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QW: Send savory bits of information to Byron
Beck at bbeck@
wweek.com at least 10 days prior to publication.
.Don't
Dream It, Be It: Rose Empress XLIII, The Lovely Suzanne.
Check
out The Lovely Suzanne at the Roxy (1121 SW Stark St., 223-9160).
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I have known Suzanne Hale for what seems, at least in gay
years, a lifetime. I can still remember the first time I saw
this motorin' mama. It was more than a decade ago. That's
when, after one of my futile attempts at finding the man of
my dreams in the middle of a dance floor, I decided to drown
my pitiful sorrows in a big ol' plate of biscuits and gravy
at the late, great Quality Pie.
Helping me through those woeful wee hours was none other
than Suzanne. One of QP's graveyard waitresses, the self-styled
"Lovely Suzanne" worked this haven for creatures of the
night like Debbie Reynolds at a dinner theater.
Ever since QP closed in the early '90s, I've made sure
to keep an eye on this lovely lady as she went on to create
a 'zine, become music editor for PDXS and operate
two eating establishments: The once-infamous Blah Blah Cafe
and her buzzy little homo hive, The Roxy.
But nothing quite prepared me for her latest role.
Suzanne was recently crowned The Ultra Violet Femme, Rose
Empress XLIII of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court.
An international court system for service-minded drag queens,
Portland's Rose Court is one of more than 65 chapters in
the United States. Locally, this is the group that gave
Darcelle her X and V.
Things changed in 1993, when Maria Council busted the glass
tiara and became the first woman Empress. But never has
a straight female won the much-sought-after title--at least,
not until Suzanne.
"Don't call me a drag queen," said her royal majesty. "Just
tell readers I dress appropriately for whatever event I
am asked to attend."
That means this year she will spend anywhere from $15,000
to $20,000 on costumes, wigs and a whole lot of travel.
With the composure of someone who just won the garden-club
presidency, the 45-year-old mother (who, by the way, ran
unchallenged) offered a few reasons for wanting to be the
most fabulous woman in Oregon. "As a business owner, I think
I can bring my leadership skills to this organization. And
besides, I moved so much as a child that I never went to
any of my own formals."
But still, why would any real woman want to become the
leader of what is essentially an organization for female
impersonators?
"Well, it's a lot like the Shriners," said Suzanne, who
worked behind the scenes for five years before she decide
to try "representin'." "It's a social group that services
the queer and straight community. Our activities bond us.
But it comes down to one fact: When you strive for tolerance,
diversity goes both ways. You know, I'm a color of the rainbow,
too."
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