A traffic light in honour of Carmen Rupe, is being unveiled on Cuba Street on Monday. Mayor Celia Wade-Brown with the light fitting. Photo: David White / Fairfax At 2pm, the light will be unveiled and entertainment from the local drag community, including Amanduh Lahore and Constance Craving, will provide the perfect backdrop for the event. The legendary performer took the name Carmen from Dorothy Dandridge's character in the movie Carmen Jones and was Australia's first ever Maori drag performer, eventually vowing to give up men's clothes forever. An entrepreneur, Carmen paved the way for many in the LGBTI communities and sadly passed away in 2011 from kidney failure.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 4th August 2016 - 3:36pm