“Best In Drag Show”, the fabulous and long-running annual fundraiser for Aid For AIDS, a program of Alliance for Healing and Housing, has announced that Emmy and Grammy Award winner Kathy Griffin will open this year’s festivities.
The show will be held on October 2, 2016, at the Orpheum Theatre in LA, and the pre-show party on that day at 5:30 pm.
Melanie Griffith, Academy Award nominee, Kathy Kinney from “The Drew Carey Show” and OWN’s “Queen Sugar” Rutina Wesley are taking to the judging panel, but more celebrity judges will be announced very soon.
“Best In Drag Show” benefits Aid For AIDS, a program of Alliance for Housing and Healing which is dedicated to preventing homelessness and hunger for men, women, children and families living with HIV/AIDS throughout Los Angeles County. The highly-anticipated beauty pageant spoof is filled with fun and comedy while keeping the focus on its cause — giving back to the community through fundraising.
The six gorgeous contestants competing for this year’s crown are Wanda Wumanz (Keith Lamont), Hannah Belle Lecter (Jay Fink), Pokey Hanus (Brian Lexy), Halle Peñe Pappas (Johnny Glasser), Sandy Claus (Jeffrey Ewell) and Sheena Turner (Victor Montoya)
Originally founded in 1989 by Alexis Pittman with a small group of friends in his West Hollywood living room, the “Best In Drag Show” (then called Battle for the Tiara) came to fruition.
The first event raised $400 collected from 20 people, and the show was subsequently moved to larger venues due to its increasing popularity.
The current version of the show has run since 2003 and has raised over $3 million to support the work of Alliance for Housing and Healing’s flagship program, Aid for AIDS.
The Patrick Rush Service Award, established in 2010 in honour of Patrick, will be presented at the show. The award recognises the love and heartfelt dedication that Patrick has poured into the Best in Drag Show by removing the financial barrier for qualified students who demonstrate the drive and determination to reach their education goals, despite the challenges that are presented by a positive HIV status and ongoing addiction recovery.