Pound in Wellington is being taken over for an action-packed evening of cabaret this Sunday in support of the Chrissie Witako Memorial Teapot Trust. 'A Night of DIVAs and KNIGHTs' will feature performances from a variety of artists, including Pollyfilla, Butch van Dyke, the Maori Kapa Haka Group (Gay Games 2002), D.V.8 and Georgina Beyer. The Chrissie Witako Memorial Teapot Trust was established to help pay for the funerals of those who have died from HIV/AIDS, and this cabaret fundraiser is an annual event. The Trust is named after transgender legend Chrissie Witako, who passed away in 2001 and was a mother figure for many in the transgender and drag communities in Wellington. Ms Witako ran the Evergreen Coffee Lounge, which was a safe refuge for transgendered people as well as many in the sex industry. The teapot refers to charges that were laid against Ms Witako on several occasions when she was caught serving alcohol without a license, disguised in special teapots. She was an ardent supporter of the LGBT and takataapui community, supporting sports teams and social groups, and people with HIV/AIDS. She was paid back in an event reminiscent of the popular Hollywood Christmas fairytale “It's A Wonderful Life”, when the community clubbed together for a fundraiser to pay fines Ms Witako received for serving alcohol that threatened to close the Evergreen. Tickets for this year's event are $20 and are available from Pound. Doors open at 6pm on Sunday November 30, with the show running from 7 – 11pm.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 24th November 2003 - 12:00pm