Ask anyone who has been to any festival or community gathering – be it Pride, CityFest or IndieFest – who Laura Jane is, and they will tell you she is the hostess with the mostess. Affectionately known to many of her fans and friends as LJ, the infamous, bodacious, bisexual entertainer not only volunteers her time to emcee many of these events but she is also the bandleader of the Tighten Ups. On many weeknights the multifaceted personality heads up her one-woman show at many venues throughout the gayborhood. While taking a minute out of her lineup and strolling through the supermarket, LJ dished with the Gay & Lesbian Times about her passion as an entertainer, giving back to the community and five years of hosting the mainstage at IndieFest.

Gay & Lesbian Times: You wear many hats, both figuratively and literally, how do you define yourself and your career?

Laura Jane: Entertainer. It encompasses everything I love to do. I like to make people smile, make people dance, make people rock their body to the music. I like people to see my face and watch my body sweat as I’m belting a blues song on stage. I will be changing my clothes more than 10 times throughout the day, which is one of my signature trademarks when emceeing.

GLT: You’re also known for giving back to the San Diego GLBT and the community at large. What inspires you to keep going?

LJ: Adversity always inspires me. It can be unfortunate, but it is true.

I am a bisexual who was new to San Diego in 2001 and involved in a relationship with a woman. I went to, the gay community and said, ‘how can you use me’? They have put me to work in many capacities ever since. I will volunteer in any capacity as long as it doesn’t take away from my paying gigs. Since I’ve started volunteering, many organizations have offered to pay me, but that’s just a bonus. I work and perform my Vintage Vegas Show for Martinis Above Fourth; I do The Caliph, a wonderfully gay-friendly company Hornblower Cruises and Wits Ends in Hillcrest. This year I will be at the Children’s Garden at the San Diego Pride Festival and will be returning to emcee for South Bay Pride in August. I’m also excited to once again be emceeing CityFest again this year, the second Saturday in August.

GLT: How have you seen Indie Fest evolve in the past five years?

LJ: Oh my God. It started out so tiny in the Abby, with very limited space – just one space and three stages. It now encompasses an entire area of North Park and seven stages. The quality of the acts have never changed, but the scope and sponsorship we are getting from all over the nation is higher than it has ever been. The support of the local community has also evolved and grown like crazy. Most importantly, the enthusiasm of the producers, Danielle LoPresti and Alicia Champion, has remained consistent. It has remained a not-for-profit event, and the ladies have continued to give the money to RESULT’S to fight hunger.

GLT: What’s next for you?

LJ: I’m entertaining offers to do a tour around Michigan. I’m not quite sure what that entails yet. I’m from there and am well known, at least in Northern Michigan. I headline New Years Eve there every year. I will be traveling and hopefully touring, but I will never leave San Diego. I love it here!

As for more future goals farther out, I would like to emcee Pride events around the country where all my friends live. I would also like to one day have my own television show on LOGO or cable television. As for the kid being out of the house, well my son is doing quite well on his own. And I’m in love with a very gay-friendly man, who is not at all threatened by my bisexuality. And he is a ‘Hillcrestian!’

GLT: What do you enjoy most about IndieFest?

LJ: It’s my fifth year, and I love it. I love it for so many reasons. There are so many great acts, so many vendors who I always buy jewelry from. It’s also filled with so many wonderful and happy people. It gives a real sense of community and feels like a real community event. Just happy, happy and peace and love all around!