By Kippy Marks—
There are stories that shimmer because they are polished. Then there are stories that shine because they were once broken. Jacob Anthony Rose’s new memoir belongs to the latter—an offering carved from silence, glitter, and the long echo of a voice learning to trust itself again. That’s why I believe he is a true embodiment of Practice Makes Love Easy (PMLE), and I am proud to celebrate Rose as the 12th individual spotlighted in this column.
Rose grew up learning that silence was safer than truth. In his memoir, he describes a childhood where shrinking was a survival tactic, where dreams were loud, but his voice was not. For many of us, that kind of silence becomes a second skin. But his story reminds us that silence is not destiny; it is a starting point.
His discovery of drag became the first great act of PMLE in his life. Drag is not just performance; it is reclamation. It is the practice of stepping into a version of yourself that feels too bold, too bright, too honest for the world that raised you. Onstage, Rose found a language for the parts of himself that had been waiting for permission to breathe. For twenty years, he practiced joy, practiced presence, practiced being seen.
Then the world went quiet. The pandemic stripped away the applause, the lights, the community. And in that stillness, the old wounds returned—not as ghosts, but as invitations. Rose writes about this period with a vulnerability that feels like a hand extended to anyone who has ever felt undone by their own reflection. Healing, he shows us, is not a single moment. It is a practice, a daily choice, and a kind of love.
PMLE teaches that love becomes easier when we practice it, especially when we practice it with ourselves. Rose embodies this truth. His memoir is filled with moments where he chooses compassion over self-judgment, connection over isolation, and honesty over performance. He doesn’t pretend the journey is linear. He doesn’t pretend it’s pretty. But he shows up for it, again and again, and that is the essence of PMLE.
Rose’s story reminds us that the most radical act of love is returning to yourself after years of running. It is choosing to speak after a lifetime of silence. It is allowing your own voice to echo loud enough that others feel brave enough to raise theirs.
His memoir is not just a book; it is a companion for anyone learning to love themselves in real time. It is a reminder that survival is not the end of the story. Survival is the doorway. What comes next is the practice.
Kippy Marks: How long have you been involved with the practicing of PMLE values in your work?
Jacob Anthony Rose: I didn’t always have language for “Practice Makes Love Easy,” but I’ve been living those values for most of my adult life. For over twenty years, through my work as a drag performer, recording artist, and now as a memoirist, my intention has always been to lead with compassion, authenticity, and care for others. Whether I’m performing as Sheena Rose, telling my story through music, or sharing my life in my memoir, I’ve tried to create spaces where people feel seen, safe, and a little less alone. PMLE feels like a beautiful way to name what I’ve been practicing all along: choosing love, even when it isn’t easy.
Kippy Marks: Who or what motivated you to become the community activist you are today?
Jacob Anthony Rose: My life motivated me. I grew up in an environment filled with trauma, abuse, and silence, and for a long time I believed I had to carry everything alone. Finding drag, finding my queer community, and finding chosen family in San Francisco changed my life. The love and support I received from fellow performers, artists, and elders in the community taught me that healing happens in connection. I became an activist simply by surviving, by refusing to disappear, and by deciding to be visible and vulnerable so others wouldn’t feel as isolated as I once did.
Kippy Marks: How old were you when you made that decision?
Jacob Anthony Rose: I was in my late twenties when I really made that choice, when I stepped into drag and started telling my story publicly. But in truth, the deeper decision came later, in my forties, when I entered therapy, stopped relying on alcohol to manage my anxiety in social settings, and committed to healing. That’s when I realized my life itself could be an act of activism. I decided I didn’t just want to survive anymore. I wanted to live, to love, and to help others feel less broken and alone.
Kippy Marks: What advice would you give to others on how to practice love on the daily?
Jacob Anthony Rose: Start with yourself. Be gentle with your own heart. Speak kindly to yourself. Rest when you’re tired. Forgive yourself when you fall short. Love doesn’t have to be loud or performative. It can be quiet, steady, and consistent. It’s in the small moments: checking in on a friend, listening with compassion when someone is hurting, choosing empathy over judgment, and allowing people to be exactly who they are. Practice love the way you practice breathing, again and again, even when it feels hard.
Kippy Marks: If you were granted two universal wishes, what would you wish for?
Jacob Anthony Rose: My first wish would be for every child to grow up feeling safe, loved, and believed. No one should have to survive their childhood. My second wish would be for collective compassion, that we learn to truly see one another, across differences, with curiosity instead of fear. I believe the world changes when we remember our shared humanity.
Kippy Marks: Please share any current practices that our readers may find useful, and update us on what you are doing now.
Jacob Anthony Rose: Right now, my daily practices are simple but sacred: therapy, journaling, gratitude, medication, staying sober, and choosing rest without guilt. I check in with myself emotionally every day instead of pushing through pain the way I used to. I make space for creativity even when I feel afraid. I tell the truth, to myself and to others, as gently as I can.
Professionally, I recently released my debut memoir, Stillness and Survival: A Life Between Trauma, Glitter, and the Echo of My Own Voice. It’s my story of surviving childhood abuse, finding drag, building a chosen family, and learning how to heal. I’m continuing to perform, currently recording the digital audio book, and do author events, all while working a day job that keeps me grounded. My life now is quieter, steadier, and fuller, and I’m proud of that.
I also recently held my debut author event at Books Inc. Opera Plaza here in San Francisco, which was a deeply meaningful milestone for me. Signed copies of the trade paperback are available there and at other independent bookstores throughout the Bay Area, as well as nationwide through distributor IngramSpark and online (https://bookshop.org/). The ebook edition is available on Amazon and exclusively through Kindle Unlimited.
Dubbed San Francisco’s “King of Strings,” Kippy Marks is a spirited entertainer whose shows are permeated with an infectious joy. His distinctive sound arises from his heart, through his 1822 violin consort, Izabella. Marks’ rare talent, broad smile, and radiant warmth will brighten any event and create a lasting impact. He is also Grand Duke XL of The Grand Ducal Council of San Francisco. He is the first ever elected African-American Grand Duke.
Practice Makes Love Easy
Published on January 29, 2026
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