Chi Chi LaRue

Larry David Paciotti (born November 8, 1959) is an American director of pornographic films. He appears as the drag-diva persona Chi Chi LaRue , and has been credited as director under the names "Lawrence David" and "Taylor Hudson".

Career Paciotti began performing as "Chi Chi LaRue" when he moved to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and started performing in drag as one-half of "The Weather Gals", a "hag drag" revue. He and a friend moved to California, where LaRue was hired by Catalina Video as an administrative assistant and publicist because of his knowledge of porn and the workings of the porn industry. Even as a "DJ" ("DJ Paciotti"), Paciotti conducts most public business as "Chi Chi LaRue", particularly in the pornographic film industry.

In 2006, LaRue announced that he would no longer produce films for Vivid Video because they were featuring actors and actresses having sex without condoms.

In 2007, LaRue was chosen as one of Out magazine's Top 50 most influential people in the LGBT community. In the press release he used "straight-for-pay" (a play on "gay-for-pay") to describe gay performer Blake Riley's first scene with a woman.

In 2012, LaRue directed the music video for "Trouble" by RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Willam Belli, which premiered on Logo TV.

In 2015, LaRue admitted himself into drug and alcohol treatment in Minnesota, feeling he was "near death", according to friend Kevin Molin.

LaRue opened Chi Chi LaRue's, a gay adult store, in West Hollywood in partnership with Rob Novinger . In 2020 LaRue re-opened Circus of Books, located a few blocks away and originally opened in 1960, after its purchase by Channel 1 Releasing, a company led by Novinger. It was renamed Chi Chi LaRue's Circus. In January 2022 Chi Chi LaRue's Circus was renamed back to Circus of Books, removing LaRue's name due to the partnership between LaRue and Novinger being dissolved. The original Chi Chi LaRue's was closed.

Awards

1990 Dave Awards winner of Best Video and Best Director for "More of a Man" (All Worlds Video). 1991 AVN award Best Director (Gay Video) – "The Rise" (as Taylor Hudson), Catalina Video. 1991 AVN Award Best Non-Sexual Performance–Bi, Gay, or Trans Video – "More of a Man", All Worlds Video. 2001 GayVN Award Best Director – "Echoes", Men of Odyssey. 2009 GayVN Award Trailblazer 2011 Cyber Socket "Best Personality" 2012 Cyber Socket "Best Personality" 2020 Special Stiletto Award : Evolution Wonderloundge Hall of fame