Sunday, March 27, 2011

Drag Delirium: Night Of A Thousand Gowns

The 25th annual Night Of A Thousand Gowns black tie dinner dance, coronation & fundraiser at New York's Marriott Marquis was an endless catwalk of jaw-dropping pageantry, teeming with the most outrageous drag queens and regal offbeat military dress I have witnessed.

I about burned out my Nikon capturing the action—and this time, there was nothing covert about snapping picolas of the fanfare. After all, if you spent weeks planning an outfit, make-up, wigs and accessories, wouldn't you want everyone to remember?

It was a surreal event no one attending will forget... gowns and clowns, so many cascading dress trains and whack revelry. More than 1,000 attended, with a royal brigade of monarchs, emperors & empresses, the Imperial Court and knighthoods... Thankfully, there was an open bar.

Funds went to youth organizations The Trevor Project and Ali Forney Center. Tix, along with a silent auction and honorary titles for purchase, started at $225, so figure the event raised a minimum of $250,000 for gay equality.

Enough chatter. This is one time where pictures tell the story better than any words I could conjure.On the red carpet, from top left: Wilson Cruz, Sir Ari Gold, Sylvia Tosun, Chi Chi Larue, TJ Kelly. Bottom: Tom Shivers, Rollerena, Mike Ruiz, David Mixner, Cherry Poppins.Five images from Boy Culture blog. As noted: Terri Gold.

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