"Twenty-seven years ago around Halloween, 70 or so men dressed in drag, boarded three buses, and began a journey to help in the fight against AIDS calling themselves 'The Bag Ladies.' The Bag Ladies got their name from an article out of a New York City newspaper. Coby Palmer, one of the original Bag Ladies, read in the article that the New York 'bag ladies' were fun and campy and had lots of 'hutspah,' similar to what the Indianapolis Bag Ladies are like today. The Bag Ladies are men willing to dress in high heels and wear outrageous costumes who, each year around Halloween, travel from bar to bar soliciting money until the early hours of the morning on what is called The Bag Lady Bus Tour. Originally, at the end of the night the Bag Lady who raised the most money was crowned Bag Ladies Queen for a year. While raising money is still a major factor in crowning the Queen, the organization now hosts a Bag Lady Queen Pageant prior to the annual Bus Tour.
The Bag Ladies could quite possibly be the nation’s first HIV and AIDS fundraising organization. Since the initial bus tour in 1981, more and more men have become part of this on-going and growing tradition. One of the first organizations that benefited from donations by the Bag Ladies was the Buddy House which provided housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS who were having financial difficulties. Even though the Buddy House is no longer around, the Bag Ladies are stronger than ever and the money they raise supports several local organizations. The Damien Center, the Gregory Powers Direct Emergency Financial Assistance (DEFA) Fund, Indiana Youth Group (IYG), Step Up, and the Indiana AIDS Fund all benefit from money raised by the Bag Ladies. In addition to the annual Bus Tour, several of the 'Ladies' and the present and some former 'Queens' raise money through performances put on throughout the year. In the early years, several of the Bag Lady Queens did other fund raising events such as photo signings, cook book sales, cut-a-thon, and helped organize the Garage Party.
The Bag Ladies have been part of several organizations throughout the years: Indiana Cares, AIDS Serve and Indiana Still Cares. In 2005 when Indiana Still Cares disbanded, the Bag Ladies joined with Indy Pride, Inc. where they march on in their high heels and outrageous hair and continue raising money to this day! In the 2007 calendar year, the Pride Bag Ladies raised and donated over $18,000!"
Yours truly has been involved with the Pride Bag Ladies since jumping on the bus tour last October. I can't say enough how much I love this organization and the other "Ladies" involved.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our fearless, flawless and fabulous leader, Miss Cadillac Barbie. Cadillac Barbie is a mentor, mother and mensch to all of us involved in the Bag Ladies (Mensch: Yiddish ~ a person with whom you would be happy to befriend and associate with, because you feel genuine in their presence) and I consider myself blessed to have made her acquaintance. She's giving of her time, her talents and her resources and sets an outstanding example to everyone in the community. I just adore her and under her tutelage aspire to be the best damned Bag Lady I can be. *kiss kiss* to Miss Cadillac Barbie.
Keep it spicy, Poppers.
Halle
No comments:
Post a Comment