Dixon Cox

The Cockrin Twins: Growing Up in Competition

William Cockrin was born two minutes before his twin brother, Marcus, a fact his parents often used to distinguish between the two. William, the older twin, was the “responsible one,” the “future leader,” while Marcus was the “free spirit,” the “charming one.” Their parents, ambitious and overbearing, pitted the boys against each other from a young age. Whether it was sports, academics, or who could set the dinner table the fastest, everything was a competition.

“You’re older, William. You should set an example,” his father would say, often when William had lost to Marcus in some trivial game.

The rivalry wasn’t malicious, though. Behind the competition, the Cockrin twins shared an unbreakable bond. They had a silent agreement: no matter how much their parents tried to drive a wedge between them, they would always have each other’s backs. If one of them got in trouble, the other would cover. If one of them succeeded, the other would cheer them on—even if it hurt a little.

“I’ve got you,” Marcus would say after every argument with their parents. “And I know you’ve got me.”

And William always did. Being the older twin came with an unspoken obligation to protect Marcus, to ensure he never felt alone.

The Burden of Secrets

As they grew older, William began to realize that there was a part of himself he couldn’t share—not with Marcus, not with anyone. While his twin seemed to effortlessly charm girls in high school, William found himself drawn to both boys and girls, a realization that filled him with both excitement and dread. Bisexuality wasn’t something he could even begin to explain to their conservative parents or to Marcus, who always saw William as the steady, dependable one.

To make matters more complicated, William discovered a love for drag during college. The first time he put on a dress, styled a wig, and painted his face, he felt a freedom he had never known before. He became Dixon Cox—a bold, glamorous, unapologetically fabulous version of himself. Dixon was everything William couldn’t be during the day: soft, expressive, and free to embrace the parts of himself he hid from the world.

But the divide between his two lives grew sharper. By day, William was a stern, no-nonsense lawyer, specializing in defending LGBTQ+ clients who faced discrimination or violence. By night, he transformed into Dixon Cox, a mentor to young drag queens and a fierce defender of the drag community.

The Sibling Dynamic: Protecting Marcus from the Truth

Despite their closeness, William never told Marcus about his double life. How could he? Marcus still saw him as the rock of the family, the responsible older twin who always had it together. William couldn’t risk shattering that image, especially since Marcus leaned on him more than ever after their parents passed away.

“You’ve always been my anchor,” Marcus said one night over drinks. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

The guilt was crushing. William wanted to tell Marcus the truth—that he wasn’t as perfect as Marcus thought, that he had secrets of his own. But every time he tried, the words stuck in his throat.

Instead, William doubled down on his role as protector. When Marcus struggled to find a job, William helped him with his resume. When Marcus went through a rough breakup, William was the one who stayed up all night, talking him through it. And when Marcus moved to William’s city, looking for a fresh start, William let him crash on his couch—even though it made hiding his drag persona infinitely harder.

Dixon Cox: The Mentor

As Dixon Cox, William found a family he hadn’t known he needed. The drag community embraced him with open arms, and he quickly became a mentor to younger queens, teaching them not just how to walk in heels but how to stand tall in the face of prejudice.

One night, after a show, a young queen named Sapphire approached him in tears. She had been harassed outside the club and didn’t know what to do. William, still in full drag, took her hands and promised, “I’ll protect you—on stage, off stage, wherever you need me. And I’ll make sure they answer for what they did.”

The next day, William filed a lawsuit against the harassers, leveraging every ounce of his legal expertise to bring them to justice. The case became a landmark victory, shining a light on the discrimination drag performers face.

An Invitation from the Rainbow League

William’s dual life was a balancing act, but it couldn’t last forever. One night, as he was preparing for a show, a knock at the dressing room door interrupted him. Standing there was Clitora, the enigmatic psychiatrist who had become a legend in LGBTQ+ circles.

“William Cockrin,” she said, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Or should I say Dixon Cox?”

William froze. “Who are you? And how do you know my name?”

“I’m with the Rainbow League,” she said, stepping inside. “We protect people like us—people who’ve been silenced, hurt, or overlooked. You’ve been doing that on your own for years, but with us, you could do so much more.”

“I’m not a superhero,” William said, shaking his head. “I’m just a lawyer. And a drag queen.”

“Exactly,” Clitora said. “You’re fierce, you’re smart, and you care. That’s all it takes.”

The Choice

William hesitated. Joining the Rainbow League would mean fully embracing his double life—and potentially exposing his secrets to Marcus. Could he do that? Could he risk losing the bond they had spent a lifetime building?

That night, after the show, Marcus surprised him by showing up at the club. William was still in full drag, glitter and all, when their eyes met across the room. For a moment, William’s heart stopped.

“Dixon Cox, huh?” Marcus said, grinning as he approached. “I gotta say, you’ve got style.”

William stared at his twin, searching for judgment or disappointment but finding none.

“You’re not mad?” William asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Mad? No,” Marcus said, clapping a hand on William’s shoulder. “I’m just mad you didn’t tell me sooner. You’re my brother. Two minutes older or not, I’ve got your back.”

A New Chapter

With Marcus’s support, William joined the Rainbow League as Dixon Cox. By day, he continued to fight for justice in the courtroom. By night, he donned his sequins and heels, mentoring young drag queens and standing beside his League teammates to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

William no longer felt the need to choose between his two identities. He was both William Cockrin and Dixon Cox—lawyer, drag queen, and protector.

© AF 2019