liam.the.leemur.
