A Tim Burton Halloween for pride

This October, Roxy Taylor and Morgan Brooks are hosting “Keep Portland Weird 3rd,” but with a new twist this Sunday, the 18th.

Morgan Brooks started performing in Mississippi under the tutorship of a drag queen in Atlanta where she earned the “Brooks” name. Brooks has been a part of a number of events and shows, working her way up to this one and kicking off the Halloween season. Roxy Taylor is the current Miss Gay Pride of Portland. Taking theater, art, and choir courses in high school lead Taylor to drag. Taylor wanted to push the boundaries on gender and has been involved in Keep Portland Weird (KPW) events for two years. Last year, she hosted an event that raised $1,100 for Camp Casey (a horseback riding program for children with cancer) and the year before, she helped raised $1,500 for the AIDS Walk.

Previous KPW events were not themed, which makes this year’s event special. Taylor found inspiration in a gender-bent illustration of Jack and Sally from Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” – a beloved childhood movie for her. The art, by Sakimi-Chan, inspired the theme for Sunday’s event, “A Tim Burton Halloween.”
Using this theme, different performances will use gender-swapped characters from all of Burton’s movies. There will be five characters from “Nightmare Before Christmas,” two from “James and the Giant Peach,” two from “Beetlejuice” and many more from “Sweeney Todd,” “Dark Shadows,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Batman” and “Corpse Bride.” The show will have dancers, drag queens, and male entertainers. Roxy Taylor herself will be playing the gender-swapped “Jackie Skeleton,” accompanied by “Ragdoll Sal.”

Aside from Miss Gay Pride (Taylor), others appearing at the event will include Mr. Gay Pride, Tron Drift Valentine, Jr.; Miss Gay Pride,  Sugar Pill Valentine; and Junior Ms. Gay Pride, Katana Blades. According to Taylor it is hard to get all of the Gay Pride Titleholders at the same event because of the age (under 18) of the Junior titleholders (under 18). Unlike most drag events, this one is able to host all ages.

All proceeds from the event will be donated to the 2016 Pride NW. All of the performers are working for free, and

the host encourages tips from patrons, since the performers have chosen to donate their tips to Pride NW. Taylor’s goal is to raise $2,500 for next year. The hostess is also hoping for local businesspeople to come, have fun, and maybe donate products or money for prizes.

The event is meant to be a good time. Though it will be a bit eccentric, the venues inside are like a huge funhouse at a carnival. It won’t be scary, but silly. Brooks said the team is already working on the next three events for Gay Pride support and is ready to “keep the city as weird as possible.”

Tickets may be purchased through performers, by contacting them on the event Facebook page, or bought at the door. The event will be staged from 8 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Funhouse Lounge, 2432 S.E. 11th Ave. in Portland.

Advocate Staff