LGBT+ History Month
October is LGBT History Month.
This October, donate to the LGBT Legacy Project for the forthcoming documentary:
“From Where We Stood:
AIDS and the Culture Wars”
Our trajectory since June 2022
The incredible show of support, encouragement and of course cash, since we began has launched this documentary project like a NASA space shuttle.
In just over a year, we have raised over $30,000 from donations ranging from $25 to $500. Adding in the grants and larger donations we have done extremely well, raising close to $92,000.
We still need $20,000 before the end of the year to complete the remaining interviews. These are with people who worked and fought at the national level. They are mostly retired and live around the country.
We offer entertainment in exchange for your money.
”Drag Bingo” is really fun. So let your hair down, and join us October 28th at the Music Box Supper Club
Veranda L’Ni’s Drag Bingo Benefit for the LGBT Legacy Project - October 28th
Huge “Shout-Out” to Shamus Dickinson for hosting this evening to benefit the documentary.
What a great way to donate
Buy tickets to Veranda L’Ni’s Drag Bingo Benefit night at the Music Box Supper Club, October 28th. Costumes Encouraged!
Veranda brings you Elvira in this Halloween Edition of Drag Bingo! Yes, Veranda L’Ni and her fabulous Drag sisters will dazzle the stage with Bingo and show-stopping performances starting at 8 pm. Join us for the fun!
Venue: Music Box Supper Club
Show time: 8:00pm
Doors open: 6:00pm
$12 Advance, $18 Day of Show, 18 & Over, GA Seated, Table Reservations Required.
Bring all Your Friends and your Mothers (everybody loves a game of Bingo).
Make it a Halloween Night to Remember!
Can’t go? We’ll miss you!
Buy tickets for someone else - or see “Donate” below - thank you.
Drag Not Drag
Danny La Ru, OBE
I remember in the UK when I was young, watching Danny La Ru in the annual televised “Royal Command Performance” for Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal family were all sitting in the Royal Box at the London Palladium. La Ru floated onto the stage in full regalia while a pianist, seated at a white grand piano began to play. My father said “Oh my God, it’s Danny La Ru!” and sat down to watch.
During the war La Ru entertained the troupes, and was known for his singing and cross-dressing performances. He never called it “Drag,” but rather “entertainment."
After the war he continued to be successful, appearing in films and on television. In 2002, he was appointed to the “Order of the British Empire” (OBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
There is a fascinating biographical documentary on YouTube.
My Dad, Peter Lewis
Apparently 50% of men (gay or straight) are comfortable wearing drag. My father was one of them. He, too, like La Ru, had entertained during the war, while serving as a bomber pilot in the RAF.
One year in the early 70s, he, with a couple of friends, decided to perform at a Rotary Christmas Dinner as the Beverly Sisters.
Dad was always getting compliments about his legs. He especially liked playing Liza Minnelli from Cabaret, which involved a chair, top hat, cane, wig, fishnet stockings, heels, tux shorts, and a waiter’s vest stuffed with false boobs. I’ll spare you that visual.
Rotarians Vance Uden, Dad & Reg Byford, early 1970s
From Where We Stood: AIDS and the Culture Wars
Upcoming Schedule
In October we complete our Cleveland interviews. We then head to Wichita for ten days and Dorothy, my spouse, is coming. She has her social scheduled jammed with old friends and I am filling up mine with interviews.
In November I head to Dallas, TX for five days and have scheduled five of six interviews already. Then it’s back to Cleveland for an interview with a VIP flying in from Los Angeles. I’ll tell you who, later.
In all locations, I have had an outpouring of people who are more than willing to either help or be interviewed, and mostly both.
I am grateful for this. Rarely are these stories easy to tell, but they are personal truths that can resonated with each other, the LGBT+ community, and beyond.
Thank you
Valda Lewis
Executive Producer