34 |a s t »art » October 18.2002
CULTURE
.............▼.............
PISTILS
The royal
treatment
NURSERY
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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
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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
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