麻豆APP

Elvira: We Tell You About Her Fluid Sexuality and Gender Identity

Cassandra Peterson, famously known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is a famous American actress, dancer, and showgirl born on the 17^th of September 1951. She became famous in the acting industry for the role she portrayed as the horror hostess in Elvira’s Movie. The movie was aired on Los Angeles television KHJ-TV. Her love for horror movies began when she was a toddler and was fascinated by horror-themed toys which was different from what other girls liked. Besides, her progressive career, she was married to Mark Pierson in 1981 and both had a daughter named Sadie Pierson on October 12^th, 1994. However, the couple divorced in February 2003.

, , via Wikimedia Commons

On the 21^st of September 2021, Peterson released her memoir, Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark. In the Memoir, she revealed the truth she had been hiding for close to two decades. She had been in a relationship with Teresa 鈥楾鈥� Wierson whom they met at the Hollywood Gold鈥檚 Gym but did not come out to the public for fear of losing fans and her identity as the character, Elvira. She wrote in her memoir, “Often, when I was doing my preworkout warm-up on the treadmill, I couldn鈥檛 help noticing one particular trainer 鈥� tan, tattooed, and muscular 鈥� stalking across the gym floor, knit cap pulled so low over his long brown hair that it nearly covered his eyes,鈥�.

鈥淒ark and brooding, he gave off such intense energy that when he crossed the enormous gym floor, the waters parted and people stopped in their tracks to stare.鈥� she wrote. However, Peterson had mistaken Wierson to be a man for her intense energy but discovered that she was a woman. She explained that after discovering that the 鈥�sexy bad boy鈥� was a lady, they struck up a conversation and became deeper friends.

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The two grew closer and Peterson confessed to being happier around her. She said, 鈥�She had the ability to make something even as mundane as working out fun, and we trained together three times a week for the next six years, striking up a close friendship along the way.鈥� After some time, Peterson divorced her 25-year husband, Mark Pierson and Wierson moved to live with her.

Elvira recounts that having Wierson around the house was such a relief for her and that she began to feel happier than she had felt before. She wrote in her memoir, 鈥淓venings were spent with all of us laughing, cooking, singing, and dancing around the kitchen while she helped me prep dinner,” Their bond became even stronger every day. At one point, Peterson remembers saying goodnight to Wierson and she felt compelled to kiss her on the mouth. She said that she had, 鈥�never been interested in women as anything other than friends鈥�. She felt so confused because of her feelings towards her before discovering that she was connected deeply to her.

Eventually, Elvira realized that she had fallen in love. She wrote, 鈥渇alling in love with this beautiful, androgynous creature who鈥檇 appeared on my doorstep, like an angel, just when I needed someone most鈥�. The story of the two love birds unfolds in such a magical way.  She wrote, 鈥�I was stunned that I鈥檇 been friends with her for so many years and never noticed our chemistry. I soon discovered that we connected sexually in a way I鈥檇 never experienced.鈥�

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Their relationship however remained a secret due to the fear that coming out to speak about her sexual identity and relationship with another woman would affect the Elvira brand. The character, Elvira was largely involved in sexual appeal and attraction to men and therefore coming out would be contrary to her role and character. According to Entertainment Weekly, she wrote, 鈥�So I worried that if I announced I was no longer living the 鈥榮traight life,鈥� my fans would feel lied to, call me a hypocrite, and abandon me,鈥�

After 19 years, she came out to speak about her sexuality and her relationship with Wierson. She was finally happy to have her secret out into the public.

Speaking to The Orange County Register, she said, 鈥�I鈥檓 glad to have it out there. I mean, it does worry me. I have moments where I go, 鈥楳aybe people won鈥檛 like me anymore鈥� and 鈥楳aybe I won鈥檛 get work anymore.鈥� It鈥檚 ridiculous to think that, but I have friends who are gay and have come out of the closet and it affected their work, relationships, and their life. So it鈥檚 not so far-fetched to be worried. But on the other side of that, it鈥檚 so draining keeping it a secret. It鈥檚 not good for you, it鈥檚 not good for us. It sucks the energy out of you.鈥�

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Elvira’s coming out was met with great support from friends and fans. She has since been recognized as a gay icon and LGBTQ ally. She said that she is sexually fluid and does not identify as gay since she is still attracted to men.

Speaking to TODAY, Peterson hopes that coming out to speak about her identity inspires people to embrace change. 鈥淵ou could even be in a relationship with a same-sex partner and maybe later on you’re falling in love with a person of the opposite sex. Who knows?鈥� She added, “Life throws you a curveball and all of a sudden you’re saying, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ I never saw it coming, but it鈥檚 been the best long-term relationship of my life.”

During the interview with TODAY, she was also asked whether she was thinking about marriage. She said, 鈥�I don’t know about marriage, but I was thinking about some kind of commitment ceremony. Just because I don’t want to have another alimony check to write.鈥�

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Peterson identifies as a sexual fluid and she is not gay because she is also attracted to men. Her coming out was met with positive and negative effects all the same. She lost about 11,000 followers on social media but others also resonated with her story and garnered support for her. Finally, she feels good to be able to introduce her partner and hold her hands without fear.