Teens 4 Tolerance – Event at Botanical Gardens

First annual Teens 4 Tolerance happened yesterday evening at the Botanical Gardens, Key West.

Deja of the 801 Bourbon street conceived and hosted the event – to raise funds – All proceeds benefit the Key West High School Gay Straight Alliance

Who could resist the backdrop – the botanical gardens on stock island. Here’s our first greeter.

Our second . . .Misha McRae, General manager of the Key West Botanical Gardens. If you haven’t visited in a while, there’s lots going on. Click on Misha to go to the website.

JT Thompson, creator of One Human Family, was there, welcoming everyone

A hula hoop artist flew around the stage – ushering in later performances.

What a generous and thoughtful event – great buffet offerings – available for a donation- or not.

Mike Mongo, President of the GLCC, was first on stage. Click on Mike to go to the GLCC website.

Offering thanks to the sponsors of the event.

And the show began hosted by a very warm and enthusiastic Deja – one of the Girls of the 801. Click on Deja to go to the 801 Bourbon Street website.

The first group number by the Girls of the 801 is led by Desiray – front & center.

This may be the first drag queen performance this crowd has ever seen.

Lisa from the High School GSA liaison.

I was happy to hear Layla champion all the community events the drag queens do for Key West – usually free.  This is so true and something that everyone should be more aware of.

Here are a couple of pre-performance shots I took of the girls.

This is a great headshot of Gugi Gomez. She looks positively angelic!

Ms Kylie Jean Lucille and her legs. Yikes! I’d kill for those gams!

And this may be the only time I will get to see Desiray with a halo around her face.

I think there were over 100 people who came for the show.

The girls performed onstage . . .

On a stage suspended over the water.

Hey, wait a minute! These aren’t drag queens! The audience enjoyed  an impromptu lyrical performance from this quartet – which name eludes me. The girls had angelic voices and chose songs rich with meaning and harmony.

 

 

First Deja

 

Then, Desiray joined the crowd below the stage. I guess old habits die hard.

She grabbed on of the girls from the audience.

I guess she found it irresistible

Performances were varied – next Gina Maserati treated us to an original song.

Gugi was in top form.

Omigod there’s that girl again – she’s  a natural!

Elle is the latest fabulous addition to the Girls of the 801 – She’s barely out of the teens, herself.

Does it show?

The show ended with a great performance by special guest Sassy Black – not of the 801.

Finally, the stage belonged to the teens.

The water went back to the turtles . . .

And Susan Kent of the GLCC & friends took off with the booty.