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The 25th annual Night Of A Thousand Gowns black tie dinner dance, 
coronation & fundraiser at New York’s Marriott Marquis was an endless catwalk of jaw-dropping pageantry, teeming with the most outrageous drag queens and regal offbeat military dress I have witnessed.
I about burned out my Nikon capturing the 
action—and this time, there was nothing covert about snapping picolas of the fanfare. After all, if you spent weeks planning an outfit, make-up, wigs and accessories, wouldn’t you want everyone to remember?
It was a surreal event no one attending will forget… gowns and clowns, so many cascading dress trains and whack revelry. More than 1,000 attended, with a royal brigade of monarchs, 
emperors & empresses, the Imperial Court and knighthoods… Thankfully, there was an open bar.
Funds went to youth organizations The Trevor Project and Ali Forney Center. Tix, along with a silent auction and honorary titles for purchase, started at $225, so figure the event raised a minimum of $250,000 for gay equality.
Enough chatter. This is one time where pictures tell the story better than any words I could conjure.
On the red carpet, from top left: Wilson Cruz, Sir Ari Gold, Sylvia Tosun, Chi Chi Larue, TJ Kelly. Bottom: Tom Shivers, Rollerena, Mike Ruiz, David Mixner, Cherry Poppins.
Five images from Boy Culture blog. As noted: Terri Gold.
