Sitting across the table, the man with two arms of full-sleeve tattoos (not to mention those on his neck and head), piercings through various parts of his facial anatomy, and a bleach-blond Mohawk looks as though he might be more comfortable issuing spin kicks in the mosh pit at a Bury Your Dead concert than he would doing a turn on the catwalk.
That man is Keith Greene, who many in the gay community know better as Lynda Lacee, one of the region’s most well-respected and popular drag queens in the 1990s and early 2000s. While Greene mastered the art of female illusion through his performances as Lynda Lacee in American pageantry systems, it was a visit to a tattoo parlor that led him to put down his gown and pick up a gun — a tattoo gun, that is.
Although he worked as a nurse, Greene became fascinated with the art of tattooing and took it upon himself to learn the craft by spending many hours as an apprentice under the supervision of an established tattoo artist. An injury forced Greene to leave his nursing career, allowing him to begin tattooing fulltime. In 2008, he made the permanent move to Pittsburgh and opened his own tattoo shop, Main Street Ink, in Sharpsburg.
At first blush, Greene might appear to be the stereotypical tattooed miscreant, but he is far from your typical ink-slinger. In fact, it doesn’t take long to learn that Greene is the antithesis of the popular misconception of tattooed people. He speaks enthusiastically about his love of art, books, music, and — perhaps his greatest passion — his devotion to community and his desire to help people.
Greene’s desire to have a positive community impact is reflected in Main Street Ink, which he admittedly jokes has been confused for both an antique shop and a furniture store. Many members of the community gather at the shop, which Greene welcomes, if only to keep teenagers out of trouble. He prides himself on breaking the mold of traditional tattoo shops, doing everything he can to ensure an inviting atmosphere. “You should have seen the shop at Christmas,” Greene says. “We had Christmas trees all through the shop, decorated with antique glass ornaments, and garland around the windows.” Norman Rockwell, on steroids.
Greene’s pride of community involvement also includes his membership in the local volunteer fire department as well as charitable donations, including bookgiving to the local library. Recently, Greene also reached out to the Pittsburgh Police Department, as he began a promotion to pay tribute to the fallen Zone 5 officers, designing a tattoo to honor their service and that of all local law enforcement officials. “I am offering this tattoo free for all Zone 5 officers, and at a nominal fee for other police officers,” Greene says, adding that he will donate a majority of the proceeds to the Pittsburgh Fallen Heroes Fund.
Greene is also proud of his contributions to the local gay community. “We are Pittsburgh’s only openly gay tattoo shop,” he says, adding that everybody is welcome, though he does cater to gay clientele.
Keith Greene will give a tattoo on a float during Pride Awareness March on Sunday, June 14. He will also be tattooing at PrideFest, which follows. For more information, visit Main Street Ink, 511 Main Street, Sharpsburg, 412-304-3113. Myspace.com/ mainstreetinkpa.