The 13th Annual Drag Show held Monday night at Round House Bar, famous for its Whiskey Light, provided the perfect culmination for a good first celebration of PRIDE day at Put-in-Bay. The festive PRIDE colors enveloped a lively and cheerful audience which gathered to support equality for all. The purpose of the commemorative day is to recognize the impact lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history around the world.
The day’s activities included a range of fun-filled activities, including the 10am Color Run at The Keys, the Sand Bar Pool Party at noon, a parade along Delaware Street at 8pm, and the exciting finale at Round House Bar. Contestants in the show, with Ray Fogg as emcee, performed in a lip-sync contest, a question/answer session, and swimsuit contest. One particular highlight was a special guest performance by drag queen Sushi–one of Key West’s most talented residents, Gary Marion (aka “Sushi”), who entertains nightly on the second floor of the popular LGBTQ hangout 801 Bourbon Bar. Local drag queens came from Heineman’s Winery, The Keys, REEL Bar, Round House Bar, The Forge, Beer Barrel, Crews Nest, and Frosty’s.
As is the case with all the shows presented by Ray Fogg, the facetious merriment is not intended to be hurtful or despicable. Rather, the focus provides an arena filled with laughter and relaxation designed to wash away the stressful hangups which often diminish one’s ability to relate cordially to people of varying cultural backgrounds.
Please note, while all is intended in the spirit of entertainment, some of the images below may not be suitable for anyone under the age of twenty-one.
