The centerpiece of the ninth annual Fire Island Black Out (fireislandblackout.com) weekend, the festive gathering of LGBT people of color and their lovers and friends, spearheaded by FIBO President James Wellons, was a multi-faceted show, at the Ice Palace on August 13, with disco diva Evelyn “Champagne” as the headliner. Preceding the show, a joint effort of FIBO and GLO-TV, were a fashion show and a “hot body” contest, hosted by Harmonica Sunbeam.
King rolled back the decades and made the disco era live again, inviting singing along with her hits and driving her audience into ecstasies with “Betcha She Don’t Love You,” “Love Come Down,” “(Ain’t no doubt about it) I’m in Love,” and “Shame.”
Hosting the show were Tyra Sanchez, of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” season two, and “What About Tyra?,” and Zeric. Statuesque Tyra did a couple of numbers, beginning with “You can send me all your love,” and gay rappers Bryn’t and Kaoz (“Where’s my bandanna?”) performed. Maurice Jamal, of GLO’s “The Big MO Show,” and Kevin, of “Porn Star Diaries,” were also present.
The day began on the beach with a display of colorful tents, competing in a “put your best tent forward” contest, judged by the crew of “Drama Queenz.” In addition to individuals’ tents, there were vendors and a FIBO>AIDS (greaterthan.org) tent, with HIV testing sponsored by the Black AIDS Institute and Harlem United. The weekend also included events at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Ronkonkoma; at Belvedere Guesthouse; and in Fire Island Pines.