Pride House LA for MUZE Magazine
Pride House LA members include Mollee Gray, her husband Jeka Jane, Garrett Clayton, and Kent Boyd. The inclusive TikTok house was founded by a group of friends at a time when TikTok lacked radical inclusivity.
Story from MUZE Magazine Cover Article
What inspired you to start PrideHouseLA?
Our friendship and the desire to be connected! We realized that being queer was what beautifully united us. We wanted to be the people who we wished we saw on TV growing up.
What are you proud of?
Each other, our pets, our friends, our lives. We are very grateful to have the lives we live!
Who are some of your biggest influences?
Jeka Jane: My wife, Mollee. Her “go getter” attitude and dreams have definitely influenced me to be a better dancer, human, husband, son, and brother.
Kent Boyd: I’m influenced by cartoons and variety shows. Anything from Gumby, Roadrunner, Teletubbies, Pokémon, The Amanda Show, Speed Racer, S Club 7, The Carol Burnett Show, The Muppets, Pee-Wee Herman and of course, the Kardashians.
Mollee Gray: The youth, my husband, and my family! Also, everything politically and scientifically going on in the world right now.
Garrett Clayton: My family because they have been so supportive of my dreams. I’ll never forget my mom and dad pulling items out of their house to have a garage sale, so I could have enough money to go to LA and pay rent.
Do you have anyone you admire and would love to work with in the future?
Kent: I love hyper pop music, and love choreographing for musical artists! I want to work with Oliver Tree so bad, and Dua Lipa again! Also, Remi Wolf.
Jeka; Yes, their name is Joey Soloway. Joey is the director of the movie musical I worked on called Transparent, and I was lucky enough to work for them on another job as their choreographer. The way they direct and create just flows. I was inspired to trust myself and my process when creating.
Garrett: That’s a hard question because there are so many I admire, but I’ll say Gene Kelly. I’d love to work with Tim Curry, Tim Burton, Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, and Steven Spielberg.
Mollee: Margot Robbie, M. Night Shyamalan, Justin Baldoni, and Steven Spielberg.
What were the biggest struggles you had to face to get to where you are?
Garrett: Realizing that I am enough as my authentic self—not some façade created to be marketable. I’m so proud to have come out of the other side of it all stronger, surrounded by love, and excited for the future.
Kent: My biggest struggle was understanding how I self-sabotage, and figuring out healthier ways to overcome fears.
Jeka: One of the biggest struggles I faced was when I first moved to LA 10 years ago. Back then, dancers looked two different ways: big muscly men or women in heels. I didn’t fit into either of those categories. It was very hard, but I stayed true to who I am and the industry has made a major shift over the past couple years. It has its lows but there is definitely more inclusivity.
Mollee: Understanding that just because it was “someone else’s time” doesn’t mean it’s mine.
What is the best advice you have been given?
Jeka: “Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity” so always stay ready!
Mollee: “Lead with passion not greed.”
Kent: “It’s not all about you all the time!”
Garrett: My mom told me the day I left Michigan to move to Los Angeles: “Keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground.”
How do you stay in shape?
Mollee: I struggle, actually. As positive as I am and even though I exude body confidence, I have my own battles with loving my body. I work every day to do so. I practice healthy eating and positive affirmations daily.
Kent: I’m constantly dancing! It’s about to be hot girl summer!
Jeka: Over quarantine all the gyms were closed, so I invested in some at home workout equipment. I also walk my dog everyday and do circuit training with the kids program at our dance studio!
Garrett: Most of the time it’s because of dancing, doing live theatre (when the world is normal and not during the pandemic), and working out.
What is your beauty secret?
Garrett: Skincare! I love knowing what to use and how it helps. I learned from a young age, because of my mom, that you only have one chance to take care of your skin so you better be good to it early on.
Jeka: Have a beautiful heart and share your beautiful soul with the world.
Kent: Mirror magic! Practicing positive affirmations when I look into a mirror!
Mollee: I don’t really have one. Everyone is beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not a social media image!
Describe yourself in three words?
Kent: Dynamic, giving, crazy
Garrett: Bubbly, hard-working, passionate.
Jeka: Giving, intense, lovable.
Mollee: Honest, loyal, sensitive.
What are your goals for 2021?
Garrett: Overall success through current endeavors that include PrideHouse and all the amazing things we’re doing, but also some projects I’m working on individually that raise awareness for important topics.
Jeka: To keep sharing my story with the world. I want to be the first trans man to book a world tour behind a major artist!
Kent: World domination! In all seriousness, connecting with companies and artists on an even bigger scale! Also, getting my TikToks in front of millions! I’m always trying to Inspire healthy change and acceptance of our queer community!
Mollee: To make permanent change in our community so that no child has to be fearful of growing up!
PRIDEHOUSE LA for MUZE
Photography by Devin Dygert @devinshotme
Makeup by Christopher Miles @christophermilesmakeup
Hair by Jonathan Williams @hairbyjond
Wardrobe by Karal Solis @karlapatriciasolisz
Location by Project Parrallel @projectparallelstudios
Retouched by Anna Belenko @retouch_annabel
Interview by Ashira Provost @_ashiraprovost
PRIDEHOUSE LA Members:
Mollee Gray @molleegray + Jeka Jane @jekajane + Garrett Clayton @garrettclayton1 + Kent Boyd @kent_boyd
To see more from my shoots with PRIDE HOUSE LA click here