East Point has two annual events that draw huge crowds — Main Street’s July Fourth celebration and the East Point Possums’ show. Neither should be missed. While the Fourth of July celebration is a week from Monday, last Saturday saw the return of the exciting Possum show. Hundreds turned out despite an evening storm.
For 14 years, the Possum Queens — Rick Westbrook, John Jeffrey and Chesley Thurman (and the late Chuck Jenkins) — have entertained and raised thousands for nonprofits. With this year’s professional stage, sound and lighting, the event looked nothing like its humble beginnings. It was even videotaped by an Emmy-winning production company.
The show originated in a Chamblee backyard. Four friends donned outrageous makeup, gowns and wigs to entertain a party on a hot July night. Dubbed the East Point Possums by the host because, “possums only come out at night,” the name stuck. To help defray expenses, guests started giving dollar bills to the entertainers. The funds were donated, and the performance had a purpose.
Word spread about the drag show, and each year the crowd grew exponentially. It soon became clear that the Chamblee backyard was not big enough. The Possums also decided that July was too hot to don wigs and gowns to perform drag outdoors, and the money they raised had become too large to donate anonymously. So the Possums came home to East Point, performing every June to the delight of everyone.
The diversity of the performers and audience is amazing. Gays, lesbians, and straight men and women perform. Where else but at the Possums’ show could you watch gorgeous big-haired blonde “Melissa Manchaser” argue with “Dirty, Dirty Rock Star” to the tune of Meatloaf’s classic “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” with several straight men playing air guitar in the background? It isn’t often that you get a chance to see Bruce Amburgy’s “Manchaser” and straight neighbors in drag.
Some performances reminded the audience of serious issues such as AIDS and hate crimes. As Shenitta Lott, Prissycilla Queen of Desserts and Dina Daintymouth addressed living with HIV, audience members rose to their feet in support. The crowd rose again for the “East Point Villagers” women in drag who tackled bigotry.
This year’s event raised more than $10,000 for the Chuck Jenkins Foundation, which will donate the funds to Pride Atlanta and M.I.S.T.E.R., a program of Positive Impact. Too many young people consider AIDS to be just another chronic disease treated by medication. M.I.S.T.E.R. is working to educate them and other high-risk groups. Pride and Positive Impact provided volunteers for the event.
The East Point Possums reminded the audience of loved ones lost to AIDS and of the discrimination many face. But the audience laughed, danced and cheered throughout the event.
If you didn’t make this year’s show, don’t worry. It will be back next year on the third Saturday in June in East Point.
Teresa Nelson lives in East Point. Reach her at neely404@bellsouth.net
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