One southwest Michigan community brought in a colorful cast of characters over the weekend, and raised some money for a local cause along the way.
The Stay Dowagiac collective of short-term rental properties hosted Dowagiac’s first Drag Brunch, “Drag Me To The Wounded Minnow,” Saturday at The Wounded Minnow Saloon. The event packed hundreds of excited guests into the venue, and raised $2,700 for the OutCenter of Southwest Michigan.
“The love from the Dowagiac community in the room was real,” said OutCenter Executive Director Mary Jo Schnell. “These events can serve as a bridge to understanding, celebrating, and community building. They also help to heal wounds, affirm a sense of belonging and safety.”
The OutCenter is a Benton Harbor-based organization that supports LGBTQ+ youth, and works with area schools to promote inclusion and understanding. Stay Dowagiac – comprised of the owners of high-end short-term rentals 1870 House (Zena Burns and Richard Jackson), The Altus Apartment (Shannon Lyons and Cathy McBride), and The Hatch Street Manor (Desmond Lathan) – aims to promote Dowagiac tourism.
“The partnership between the Stay Dowagiac Collective and OutCenter Southwest Michigan created a very important opportunity for people to come together and celebrate love and inclusivity,” said Schnell, who joined the Stay Dowagiac team on stage to educate the crowd about what they do and thank them and the Stay Dowagiac team for their support. “When events like this happen, our LGBTQ+ youth hear that they’re loved and they belong in every community, and certainly Dowagiac.”
The talent for the brunch included some of Chicago’s top drag queens — Kimberly Summer, O’laysia, Boy J, and Khloé Coulee. The event was completely sold out, including a waitlist of dozens of interested people who wanted to attend. Dowagiac mayor Don Lyons and his wife Joan were part of the sold-out crowd.
According to Burns, ticket purchase data showed that approximately 75 percent people at the event were from Dowagiac and surrounding communities. Local bakery The Baker’s Rhapsody donated a beautiful variety of pastries and custom cookies.
Wounded Minnow owners with the Drag Brunch cast.
Kyle Belew, owner of The Wounded Minnow, got on the microphone at the end of the show and gave a speech thanking people for coming out.
“In a small town…I think everyone who’s here understands how important it is for everyone to be able to be who they are,” Belew said. “The world would be a real boring place if we were all the same. I think it’s great that everyone’s here in support of a good cause.”
For more information on the OutCenter, click here. For more information on Stay Dowagiac, click here.
