Stockton Pride: RJ Helton Embraces His Place in LGBT Community
From American Idol to Gospel Music, RJ Helton Embraces His Place in LGBT Community and Gives His Inaugural Pride Performance in Stockton
The 2015 Stockton Pride Festival Committee has delivered a stellar cast of entertainers for this year’s big party—all united in celebrating San Joaquin County’s diversity and equality. From Season 1 of American Idol, Top Five Finalist, RJ Helton will be performing at Stockton Pride this year. Following his stint on Idol, Helton decided on a career in gospel music, leaving behind the pop world that gave him his fame. Industry homophobia resulted in a lack of support from Christian radio and the Christian music establishment. Following the low record sells of his debut Christian album, RJ attempted a more mainstream audience, signing with Matthew Knowles’ (Destiny Child, Beyonce) label. The pairing was not a match and Helton decided to leave music behind for half a decade.
Staying away from public performing, Mr. Helton recently decided to refocus his career and give music another shot. While shying away from Pride related performances in the past, RJ was compelled by the plight of the LGBT community within the conservative Central Valley to agree to take part in this year’s festival.
“I decided not to do any Prides, or shows, unless it was for a very good cause. That is when the Stockton Pride Festival Committee called and talked to me about Stockton Pride. I decided I would do it because I feel it is really important for the small prides to grow because they have an important place. I believe gay artists with some reasonable notoriety should perform in the smaller prides because it is critical we continue to grow awareness in the smaller communities across this nation”, shared RJ Helton.
Also joining Mr. Helton on the Health Plan of San Joaquin Main Stage is Bay Area based and Billboard #1 hit makers Halou. Another contestant from American Idol, Sacramento based Erica Ambrin will be joined on stage with her new band, Post Modern Horror and opening the celebration will be Stockton’s very own Washboard Monkeys.
Modesto based transgender drag queen Katalina Zambrano will push boundaries and people’s funny bones as the comedian provokes humor and thought over what it means to be transgender and a drag entertainer. Speaking of drag! This year’s line-up of drag performances includes, for the very first time, resident drag king Michael Booblay and closing out the drag show; a performance by Beyonce impersonator, the fierce Jaymelah V. Moore. Moore aka Jaymz Miguel Moraza is a Stockton native who graduated from Manteca High School. While bullied at school, Jaymz never let the taunts get the best of him and at 16 he started practicing make up application and his dance moves. At 18, Moraza came out to friends and family as a drag performer and he has never looked back. One of the region’s top drag performers, Jaymelah has entertained fans from San Francisco all the way to Fresno and makes her fourth return to the Stockton Pride stage while earning top billing for the first time as this year’s Drag Headliner.
Free to the public, Stockton Pride takes place on August 22nd from 11 to 6 pm at Oak Grove Regional Park. (County charges $6 parking fee). In it's fourth year, Stockton Pride is an annual fundraiser for the San Joaquin Pride Center and has become the largest LGBT event of the year and an annual celebration of diversity and equality. Please contact Nicholas Hatten at (209) 406-6133 to schedule a pre-event interview with Mr. Helton or Jaymelah V. Moore.