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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2001)
October 19.2001 CULTURE ..............▼.............. More than gowns and crowns Emperor candidate Shelley also blows a mean horn C ontinued from P age 1 ings, bars and wherever you’re invited to speak." According to Foxx, the purpose of campaign ing is to create interest and a better connection between the court and the gay community. “It’s kind of like an infomercial,” he says, pointing out that education is also a component, “since not everyone understands the court system.” All of the monarchs set a theme and goals for their reign. “Mine was to better connect person ally with the community and to meet with other organizations, which I have,” Foxx says, ticking off a list of groups he’s forged connections with, including the Portland Leather Alliance, Oregon Bears and Northwest Gender Alliance. During his tenure Foxx has raised money for Friends of People with A ID S Foundation, Esther’s. Pantry,. Peacock in the Park, Our House, scholar ship funds and more. One way he did that was by putting on a show last June at Embers Avenue. “It was Surviving Emperor’s Island, a game show with two teams, and in two hours we raised $1,200!" Foxx boasts. “Everyone is so used to drag shows— and there’s nothing wrong with that— but we also need other ideas, so I came up with a show called Raw Talent; a group of ‘professional’ karaoke singers did a karaoke show and raised $600. It was very entertaining, and I hope to do it every year for the scholarship programs and for [Parents, Families he Lovely Suzanne and Andrew T. Foxx will step down from their reign and crown their successors O ct. 27 during the Black & and Friends o f I eshians and G avsl ” W hite Ball. Foxx spoke with Just Out recently and shared some highlights from what he calls “the best experience of my life.” Although he was crowned last October, Foxx says, “It wasn’t until the Prince and Princess Ball in December that it hit me— I really w on.. .it’s when I first heard my name announced with my title: His Most Imperial Majesty, the Diversity of the Rose, the Cobalt Diamond Pride Emperor, Rose Emperor XXVII Andrew T. Foxx.” Combined with a 6-foot scepter and a mink- trimmed robe, it’s easy to see how a guy could get used to such trappings. But lest you think ISR C is just about dressing up in fancy duds and brandishing glitzy props, ponder this fact: All of the empresses and emperors spend between $15,CXX) and $30,000 of their own money dur T h e Lovely Suzanne and A ndrew T . Foxx at ing their reign, so this is not a contest that is th eir coron ation entered for a lark and a sash. So what about the hefty outgoing tab of First comes the campaigning. “My campaign expenses? “T h e hardest thing about being alone cost me five grand,” Foxx reveals. “I gave emperor is balancing out-of-town travel with out 800 T-shirts, 120 posters and 6,000 fliers in a needs of the community, and I believe I three-week period. You have to campaign every accomplished both,” Foxx says. night for three weeks, going to organization meet- T New York City, San Francisco and Vancouver, British Columbia. Portland is the only city to have had a recipient each of the five years. T h e 2001 Portland recipient is Ray Snive- ly, who has more than 25 years of com munity service to his credit In 1974, he was appointed to the Advisory by K imberlee V an P atten Council of Emperors, charged with formulating a plan to elect Port land’s first emperor. nother feature o f Coronation In 1981, Snively was Week activities is the fifth annu given the lifetime title of Imperial al Jose Honor Awards Banquet. Sovereign Rose Court treasurer. It was founded by Empress He has earned a reputation as the N icole the G reat to recognize out “Keeper of the Iron Purse Strings’’ for standing achievem ent within the inter his razor-sharp accounting and unwill national court system o f Canada, the ingness to spend money foolishly, help Ray Snively U nited States and M exico. “It is most ing make ISR C one of the most finan important that we becom e the guardians of cially sound and respected courts anywhere. Empress Jose’s legacy and that her proper place In 1986, Snively was elected the Silver in the history o f our com munity and its civil Arrow, Rose Emperor XIII. Alongside his stun rights m ovem ent is never forgotten," die said. ning Rose Empress Lady Elaine Peacock, he This is the highest and most prestigious served the community as the Legend of the award in the court system. Recipients receive a Rose. He continues to pay tribute to her by bust of Jose that N icole had created by serving on the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship renowned sculptor George B. Shaw. Review Com mittee. Previous events have been held in San Diego, The highest honor A He has visited 18 cities representing Port land, each of which usually requires a special, elaborate costume, with most of the expenses coming out of his pocket. Foxx has tapped one unusual source o f support: His straight co-work ers at Bonneville Power Administration bought a foil-page ad in the coronation program. “Diversity of the Rose” is his theme, and he feels he has fulfilled that well. “I’ve built a large circle of friendship,” he notes with pride. “It was the best experience o f my life. It taught me more than I bargained for, and I’m grateful for that. I wouldn’t change one bit of it,” Foxx claims adamantly. “I don’t believe you’re truly an emperor until you step down a year later and apply what you learned to bene fit your organization and your community.” hen new monarchs are named, one will be a surprise and one won’t. Shelley is run ning unopposed for emperor, and Poison Waters and Chloe Stone are vying for empress. The campaign process is arduous, as evidenced by the schedule of appearances posted on Kith can didates’ Internet sites: multiple stops every day for three weeks— that’s a lot of time in pumps! Shelley is a longtime participant in court activities throughout the country and a multiple titleholder. For ISR C she has coordinated count less production numbers, acted as the court’s own “prop shop” and been co-host of the annual “Adventures in Hangovers.” She’S also active with the Rose City Gay Freedom Band and Esther’s Pantry. Also veterans of the court system and mul tiple titleholders, Stone and Waters are solicit ing votes from throughout the metro area until O ct. 20. To cast a ballot come to Darcelle XV between noon and 8 p.m. O ct. 21. Voting is limited to people who are older than 21 and live in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Clark counties. Stone (aka Cameron Poole) first got into drag in order to foster a more outgoing alter ego. “T h e character of C hloe Stone was Kim out of a strong desire to accomplish things that a shy and unassuming young man never thought possible,” she reveals. So why empress? Stone notes “a desire to involve the youth who will be the voices and faces of the future.” During her first week of campaigning, Stone says she met many nice people “who have been complimentary and open to the idea of a man in a dress explaining why he wants to be the next empress of the city of Portland!" She also claims to have only squeezed in nine hours o f sleep during the week. Yikes! For her part, Waters (aka Kevin Cook) is keeping just as busy. She says one o f the reasons she’d make a groovy empress is her ability to be “at home at a board meeting or a beer bust." She also notes a strong desire to continue to serve the community. “I believe my com m it ment and responsibility to serve the communi ty that has so generously served me will contin ue to grow long after my reign.” Waters also has the needs of children on her mind. She spent the last week of August at Camp Starlight, which provides kids whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS the opportunity to enjoy a caring, safe, spiritual and fon experience. “It was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself or others,” she believes. She already has begun raising funds for the camp, and it surely will figure in her future efforts, too. J H W Find the complete CORONATION WEEK schedule at unwu.rosecourt.org. C heck on the candidates at unmu.chloestone.net and uniw.poisonwaters.com. the Entertainment Editor o f Just O ut, hut she never even has tried on a tiara. Find her at onana@ justout.com . ORIANA GREEN is èilub Z Presente S a t nr dan (October 27. 2001 - 12 SSidnigbt v o u r a o v e n at 1 0 :0 0 p u i 8 1 0 f o v e r - 8 0 nrith G o a t u n u K lu b Z p ti 2 0 3 -211-1123 333 S . ffl Park (S rtw een Stark and (Oak* Portland. OHI 97203 \7
