He’s a cast member at Hamburger Mary’s Toledo. He’s a model. He’s an advocate for H.I.V. and AIDS prevention. And he’s Toledo’s first-ever Mr. Gay United States. Anthony Solo Jackson, born and raised in the area, is a skilled male drag entertainer dedicated to creating meaningful concepts for his performances. Solo has used his platform to advocate for unity within the LGBTQ+ community, by working closely with Equality Toledo to create a brighter, diverse, accepting, supportive and loving community. “If we can use our fingers to make a mighty fist, we can strike a mighty blow,” Solo likes to say, and he believes the Toledo community will be that mighty fist.
2021 Mr. Gay United States, Solo Jackson, shares these thoughts with our readers:
How long have you lived in the Toledo area? I was born and raised in Toledo and have been here for 29 years.
My story in one sentence. I went from demo to limo to promote the better good in my community.
What is your favorite part of Toledo? I would definitely have to say the south side of Toledo.
What’s it like being a part of Hamburger Mary’s cast? It’s absolutely amazing. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my career. I enjoy being able to create my own performances and present them to over 300 people per show. Since working here my confidence has been boosted tremendously and I’ve received opportunities that usually only veteran entertainers receive. Mary’s has definitely groomed me for excellence!
Talk about your journey to being named Mr. Gay US for 2021. I competed in the Gay United States pageantry system two years in a row. My first year I didn’t know much about a national pageant and had never attended one. I wanted to go just to see how far I would make it, and I placed [near the top of the competitors]. I wasn’t pleased with my placement because I knew I could do so much better, because this is what I’m trained to do with my modeling background. So, I took a whole year to plan and learn the pageantry system and what they liked. I cut myself off from friends, family, associates and anyone who didn’t add value or distracted me from my goal of winning Mr. Gay United States 2021. Then BOOM! I went back my second year and dominated my competition with my originality and I won. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. I’ll never forget it.
What should be the next step for a better Toledo? Unity and acceptance of others, especially within the LGBTQI+ community. If we could come together as one…we are literally unstoppable!
If you knew you could get away with it, what would you do? I think I would eliminate all the balances I owe including car note and medical bills, lol.
What song lyric best describes you? Todrick Hall – “Expensive,” because I like to look and smell expensive. Especially when I’m onstage performing for an audience.
One local hidden treasure that everyone should visit. I believe everyone should visit the Maumee Antique Mall on Reynolds Road. I’m a collector of vintage dolls and unique objects and that is my escape from the world.
The best food I’ve ever had in Toledo is: Not to be biased but I’m a huge fan of Hamburger Mary’s Toledo food. I’ve been working for Hamburger Mary’s for 2 years and , although I have eaten there many times, I still look forward to and enjoy the food. They have over 15 different kinds of burgers that are honestly the best burgers I’ve had in Toledo.
Who I’ve met in Toledo that I’d love to have coffee with: I would have to say Andrew “Z” Zepeda. He’s a host on a very well-known platform called Andrew Z In The Morning. I would love to learn from him about how to become more vocal and express my opinions or views amongst thousands of viewers without getting nervous. He would make an amazing mentor for me to get over my fear of speaking to large numbers of people.
