Spring Break
The return of boybutante
Drag show benefitting AIDS kicks off Saturday at 40 Watt
COURTNEY SMITH
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Out & About
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The 19th annual Boybutante Ball: Jailhouse Frock, held by the Boybutante AIDS Foundation, is at the 40 Watt Club this year and is the final event of the foundation's year-long fundraising efforts for AIDS Athens.
The Ball will be composed of a drag show of about 15 acts from past and current AIDS Foundation board members as well as local Athens community drag artists. There also will be a performance by cabaret group Effie's Club Follies.
At the end of the night, the Boybutante Ball annual drag show winner will be crowned Miss Bogart, and then participants and viewers will be allowed to dance and "frolic" freely.
Dieng Cameron, the AIDS Foundation President and Miss Bogart 2007, says the show desires to broaden people's minds about drag and the people who participate in it.
"We try to get people to realize that drag is not just men dressed up pretending to be women," he said. "It can be funny or it can be serious and we try to bring a lot of that to the stage and provide entertainment to a wide variety of people."
Given the show and foundation as a whole, this type of variety and community involvement is what Cameron considers influential in expanding the foundation's impact.
"People tend to have a narrow scope of what AIDS Athens is, what they do, and who the people are that support these types of events," Cameron said. "We have spent this year trying to incorporate new things."
The new things Cameron and the foundation have incorporated are an attempt to broaden fundraising efforts in addition to the drag shows so they can "have a little something for everyone."
These new events include a full week of fundraising during the days preceding the ball when community members can participate in Boybutante "Cell Block Bingo," watch movie screenings about issues of gender and sexuality, sing karaoke, eat brunch and attend live concerts all benefiting AIDS Athens.
The Foundation hosts a "Drag Search" every year in an attempt to encourage new performers and also holds a competition in which drag kings and queens battle for a time slot in the Ball.
"It just gives new performers an opportunity to be seen by a large group of people," Cameron said. "I think it is an honor for most people to have that opportunity because Boybutante has been around so long and has a pretty good reputation in the Athens community."
The reputation Cameron cites is partly one of fun, lipstick, dancing and feather boas, but it more importantly is one of philanthropy. Since the nonprofit foundation's creation in 1989, it has raised cumulatively more than $300,000 for AIDS service organizations and continues to increases its donation every year.
Last year, the foundation presented AIDS Athens with a check for $40,000 and Cameron hopes for more this year.
"I am very optimistic that we will top it this year," he said. "I hope we bring a lot of people out."
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