Six of the most glamorous cross-dressers the city has to offer will take the stage Nov. 1 in the third annual “Haught Guys ’N Gowns” pageant.
The winner will be crowned Ms. Emporians for Drug Awareness for 2008.
The event is held as a fundraiser to help finance educational activities for Emporians for Drug Awareness, the sponsor of the event.
Emporia dentist Dr. Stephen Haught, the first Ms. EDA, underwrites Guys ’N Gowns, which will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, in the Lowther North Intermediate School auditorium.
Contestants this year will be: Matt Zimmerman, city manager; Bill Persinger, executive director of the Mental Health Center of East-Central Kansas; Cruz Jasso, assistant principal at Emporia High School; Nick Heiman, Lyon County Assistant County Attorney; Scott Hayes, broadcaster with Emporia’s Radio Stations; and Dean Hollenbeck, president of the Flint Hills Technical College.
The men have been trying on gowns and choosing wigs and accessories, as well as appropriate names for their new personae.
“Madelynn’s works with us, so they go down and they choose evening wear,” said E.D.A. Executive Director Teresa Walters. “They have beach wear. They have to do talent, and most of them lip sync to a popular song.”
The final phase of the competition will be a question-and-answer session in which sponsors “try to weave in some prevention messages,” Walters said.
Damon Leiss, Ms. EDA 2007, will return to the stage to crown his successor, she said, and perhaps will perform a number to open the show.
“It should be a lot of fun,” Walters said.
Escorts are expected to be chosen for the contestants, who will be judged by Marc Goodman, Gary Smith, and Donna Drake, the first female to serve on the panel.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students high-school age and under. They may be had at the EDA office, 315 S. Market St., or Emporia Orthodontics, 919 W. 12th Ave.
More information may be had by calling 341-2450.
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
Emporians for Drug Awareness are the "them" MrCmonkeeDo's parents warned Him about.
October 19, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
If I did not have a wife I would marry Mr. Sheldon he looks good !! Yum Yum LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 20, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Happiness08 (anonymous) says...
All I can say is WIERD. I have never had any desire to see the men in high positions in this community looking like transvestites. What is wrong with you people that the only way you can do a fundraiser for our children is by cross dressing? I think this is sick. I like real men. Thanks but no thanks. And, I definately don't find it entertaining.
October 20, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Happiness08 (anonymous) says...
One more thing. Shame on you Emporia Gazette for promoting this.
October 20, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Happiness08 (anonymous) says...
crackinsack: I understand your point, but I am old enough I just don't appreciate "all in good fun" when it is influencing our young people. I was raised in a time when men were men and women were women. In this day when people are finding it acceptable to be gay I just can't approve of promoting this at the Middle School. I'm quite sure my grandmother is rolling over in her grave right now too.
October 20, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
What do you mean watch the "higher ups". I don't know about you crackinsack, but I am equal to everyone else. Thats a pretty classist thing to say.
I can't believe that this is best they can come up with for a fundraiser. If I wanted to look at crossdressers (and bad ones at that), I would get cable.
October 20, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
I've been thinking about this article (and subsequent posts) since a dear friend brought it to my attention.
Happiness08: What, exactly, does it mean when you say "acceptable to be gay"? I wonder because all the gay people I know are quite certain that they were gay before it was ever "acceptable". As in, they knew from the time they reached puberty. But since you are old enough to understand, was it disgusting to you when Milton Berle crossdressed? Or was that acceptable because it was funny?
I was also raised in a time when "men were men and women were women" but I have reached the conclusion that it is perfectly fine to love someone--no matter the sex. If you love someone, you certainly don't have anger about it. You certainly don't want to take away from others who feel love like you do. You are just happy to be. And need I remind you that humans have been gay as long as humans have been alive....some Christian sects just don't like to bring it up.
I feel bad for your g'ma. She must be tired from all the rolling and open mindedness.
OutsiderJ: If you think this is an atrocity, you should see what all the kids are doing at school dances or what they're looking at on the Internet. You don't have cable but you have Internet....I'm sure you've had a few pop-ups in your browsing.....
And, above all, I've yet to figure out why this event brings up any conversation about gay people. I remember the events in our middle school and high school where girls dressed as guys & vice versa and we all seemed pretty okay with it.
Melissa
October 20, 2008 at 9:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
OutsiderJ (anonymous) says...
MelissaE--
Don't put words in my mouth. I never said that this was an atrocity. I merely stated that I think this is a stupid idea for a fundraiser. To watch a bunch of middle or approaching middle aged men prance around in women's eveningwear is a terrible idea for a fund raiser. That's all.
Personally, I think it is also a little demeaning to women and people who live an alternative lifestyle. And you just know their gonna cheese it up and act all prissy at the event.
Atrocity; no --- Terrible idea to raise money ---- yes.
October 21, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
Are you serious, we're arguing about this..... it's amazing how bigotry can turn a fun event into something that's harming our children. Laughter, which their will be alot of that night, is the best medicine. Many of the men in the line-up are huge contributors to charity. Scott Hays raises thousands every year with his polar bear plunge. So before you go after people who are trying to help our kids stay of drugs (by the way a waking up dead from an OD is more detrimental to your health then watching a hilarious cross dresser) so I say thank you, for helping raise money to keep kids off drugs.
October 21, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
EDA gets $92,000 a year in grants. Why are they doing fundraisers?
October 21, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )