Bianca Page

No public figure defined Nashville’s LGBTQ community in the 1990s more than Bianca Paige. Known as the Pantomime Rage, The Tennessean described her as the “fiercest, funniest, most famous drag queen.” 

Mark Middleton, also known as “Bianca Paige,” was born in 1964 and raised in Paducah, Kentucky. He knew he was gay from a young age but struggled to reconcile his identity with his Southern Baptist upbringing. In 1983, the 18-year-old moved to Nashville. Middleton grew up with dance lessons, musicals, theater, and church choirs, so he decided to enter talent shows around town and befriended local drag queens. Three years later, Pucci Lisenbee, known as drag performer “Rita Ross,” became Middleton’s mentor. He borrowed Bianca Jagger’s first name and the last name of local drag queen Whitney Paige to become Bianca Paige.

Bianca Paige and Rita Ross were regular performers at Warehouse 28. Bianca quickly won crowds over with her sharp wit and comedic instinct. After Warehouse 28 closed, Bianca moved to The Connection. She impersonated a wide range of personalities from Cruella de Vil to Melissa Etheridge and served as the club’s show director for four years. In a somewhat shocking and vulnerable moment, Middleton, the man underneath Paige’s makeup and blonde wig, announced to the audience that he had tested positive for HIV.

For Middleton, the personal was political, and he spent the rest of his drag career increasing awareness and fundraising for HIV/AIDS research, education, and patient support. Middleton and his close friend Ron Sanford founded the Bianca Paige Awareness Network. They raised over $1 million dollars for HIV/AIDS patients before his death in 2010. Every year since, the Bianca Paige Awareness Network hosts “Bianca Paige Day,” a large charity event with drag performances, musicians, and food vendors to honor the life and legacy of Middleton and his drag persona. In 2021, the Nashville Metro Council changed the name of Carney Street to Bianca Paige Way. Fittingly, it runs in front of Trax—an LGBTQ establishment and bar. 

Now we’ll head to 703 Berry Road, commonly called The Center. Head back up Bianca Paige Way and turn LEFT onto Fourth Ave. North. In a half mile, bear RIGHT onto Craighead Street. In about a mile, turn LEFT onto Bransford Avenue then RIGHT onto Berry Road. The house will be on your left. You can park in the lot at the corner of Berry Road and Larmon Avenue or, on the weekend, pull into the driveway and park to listen to the narrative.