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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1987)
just news Queens triumph at Waldorf-Astoria bash \ . .fo r guppified New York, this was an historical occasion, in which drag was given its deserved place of honor.'' B R A H SCH U L M_A_N t was hilled as “ The Night of a Thousand Gowns,” a $250-a-head fundraising event for selected gay organizations. But what made this party more fabulous than most was that the guests were invited to come in drag, and they paraded those gowns in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria. Now, in San Francisco, drag at the city’s poshest hotel might be de rigeuer, but for gup- pilled New York, this was an historical occasion, in which drag was given its de served place of honor. And the presiding queens made sure that we all realized that fact. Crowds gathered outside the Waldorf’s Park Avenue entrance to cheer the arriving queens as they stepped out of stretch limos and luxury automobiles. Couples arrived from Calgary, Ontario, San Diego, Dallas, Atlanta, and Brooklyn: he, crisp in tux and tails, sprinkled, perhaps, with a few old army decorations; she, always divine, whether as Catherine the Great, Dolly Parton, or a wide variety of tramps, de butantes, royalty and dance-hall girls. Their gowns ranged from a bar mitzvah polyester, to Robert Legere originals, to I one red plastic post-modern affair. The escorts ran the gamut from short, balding types in glasses, to studs, to nice boys, to greying, dangerous-looking wealth who could easily work for NASA or the CIA. It was an all-American event. Yet, amidst all the glitter, the reality of the AIDS crisis and the need for a radical, visible gay movement, were never forgot ten. Eagle Empress Nicole received the Lynn Carter award (named for the well- known female impersonator who died of AIDS) on behalf of the Imperial Court. She made a stunning, moving speech, the most radical that I have heard from the mouth of a gay leader in years. Nicole called the event: “ an important chapter in our gay history as we recognize and pay tribute to the true pioneers of our movement — drag queens and female impersonators. Drag queens were Stonewall. They fought back and then others followed. They were the first to fight for our rights when others couldn’t or wouldn’t . . .” Nicole also strongly stated that the goals of the up-coming lesbian and gay march on Washington, “ Proud, Strong, United,” could never be accomplished unless dis crimination against people of color, wo men and seniors, was overcome in our We're Queen in red plastic fantasy. community, and she called for a return to the radical tactics of the early movement. “ It is time to march again, hold massive demonstrations. We drag queens of yester year long ago passed the torch to those of you more acceptable. But we have a mes sage for you — DON’T BE AFRAID TO RETURN TO THE STREETS WHERE OUR MOVEMENT WAS BORN.” After the crowning of the new empress, Sybil, the festivities returned to fundrais ing for the evening’s beneficiaries: the March on Washington Committee, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, AIDS Action Council, Human Rights Campaign Fund and the New York Les bian and Gay Community Center. Quite a few celebrities were present including the dapper Vito Russo, Charles Busch in a white halter top, Rollerena on the arm of Steve Ault, Miss Gay Great Lakes, Miss Connie Lingus (Trash Queen of the Poconos), Pandora Box, Clitoris Leachman, Rich Donovan, Cardinal Sin, Dora Jar, and Dolly Lama. Miss Blaze Starr (Miss Gay America), summed up the feeling of the evening when she said, ‘AIDS is making us realize that every moment we have is extremely precious.” After a perfectly rendered lip- synching of herself singing “ The Impossi ble Dream,” Miss Starr reminded us that “ female impersonation is a gay art form, an art which all gay people can be proud of.” Yes, boys and girls, we can be our queer selves, once again. Even in New York. Originally published in the Gay Community News, 62 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116. out fo r freedom... nothing less! Come out for freedom! loin us! The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force is out for gay and lesbian freedom. Freedom to live our lives openly and proudly. Freedom from second-class status, violence and discrimination. Free dom to love. And noth ing less than freedom w ill do. The Task Force Lobbies Congres« and the Execu tive Branch to push for gay and lesbian civil rights and for a balanced response to the A ID S health crisis. N G LTF also lobbies at the state level, in the private sector, before professional orga nizations, unions, reli gious groups, and feminist and progressive groups. J. o H i "o* s e ' g i l * I li 3î •fa S 2 t <v y â g % 5 £-5 a . a, Anti-violence poster fas k Force •italiat work The Task Force Works as a resource center for over 2,000 local gay and lesbian groups, as a research and information hub on gay issues, as a nerve center for the gay liberation movement The Task Force Organizes to end violence, to repeal laws that criminalize gay/lesbian sexuality, to fight stereotypes of gay people in the media, to press for the civil rights of people with A IDS and H IV antibodies, to push reproductive freedom, domestic partnership and much, much more. Anti-vioiente P ro te i t D im tor Kevin Herrill testifies before ( onuress NC.LI F, 1517 U Street, N.W., W ashington, D .C . 20009 Just Out 8 June. 1 ^X 7 (202) 332-6483 00 O j c _c Z - cm W- o c _ ï .E .2 1) u — Q It! ■ - I != PM