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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2002)
34 |a s t »art » October 18.2002 CULTURE .............▼............. PISTILS The royal treatment NURSERY 10% off Trees and Shrubs in October Continued from Page 1 and “Imperial Pretend Boyfriend to Rose Empress XLIV.” It can he challenging to take seriously an organization that spends so much time lip-syncing to Liza Minnelli But its not quite that simple. It’s not all about titles, drag and attitude. It’s about community, involvement and rais ing money. And that, despite (or perhaps because of) the makeup and costume jew elry, they do very, very well. -Pistil When an ordinary Realtor simply won't do... sustiiaib ly grown f l o n 3811 N. Mississippi Ave. www.ctimbatree.com Portland, Oregon 503 - 2 8 8 - 4 8 8 9 WED- SAT 10-6 SUN 10-5 m 3 1 44 SE Belmont Portland, OR 97214 office: 5 0 3 -238-7617 WENTWORTH SUBARU THE NEW IS HERE! A layperson’s guide to the monarchy Ithough you may not know who your state representative is, any self- respecting queer needs to under stand how an Empress and Emperor ascend to the throne and exactly over Poison Marie W aters and ShelleY: T h e man in the whom they reign. dress and the fag trapped in a dyke’s body step “T he Emperor and Empress are the down after one mesmerizing year spokespersons for the organization,” says monarchs, Poison has attended 16 out-of-town soon-to-be former Empress XLIV Poison coronations and ShelleY 17. But most of their Marie Waters (known by day as Kevin Cook). attention has been local. According to Rose Like other nonprofits, a nine-m em ber hoard Court treasurer Ray Snively, they, along with of directors governs the Rose C ourt and is the rest of the court, raised more than $36,000 responsible for the legal and technical aspects this year for various Portland organizations, of running the organization. But, notes Poi including Esther’s Pantry, Cam p Starlight, son, “as far as who is responsible for making Bradley-Angle House and several gay and les sure things h a p p e n ...it’s on our shoulders.” bian scholarship funds. Once someone has held a title and met “He and I are both very quick on a micro other requirements, such as length of residence, p h o n e...b u t he is quicker...w here those zingers he or she can nin for Empress or Emperor. And come from is beyond me,” ShelleY muses about here is where it can get confusing. The Empress her co-star. “We came into this with a six-year and Emperor reign over the court, which working relationship, so I knew how to set up includes the Princess and Prince, both selected the fat ball so he can knock it out of the park.” by the reigning monarchs; Mr., Miss, and Ms. While ShelleY admits playing the “straight Gay Oregon; Mr., Miss, and Ms. Gay Portland; man” in their comedic duo, it’s clear the two and the W hite Knight and Debutante. The have worked wonders together. She states, “I Rose Court also recognizes other titles. know that / do a good job and ive do a great job." “Like at the end of the Mr. Oregon Leather Drag shows that raise money are the bulk of pageant, the Emperor and Empress come out royal duties, but sometimes need takes other and say, ‘We hereby recognize you Mr. Oregon forms. “I went to Friends of People with AIDS, Leather,’ ” explains Poison. “Even though and I said, ‘W hat do you need?1 ’’ recounts Shel they’re not part of the Rose Court, we are rec leY. Turns out they needed volunteers. In prag ognizing them, and just hy using that language, matic style, she stepped up to the challenge. “I it qualifies them .” said, ‘Well, I got bodies, court members I got.’ ” So Emperor, Empress— exactly which is Her simple question led to a gift collection, which? Outgoing Emperor XXVIII ShelleY wrapping party and holiday meals for kids with (Shelley Hutchinson) identifies as a “fag trapped in a dyke’s body," and Poison as “a man or affected by HIV/AIDS and Easter baskets stuffed full by the same folks a few months in a dress,” but both Chloe Stone (Cameron later. “People who wouldn’t give you $5 to Poole) and Josef A. Foxx (Josef Buchel), who are running unopposed as Empress and Emper come into a party would go out and spend $35 or, respectively, live their daily lives as men. on chocolate bunnies.” Poison offers the assurance that titles are "outfit specific,” allowing for the occasional It’s good to be Queen, err, Empress reign of a female Empress and a male Emperor and essentially offering either title to any gender. And, although it’s good to be Empress, Poi s Cam eron Poole steps up next weekend to son sniffs at those who would take the whole become Rose Empress XLV Chloe Stone, thing just a little too seriously. “These peopI*e she will begin working to achieve some of need a shot in the arm of reality. We are just all his own goals for the court. “I’m hoping with men in dresses...you don’t really have any my reign to bring the youth a lot more into the power. So just get over yourselves,” he laughs. court. Kluh Z holds the titles of Rosebud and T h o m ... they're one of the oldest junior courts Goodbye Poison and ShelleY in the country...I really think that the youth are our future.” oison Waters and ShelleY have the distinc A n understandable statem ent coming from tion of ascending to the top of the monar a man who works by day as an advocate for chy at the same time after having been abused and neglected youth. Joe Buchel, the Prince and Princess together. This has given new Emperor XXIX Josef A. Foxx, is a kinder them a lot of time to hone working as a team. garten teacher, making this team ’s reign one Making the most of their time as reigning that has a huge potential of bringing attention Ai Your Baja Headquarters SUBARU © llic Beauty of All WheelDrive. w w w .w e n tw o rth s u b a ru .c o m 107 SE Grand • 4 Blocks South of the Convention Center • 503-232-2000 P
