Drag queens sacrifice make up, eyelashes and…

Drag queens sacrifice make up, eyelashes and rhinestones to support community

Liverpool drag queens rallied together in style to fundraise for a city centre-based charity.

Eight of the Pride Quarter’s performers ‘“lost their eyelashes and rhinestones” as they jumped into the water to raise money for Sahir House, an HIV support charity working across Merseyside since 1985.

Ruby Reign-Pain, R Debs, Ketona Madrave, Kiki Pain, Regina McQueen, Violet Period-Pain, Shania Pain and Brenda La Beau invited fans down to the docks to watch their cut-creases and over-lined lips be washed away as they took on the inflatable water sports course.

Superstar Boudoir queen, R Debs, told the ECHO : “We came up with the idea to do the Wild Shore because we thought about what could we do to raise awareness, raise some money and do what drag queens do best is to provide entertainment. The experience was absolutely amazing. Having so many customers, supporters, and venue workers come to cheer us on was a real testament to the community."

Having beat their initial goal of £150, they have decided to keep the GoFundMe open until Sunday, July 31, the day after Pride in Liverpool. They chose the charity because “of what they represent, the amazing work they do, including their battle against HIV stigma, prevention and training centre in Merseyside.”

The queens came together to raise money for Sahir House (Colin Lane)

Established nearly four decades ago, Sahir House runs a range of services including advocacy, advice on housing and welfare benefits, and counselling and psychotherapy for those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV. It also delivers training to schools, community groups, public bodies and companies to help improve understanding of HIV.

Following concerns expressed by older people living with HIV that they may encounter discrimination if they moved into a care home, Sahir House developed a specialist training course that has been delivered to staff in 38 residential and nursing homes. Meanwhile, it also provides support to asylum seekers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. In 2017, Sahir House beat more than 400 organisations from all over the UK to be one of the 10 winners of the 2017 GSK IMPACT Awards, a national award that recognises excellence in charities improving health and wellbeing in their communities.

R Debs added: “It was absolutely worth it. Having queens come together from different venues as a community to raise money for such a good cause was amazing. It was such a good representation of the strength of the LGBTQ+ venues and how we all stand together as a community. There was a queen from every venue present, Kittys Show Bar, The Poste House Superstar Boudoir, Masquerade, Dorothys Show Bar, OMG Liverpool, Heaven Nightclub, On Point, and The Lisbon. It was such a good day and we are looking forward to our next fundraising activities. Maybe drag queen bungee jumping?”