Chion: Enter the Dragon

You know what song I’ve had in my head since airing an episode featuring two people who have used extreme body modifications to make themselves look like dragons?

“I Am What I Am” by Jerry Herman from La Cage Aux Folles (perhaps better known by some from  Gloria Gaynor’s disco cover):

I am what I am
I am my own special creation
So come take a look
Give me the hook or the ovation

It’s my world that I want to have a little pride in
My world and it’s not a place I have to hide in
Life’s not worth a damn
“Til you can say, I am what I am!

Legion the Dragon–legal name Tia Legion Medusa– told me that this was his theme song, and it is easy to understand why.

Among his body modifications are:

• Split tongue
• Teeth removal
• Eyeballs tattooed
• Subdermal implants to create horns
• Enlarged breasts
• Nose modification
• Full-body tattoos to look like scales
• Ears removed

He was born in 1961 as Richard Hernandez. As a child, he was abused and abandoned. In adulthood, he experienced more abuse. When he later had a son, that child became estranged from Richard, who at this point, had already begun his transformation into a dragon.

For an hour and a half, Legion poured its heart out to me about this pain.

Yes, “its“.

When we reconnected many months after for a follow-up interview, he said his pronouns were now he/him. “A regular gay guy, but I have cute little perky boobs!“, he said.

But for a long time, Legion identified as “it“.

Because humanity had been so cruel, this human dragon wanted to get as far away from being associated with us, including all those body modifications, and using gendered pronouns. Dragons can be anything can’t they? Including “it“.

But when I asked Legion about his most painful modifications, he spoke of love and heartbreak.

When he had a recent revelation that a big, meaningful crush would be eternally unrequited, well… How do you even begin to heal?

I asked him, when he pictures his ideal mate, would they be heavily modified like him? Someone with no modifications? Or something in between?

He lit up at the prospect of being loved by someone the opposite of him: A clean-cut man in a suit with no modifications. “Plain Jane!“, he said. I suggested maybe it would be powerful to be loved by someone who resembled his oppressors. He said, “You hit the nail right on the head“.

I thought about my body modifications. Tame, next to him. And how, in 2024, not uncommon it is to have a full sleeve and nose rings. At least around here. Few bat an eye. It even draws people in, giving compliments, asking questions. “How many do you have? Where’d you get it done? Did it hurt?“

I tell them the truth: “About 60 hours worth. A bunch of different artists! And YES!“

I always bat the tennis ball back: “Do you have any?“ I especially like asking kids this question. The 4- and 5-year-olds are especially earnest. “No. My mom says I can’t yet.“

I enjoy watching the parents squirm a little when I ask their kid what tattoo they would get if they could. “How about… A giant ‘MOM’ across your throat?“

Everybody laughs. We all know more about each other now. Thanks for asking.

Kids do like dragons, though.

When I asked Legion to tell me more about the significance of becoming a dragon and not some other mythical beast, Legion brought up his estranged son. It’s been 14 years now.

He said that he and his little boy used to play Pokémon. The kid’s favorite was the dragon type.

“It’s a way for me to hold onto my son,“ Legion said. “I’m transforming myself into something that my son loved. I’m trying to show him that I love him, regardless of his rejection.“

I remembered his earlier story about unrequited love. How that has been a theme in his life. I can relate, in my own way. You can too, I bet.

Now, when I ask little kids what tattoo they wanna’ get when they’re old enough, I ask, “how about…A dragon?“

They always say yes. Because after all, I think they know:

I am what I am
I am my own special creation
So come take a look
Give me the hook or the ovation

It’s my world that I want to have a little pride in
My world and it’s not a place I have to hide in
Life’s not worth a damn
“Til you can say, I am what I am!

The episode: https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-05-24/conversations-with-two-dragons