BY HEATHER MARLETTE
So,
sometimes you get a reward for giving back. I am a facilitator for the Pride Center of the Capital
Region’s Youth Groups in Albany and Schenectady counties. Trust me; this
gig is easier than it sounds, because these are good kids. It is great to see
these kids, who may have no support other then within those walls during the
hours of Youth Group thrive in an environment they feel safe in and that they
have found family in. I honestly do not need a reward other than this, and look
forward to the day when we succeed in expanding our groups to more counties and
helping more LGBTQA youths out. You do get some though, and Saturday August 10,
2013 I got to attend a special Gala for the Pride Center, with a Dame Edna
Performance…and it was fabulous, darlings – or should I say possums…
A quick
background – Dame Edna is of course the famous creation of Barry Humphries, who is an
Australian comedian/performer. He started her simply as Edna Everage, an Australian
housewife who he used to comment on the Australian Suburban life. She got more
outrageous as performances grew throughout the decades, to the current well-known,
oft recognized lilac haired, cat shaped glasses, outrageous dresser known
today. She also got elevated to Dame Status. Humphries still performs as her
(though he said he would retire her in 2012, and is still going). There are
many imitations, but he will always be the original!
I got
to see a performance by a great Dame Edna performer who has not only gotten the
blessing to perform her from Humphries, but performed with Humphries at a
special tribute to him for his birthday back in 2010 – Celebrity Impersonator Michael L. Walters.
He and Humphries share another tie – Humphries provided the voice of Bruce the
Shark in Finding Nemo and Walters
originated that character in the live performance at Disney World. Walters has
been performing as the Dame since 2001, and has traveled much of North America
with his spot on and delightful impersonation.
The performance
took place at The Mansion Inn Bed & Breakfast just outside of Saratoga
Springs, NY, where Mr. Walters returned for the third consecutive year this
year by popular demand. One of the nights was dedicated to the Pride Center, as
I said above and it was a great night. To be able to enjoy a night out with the
people who like me work with the Pride Center in either a professional or
volunteer role was great. All the money earned was for the Pride Center, and it
was a wonderful experience all the way around. As we go through this contentious
time in ours and other societies LGBTQ communities world over, to see the
people who strive to protect, lobby and educate us having a good time and
enjoying each other’s company, that was priceless. Thank you to everyone, to
the Pride Center’s staff, to the Mansion Inn and their staff and of course to
Mr. Walters and his partner. I hope that as we all continue on with the fight
for equal rights for all, the laughter we shared on an unusually chilly night
in August will keep us smiling in the hard times as well as the good.
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