Untoxicated 2022 / Yoga and Recovery

This week on Talk Recovery Radio we welcome two amazing guests, first on the show is Vancouver drag sensation Kendall Gender to talk about Untoxicated 2022 which is coming home to New Westminster at New West Pride this Saturday. Second on the show is Victoria H yoga teacher and person in recovery who will tell us her personal story of how yoga helped save her life. Catch it all on Facebook live this Thursday at 12pm PST.

Kendall Gender

As a performer, host, model and LGBTQIA2S+ activist, Kendall Gender is a bonafide Canadian drag sensation. With grassroots in Vancouver, she has performed coast to coast since 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down.

Kendall is best known for being on season 2 of Canada’s Drag Race, where she placed in the top 3.  She is also known for being the queer ambassador for Fairmont Hotels, a member of infamous drag group ‘BRATPACK’ and a past winner of elite drag competition “Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar” in 2017. She was also elected as the “Empress of Vancouver” and raised over $25,000 for various charities as a part of the Dogwood Monarchist Society.  In 2020 she was also the first drag performer to do a halftime performance at the Rugby 7’s game, performing for a crowd of 50,000 people.

As a biracial artist, Kendall started the show ‘VISIBLE’ which is designed as a  platform to raise money and awareness for visible minorities.  In 2020, the events moved digital and raised over $9,000 for Black Lives Matter during a single event.

Kendall has been cast in the lead role of an upcoming film called “Stay”, playing the character Kaleb /Ivy Diamonds. The film is set to release in fall 2022.

Always dressed to the nines and known for her explosive and high-energy performances that radiate positivity and ooze sex appeal, Kendall is a powerhouse that continues to leave audiences wanting more as her star continues to rise.

Kendall talks about sharing her recovery story on Canada’s Drag Race for thousands of people to see and hear. She says it is very therapeutic to share her story with others. Kendall feels that it is not helpful to keep her story to herself as she says a lot of her recovery is community and relationship building, in the 12 step community and in the queer community. Kendall was asked, how different was coming out with her recovery and her coming out with her sexual identity. Kendall says one of the biggest differences for her was the ages when she came out as queer as she was 13 years old and she says her mental state was a lot different. Kendall says one of the biggest challenges in that time of her life was being afraid of not fitting in and being different than other people, but when Kendall began her recovery journey she was around 24 years old and she was more comfortable with her identity at that point in her life. Kendall says she was not ashamed of being sober.

When Kendall began her recovery, she was not doing drag, she was not ready to start drag right when she stopped drinking as the scene of night clubs and her recovery did not align at the time. When Kendall began drag again in recovery, she found that she had a new love and appreciation for it without drinking and being in Recovery.

The last Vancouver Pride before Kendall came into recovery, she shares the story of her having tickets to Untoxicated but missing the show because of her being in the height of her addiction she was up all night the night before and was using drugs and alcohol, she remembers being home that night at home alone, depressed and so disappointed that she missed the opportunity of seeing one of her favorite drag artists, it was a very sad night she describes. Fast forward to 2 years later, Kendall is on stage in recovery with the Bratt Pack performing in front of a sold-out crowd of Untoxicated. Kendall felt it was a celebration being on stage performing in recovery at such an important event to the sober and drag community at Vancouver Pride.

Kendall’s Social Media

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Untoxicated 2022

Last Door’s Clean Sober Proud initiative invites EVERYONE to substance-free spaces during Pride Season, people in recovery, recovery allies, sober curious people and anyone who wants to be part of is welcome to celebrate with us.

Dance with us at our highly anticipated UNTOXICATED Street festival.

This year the anticipated Untoxicated festival is coming home to New West in partnership with the New West Pride

These activities help foster healthy relationships for the LGBTQ2s+ Community while connecting people to Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services.

Thank you to the thousands of volunteers and the thousands of supporters over the years that have helped this initiative grow.

Where: Outside of Anvil Centre, New Westminster, BC

When: 3-8pm August 13th, 2022

Yoga and Addiction Recovery

The second half of the show hear Victoria’s personal story of addiction and recovery and how yoga helped save her life.

Recovery and yoga have saved my life. When in front of a class it is important to me to be authentic, with a non-judgmental teaching style and compassion-centered philosophy, adding in my sense of humor to make it fun. I encourage growth of the physical and spiritual, weaving yoga into the recovery process. This is my passion, and I am so happy to have found it.

Listen and Subscribe

Talk Recovery airs live every Thursday at noon on 100.5 FM, Vancouver Coop Radio. The Last Door produces this weekly radio show discussing the many pathways to addiction recovery. To end stigma we must continue to talk about recovery. Talk Recovery is in its 7th Season, Hundreds of guests, thousands of listeners, thank you. Show ideas? Email community@lastdoor.org

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