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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1998)
I t ’s a t o u t P rickly P airs Every rose has its thorn when young men compete for femme and butch drag titles in the 22nd Rosebud and Thorn Pageant Centennial High School in Gresham, sees a larger purpose to the pageant, as well as the club itself. A t 18, he’s already been out for three years, a process he says he couldn’t have endured without the support of the community he has discovered at T he Rage. According to James, his father and step mother had no problem with the news, but his mother was another story. Last year, however, it was James’ mother who accompanied him to the club, which attracts many queer youth, to celebrate his birthday. “A lot of kids aren’t that lucky,” he says. “I’d like to do something to help kids who are com ing out. This seems like a good place to start.” Swerdlow says Rosebud and Thom is the by P a tric k C o llin s an envelope and answer a question for which they haven’t been prepared.” Rosebud and Thom are crowned via secret ballot, offered to everyone in attendance at the final pageant. “Performing has become a big thing,” Swerdlow says. “The clientele at my club really want to do shows.” Accordingly, this year’s competition features more contestants than ever before— nine Rosebud contestants and four for Thom . Swerdlow credits the increase in participation to the talent and enthusiasm of last year’s court, Mistress Viridia and her Thom , Danny. Swerdlow also mentions a performer known as Lady O, a former Rosebud and Thom title- holder who, he says, sets a good example when PHOTO BY LAN NY SWEROLOW n the beginning even Lanny Swerdlow, proprietor of the downtown all-ages dance club T h e Rage, was uncomfortable with the idea. “I wasn’t at all thrilled with drag queens,” he says now, 21 years after the first Rosebud and T h o m Pageant was held at Mildreds Palace, the first nightclub he owned. “A t first I thought drag queens were very insult ing to women. But I began to realize that the biggest fans of drag were women, and that I’d been misreading the whole thing.” For the purposes of this pageant, the Rosebud is the drag queen, while the T hom is the male incarnation of a drag queen. Not exactly a woman portraying a man, but a young man showcasing his hyper-masculine side— a co n n e ctio n w itk in o u r co m m u n ity ...a n d t k a t ’s gfood kusiness sense. PABA, The Portland Area Busi ness Association is a network ing organization which exists to prom ote gays, lesbians and their friends in business. Membership provides you access to: Monthly Networking . . . . . . . . Meetings feature speakers emphasiz ing personal and professional growth and development. WE help provide the tools for you to succeed in business. PABA Afterhours a monthly event hosted by and spotlighting a member business. Front row, from left: T h o m candidates Suga Tee, Jade, B rent and Kevin; back row, from left: Rosebud candidates Phoenix DeSade, Sushi Temple, A rorlex Neveck and R ou lette; Rosebud X X I M istress Viridia and T h orn X X I D anny; Rosebud candidates Selene La Velle, Arana, Psychotica Shock, BeQ ueva and Miss Shauna Quinn young man portraying a young man, only more so. (For young lesbians, there’s Leather and Lace, a competition held each August.) The first Rosebud, crowned in 1977, was David Ward, who performed under the name Roseanne Charity and currently owns a dance studio in Maui. Portland’s late and legendary Lady Elaine Peacock was also an early Rosebud and Thom titleholder. While drag may rise and fall on the barome ter of social and political acceptability, the Rosebud and T hom Pageant appears to have established a permanent niche for itself. Aside from its longevity, what sets this event apart is that all contestants must be younger than 21 at the time of the official pageant. Swerdlow says for queer youth, participating in the pageant is a constructive undertaking. “It’s a real catharsis for them,” he says. “Young people love to perform. They perform their fantasies as well as their nightmares. There’s a real interaction between the perform ers and the audience. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s also very emotionally fulfilling. It’s about people liking who they are.” One of this year’s contestants for the title of Thom , Kevin James, agrees with Swerdlow. “I’d like to win, but basically I’m doing this for the fun o f it,” he says. Fun aside, James, a 1997 graduate o f largest event for queer youth in the Pacific Northwest. He adds he knows of no other pageant of its kind in the United States or elsewhere that has survived as long. T his year the pageant comprises a series of events, all held at The Rage. T he Sweethearts’ Ball, a Valentine’s Day show, featured the intro duction of and performances by all 13 can didates. On March 7 there will be a show featuring the candidates for Thom XXII, on March 14 the Rosebud contenders will have their own evening of perfor mances, on March 21 last year’s court will offer a farewell performance, and, come March 28, the official pageant and coro nation will take place. Swerdlow describes the pageant as an exquisitely orchestrated evening featuring looks that range from the Queen of Sheba to profes sional tennis players. “There’s an entrance,” he says. "And it’s a big entrance, very choreographed. “There’s a fantasy-look segment, where everyone has a chance to get up and do their thing, and a tal ent performance. All contestants have to pick Special Events are monthly social outings where members and their guests network in a more re laxed and casual a tm o sphere. Grow your business and make new friends. she does her shows at The Rage. Swerdlow is also pleased with the diversity embodied in the 1998 competi tion. “This year’s pageant represents a won derfully broad ethnic cross section,” he says proudly. “It’s not all middle-class white people. This club is very open and accepting, and I’m glad that minority youth feel comfortable here.” P OR T L A N D AREA .VA f^ B lS IN E S S ASSOCIATION»^ Visit PABA at our Website to learn more about this dynamic business networking organiza tion. ■ T he R age is located at 3 3 3 S W Park A ve. between O ak and Stark streets m Portland. Doors open at 9 : 3 0 pm for the March 28 ROSEBUD AND THORN P ag eant , with ceremonies commencing at 10:30 pm. Tickets are $ 8.50. Tickets cost $7 for the related events on March 7, March 14 and March 21. For more inform a- don, call 242-2899. www.paba.com Or. call us at 503-241-2222 for membership information and a schedule of upcoming events.
