[Pride 2022 Interview] Never Sleep Again: An Interview with Dead Sled’s Diana Whittles

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Two of my favorite things in the world are coffee (iced, unsweetened with soy milk) and horror movies (more specifically 90’s slasher horror flicks). So, when I stumbled upon Dead Sled Coffee, it was a match made in heaven hell. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Dead Sled, it’s a scary addictive coffee company featuring collaborations with horror icons such as Dee Snider, Rob Zombie and the Queen of Halloween herself, Elvira.

After becoming addicted to Dead Sled Coffee myself (I won’t even tell you how many cups of Elvira’s Boo-Tastic Blend I’ve consumed), I decided to dig into them a little deeper and was delighted to see what a fierce and supportive ally to the LGBTQIA+ community their Founder and Co-Owner Diana Whittles is. One quick glance at her Instagram page and you can find her supporting her local drag community and posting inspirational quotes lifting our community.

I was happy to see a company I support have leadership that supports my community, especially in light of how other companies I support have shown their disinterest in helping us out. The following is a conversation we had about horror movies and LGBTQIA+ representation in the genre:

Do you remember the first scary movie you ever watched?

“I was about 10 years old, and it was at a birthday party for a classmate. For whatever reason the parents thought putting on the 1929 silent film “Un Chien Andalou” was appropriate. It was the first time I was disturbed and made to feel uneasy by a movie. The first horror movie I watched was “Basket Case” on a late-night cable channel in the early 1980’s.”

If you had to choose a horror movie to live through in real life, which one would you choose?

“That depends on if I get to be the final girl or not. If I’m going to be killed off early in the movie, I’ll go with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. If I survive to the end? The original Scream.” 

Who is your favorite Scream Queen? 

“Nobody does it like Jamie Lee Curtis and that’s a fact.” 

If you had to recommend a not so scary movie to a scaredy-cat, what would it be?

“No brainer. “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” It is a fantastically absurd masterpiece.”

What are you most afraid of? 

“I have three things that frighten me equally. A house fire, drowning and being pushed onto subway tracks.”

Do you have a favorite LGBT character in horror?

Miriam Blaylock from the movie “The Hunger.” 

What are your thoughts on LGBT representation in current horror movies?

“I think as with all things in the LGBTQIA+ community there is a long way to go but strides are being made and I’m happy to see them.”

What are your favorite/least favorite Halloween costumes you’ve dressed up as?

“When my kids were young, I took a wagon and turned it into a hot rod complete with upholstered velvet leopard seats and glittered flames on the side. I put them in little leather motorcycle jackets, and I donned a poodle skirt with black and white saddle shoes. I had a speaker attached that was cranking Rockabilly. We made quite the trio. Least favorite? As a little girl I was a space bunny doctor and, in my head, it worked but the execution was completely lacking. I remember feeling dumb all night.” 

What is your go to snack when watching a horror movie? 

“Raisinets or Whoppers but who doesn’t love/need a bucket of popcorn the size of your head drowning in an obscene amount of faux butter?”

What is your favorite scary movie & why?

“There is a really obscure film called “Two Thousand Maniacs.” A billion years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and I was a mere 19 years old I was at a club in Manhattan called “The Vault.” They had a tube TV set hanging over the bar that was playing B horror flick clips and scenes. I was mesmerized watching an entire wholesome looking town of people waving confederate flags cheering and look so happy as they witnessed a man be forced into an empty whiskey barrel with nails driven into it and then rolled down a hill. The scene was SO uncomfortable to watch that it stayed with me. For 30 years I thought about that scene at least once a week. I finally did a search for “Horror Movie barrel, nails, rolling down a hill” and bless the Internet it gave me a name. I only recently got to watch the movie in its entirety and it’s absolutely worth a watch. Bizarre flick.” 

If you were trapped in a cabin in the woods and could only have 3 gay icons to keep you company, who would you choose? 

“Well, I actually happen to own a cabin in a remote location! If I could pick icons who are no longer with us my guest of honor would be Marsha P. Johnson and we would be joined by John Waters and Rob Halford from Judas Priest. If I can add one who isn’t really a gay icon but maybe more like a patron saint, it would be Dolly Parton.” 

During these stressful times for the LGBT community, especially our transgender family/friends, what words of encouragement can you share?

“I fear that anything I say will come across like a fortune cookie or not ring true or feel hollow. I’m going to leave it to the late amazing Mr. Rogers:

“Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.” 

― Fred Rogers”

Dead Sled Coffee’s newest releases include IT Chapter Two Deadlights Blend, Beetlejuice Ghost With The Most and A Nightmare on Elm Street which can be ordered on their website deadsledcoffee.com. 

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