Sun 22 Jul 2012 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Buffy (Smith) and Bimbo flank Mr GayNZ and Mr Gay World title holder Andreas Derleth at tonight's final QWU show. 12.20AM: $40,000 raised by tonight's Queen of the Whole Universe pageant takes the series of elaborate drag spectacles' contribution to HIV charities to over $200,000. Tonight was the tenth and final in the approximately annual productions, with a host of volunteer performers and support crews wowing the audience once again with bawdy humour, outrageous costumes and a strong commitment to fighting HIV and supporting those with it. More than 85% of those still contracting and living with with debilitating HIV in New Zealand are gay and bi men. As reported by GayNZ.com Daily News several weeks ago, the pageant's creator Jonathan Smith, aka Bimbo of drag duo Buffy and Bimbo, has announced the series of shows has been brought to an end. He will now be working on a musical stage show which traces the genesis of Queen of the Whole Universe and will reveal some of the moving and at times hillarious stories which have emerged as the production gathered momentum over the years. Smith's announcement of this to tonight's capacity Aotea Centre audience was well-received by the enthusiastic crowd, many of whom have followed the pageant since its first show. You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum. Full photo and feature coverage of the Queen of the Whole Universe 2012 pageant will appear on GayNZ.com throughout today (Sunday).
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 22nd July 2012 - 12:09am