Monday, April 3, 2017

REMEMBERING SWEETIE

Last week New York City and it's gay community felt just a bit colder.....veteran New York drag queen Sweetie passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 51.

 Born Daniel Booth, he was rising to NYC stardom in the early '90s from attending parties by Susanne Bartsch and Linda Simpson at nightlife staples like the Pyramid Club and Boy Bar, Sweetie was known for her lip-syncing abilities, crass humor and, most of all, her heart and rallying for gay causes. “I had always considered myself a serious actor in a lot of ways, and drag was kind of lowbrow to me,” Sweetie told OUT columnist Michael Musto last year in Paper. “I loved watching it, but never thought I’d do it seriously, until I found out they were making money doing it, you know what I mean?” And Sweetie always hung in there, even when the drag frenzy of the mid 90's had cooled and queens were finding it hard to have a platform. Sweetie's Cheez Whiz show provided just that. The Sunday night soiree at The Parkside Lounge was just what the community needed. I can remember seeing her show twice and enjoyed every minute. The long, successful run of Cheez Whiz once again landed Sweetie in the spotlight. Notorious for late night revelry by the performance royalty of New York, Cheez Whiz became THE spot to see and be seen. Drag Queens, nightlife legends and A list celebrities filed in to witness what Sweetie had up her sequined sleeve. Sweetie not only was known for her own impeccable performance, but now served as curator for performers that were both legendary and legends in the making. Sweetie upheld the torch for drag by illuminating the biggest stars, but also provided a stage for performers on their way up the ladder. Sweetie made the decision to let the party go before its star began to fade. A year after Cheez Whiz ended, Sweetie joined forces with star promoter Daniel Nardicio with High Life/ Low Life. A bigger budget, bigger venue and bigger audience awarded Sweetie and Nardicio numerous accolades and its prime Saturday night spot on the weekly calendar once again made a Sweetie event THE place to be. Two and half years later the party had played host to other New York greats I can remember like Lypsinka, Lady Bunny, Jimmy James, Mona Foote, The Scissor Sisters, Jayne County, Candis Cayne, Flotilla DeBarge, Sister Dimension, Tabboo, and countless other major stars. Another successful long running party only cemented Sweetie's place in New York City nightlife history. And she won't soon be forgotten.

14 comments:

  1. Thank you for paying homage to another of our family's humble beginnings and shining stars. May we remember her. She was quite something.

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  2. We were shocked to hear of her passing. She was most definitely old school drag at it's best along with Mona Foote, Bunny, L'homma and Peppermint. Can't imagine New York without her.

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  3. RIP sweetie! You were loved

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  4. I had just heard this today.She was a shining star... she was one of the last of the legends of extraordinary queens. I saw her one time in my life and was so honored to be able to do that.

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  5. I was recently at a show this weekend honoring her. I can still hear her at one show saying telling us about" huge cocks, and how when giving head all you can do is use it as a breathing apparatus. If the dick ain't worth taking a black eye for, it aint worth taking."

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  6. RIP Sweetie, and do it fabulously.

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  7. A sweet tribute....

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  8. So sad we lost a great person. Was she not on Project Runway once for the drag challenge?

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  9. I have never heard of this wonderful human being but after reading your absolutely beautiful and touching tribute I am so sorry I didn't.

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  10. It's always hard to lose anyone, but someone who touch many in the drag industry it hits closer. She was something.

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  11. I'm still kind of wondering why drag performers are still looked down on...the ones who create a persona so completely different from themselves are talented folks. That's what acting is, folks.

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  12. While I have never had the honor to meet her, she is one of three queens that were part of my inspiration for finding a style of form of drag. I still say, classic drag is best. May she be ever remembered.

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  13. Sweetie is and was, my favorite red headed queen in the drag arena. How fun was she?

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!