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  The Dolly Pops perform as part of End of the Rainbow Oh my god, today is the day! So shake off that 3 day hangover and get your ass to the big Pride Parade…Make it Happen! And check out the earlier route and Waterfront Festival maps in case you’ve forgotten. Gay Standard Time is probably ok but the route is short so don’t miss it! And once you’re done with downtown it ain’t over yet, as there seem to be more Sunday afternoon and nighttime events than ever!
Families of Color Day Out picnic – Sunday is a perfect day for winding down and slowly easing yourself out of Pride weekend. I’ve often gone to informal friend BBQs but people of color might want to consider the larger group gathering in North Portland’s Kenton Park. SO grab the hot dogs and the ribs and show your out of town guests what a NW picnic in the shadow of the big Paul Bunyan statue really means.
7th annual Pride Block Party – Today’s the day when Stark Street really is gay again as Red Cap/Boxes closes down the triangle to outsiders in favor of colorful tents that contain some of the best daytime dancing and performance I’ve seen. Hosted by San Francisco’s Trannyshack momma Heklina, the block party, open mere moments after the parade at 1pm, features performances by the Rose City Sirens, ChiChi and Chonga, and (can it be?) all the Miss Thing winners of 2010.
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  Host Heklina presents the cash prize to winner Sally Ingus Wilder. Photo by Marty Davis This Friday saw bunches of queers lined up in front of the Fez Ballroom to see the final drag smackdown at Miss Thing wondering if it was already sold out. Actually it wasn’t, and the hype and attitude was a little intense for an event that ended up having plenty of elbow room. But then again, it was called Miss Thing so I guess I can’t be too surprised.
I also wasn’t surprised by the level of weirdness and amazingness that all the Misses brought to the show. Although the 1st place winner was newbie Sally Ingus Wilder I wasn’t disappointed by any of the competing acts. Second and third places belonged to ChiChi and Chonga and Kaj-Anne Pepper respectively, but I’ve heard more than one grumble that either of these two fierce competitors should have taken the title. Personally, I think Bulimianne Rhapsody had one of the most original pieces.
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  Chi Chi and Chonga at September's Disco Miss Thing. Photos courtesy Just Out Emerging from an occasionally painful adolescence Portland is finally enjoying the freedom of young adulthood (and college parties, whew!) and there’s no better example of this than our catty but loving drag scene. This year saw one the introduction of a truly well crafted drag competition called Miss Thing and this Friday brings its outrageous finale.
“I think drag has gotten somewhat of a bad name in Portland because there is so much sameness and traditional drag going on,” Co-creator Heklina Heklina has said. “Audiences and performers want to be challenged by ideas—another great thing about Miss Thing. There are no rules—no rules as to gender, what you need to look like or how you dress. All that matters is what you do onstage.”
Not that we’ve ever cared about a bad reputation, but we’re happy that now it’s a thematic, originally bad rep. And it’s all coming to a climax when the year’s best of the best take the stage to win 500 dollars and a trip to San Fran to perform with Trannyshack. And competition is fierce.
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  Winning contestant Kaj-anne Pepper with backup dancer Robert Tyree Monthly drag competition Miss Thing at the Fez has quickly become the show to experience the breadth of Portland drag as well as a who’s who of almost every queer circle. And indeed, that night competition was just as fierce as we have come to expect.
Nonetheless, no one was surprised when the incorrigible and amazing Kaj-anne Pepper took first place with his ironic, satirical and beautiful medley of both Gaga and Madonna. With live vocals and backup dancers perfectly exemplifying the Gaga aesthetic it was a no-brainer, despite the quality of all the acts.
The ultra-gay theme, Lady Gaga vs. Madonna, produced a host of great performances starting with judges, including winner of last month, Bulimianne Rhapsody, who performed her own rendition of Paparrazzi instead praising the joys of wino-loving Carlo-Rossi.
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  Sally Ingus Wilder debuts This month’s Miss Thing: Broadway Babes on Wednesday is a tribute to all things showtune. Hosted by Heklina and the ladies of Trannyshack, San Francisco Miss Thing takes to the Fez (316 SW 11th Ave) monthly to showcase thematic drag numbers that have a chance of winning it all. And by all I mean a “best of show” performer will be chosen to compete in November to become Miss Thing. The winner will win $500 cash and a trip to San Francisco to perform at the legendary Trannyshack.
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