2018-2019
The Double Crowned Rainbow Flamingo Emperor of Figments, Festiveness, and Frippery, Still Walt’s long lost son and Wonka’s Youngest Brother, Regent Emperor XXVII Mike Burke—In Memoriam
The Tap-Dancing, Musical-Playing Empress of Dedication and Trail Blazing, Empress XXVII Anna Mosity
House of Gladiola
Court of Overtures
Imperial Crown Prince Royale Bob Gilbert
Imperial Crown Princess Royale Kyla Stevens
1/2 Emperor Thom Branscum, Buffalo, NY
1/2 Emperor Michael Ross-Stevens, WE, Ontario
1/2 Empress Kali Dupree, Kentucky
1/2 Empress Molly Mormen, Cincinnati
Permanent Titles Awarded:
Princess Ultima Trayla Parks
Princess Ultima Suzie Homewrecker
Prince Ultima Casey Pont
D.O.B.E for Life Kelly Jo McCoy
The charities for Reign 27 included (designated=*): Adore-a-Bull, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Annabelle’s Place, AIDS Volunteers of N. Kentucky, Beech Acres Parenting Center, Camp Aranu’tiq, Caracole*, Cat Adoption Team, Cincinnati Men’s Chorus, Fire and Ice Scholarship Fund, GLAST, GLSEN Greater Cincinnati*, Hearing, Speech, and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati, Josephine’s Clinic*, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Living with Change, Love Must Win, Matthew Shepherd Foundation, Northside Community Council, OutReels, Ovarian Cancer, Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, PFLAG Cincinnati, Planned Parenthood, Proud Scholars, Safe and Supported*, The Cincinnati Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence: Abbey of the Immaculate 4-Way, Trans* Clinic of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, UpSpring, Visionaries + Voices, and Youth at the Center.
The monarchs continued many of the traditional events, but added a few new venues, all of which were family friendly: Mac’s Pizza-Mainstrasse, The Aronoff Center, and Crooked Handle Brewery. Bar 901 was utilized for a movie night, showing Milk. One Entertainer of the Year Candidate held a show at Legends Bar and Grill, and one Drag You Out contestant made a connection with Northside Tavern for a new show which will be held in the next reign.
Mike and Anna were happy to have at least three contestants for every pageant, and increased the contestants for Mr. Mister by welcoming biological males to run with the hope of encouraging more people to progress through this pageant on the male side in preparation of becoming emperors. The Monarchs and members did more than just raise money – they collected school supplies and toys, raked leaves, and read to children. They marched in Pride Parades in Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Lawrenceburg, IN. They held benefits involving food and beer, cakes and chili. They hosted the Community Spirit Awards, allowing the community to honor their favorite drag queens, charities, and events. They walked and volunteered at the Out of the Darkness Walk.
The Drag You Out Competition gained great momentum, with lots of contestants becoming regularly- performing members after the event. This grew the female membership. As Anna is the ISQCCBE’s first cis-gender female Empress, this was a very important focus for her.
On more than one occasion, Mike honored his former Empress, Poison, who passed away the year before. He also honored his ICPR from reign 17, who was also a biological female. A special fundraiser was held for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of Mike’s mother, Carol, who passed away during the reign.
Anna and Mike stepped down on October 5, 2019, at the Westin in downtown Cincinnati. Their theme, Queen City Gala: A Night at the Ziegfeld Follies, incorporated an art-deco design style with showgirls and tap dancing in the opening number. The evening celebrated their members, charities, host venues, and their $75,000+ in donations raised. They welcomed guests from eight Courts and family and friends from as far as New Hampshire. The night concluded with the step-up of Emperor XXVIII, Bob Gilbert and Regent Empress XXVIII, Molly Mormen.