Grande Dame

The last words RV Beaumont heard before succumbing to cancer were, "Have a safe trip, hooker." The popular Key West drag queen, who was born Timothy Swain and called everyone "hooker," passed away in her Petronia Street home at the age of 47.
RV Beaumont was lighthearted and funny and she always saw the comedy in life -- probably because she was always stoned! Swain waited tables at T.G.I.Friday's in Key West in the mid-1990s, before the drag shows at the 801 Bourbon Bar on Duval Street became a twice-a-night gig. Beaumont was best known for her portrayals of Bette Midler and Mary Poppins, with her outrageous and suggestive performance of "A Spoonful of Sugar,"which in 2000 earned her the title of Queen Mother at an annual fundraising drag pageant, where every Sunday found Beaumont calling bingo at the 801, and raising thousands of dollars for local charities. She would pull money out of that crowd every Sunday, and everyone had fun while she was doing it. it's estimated Beaumont raised more than $58,000 for his cancer organization over the years. Other charities included the Metropolitan Community Church, AIDS Help and Hospice. RV was at virtually at every charity event in Key West, in full dress and makeup, always having a good time. When melanoma spread to the liver, spine and brain, Beaumont held on, and would still perform one drag number each night until last month. Nothing was sacred or off-limits when she was on stage, and the laughter echoed through the upstairs cabaret. In the early '90s, Beaumont divided her time between Provincetown, Mass., and Key West. And RV Beaumont will never be forgotten. Thanks for the memories hooker!