Salt City Kings’ Brotherhood
Women who dress up in ‘drag’ as men and perform for the community used to be virtually nonexistent in Salt Lake City until seven years ago. That fact encouraged Sean LiQue to “form an online chat group to see if there were other drag kings in Salt Lake.” She found that there were, and so Sean and four newly-found cohorts joined up to start a performance troupe. “Our first year, we were just an entertainment goup,” says Sean. “We did it to get more people in the bars, to have fun.”
Sean felt, however, that it could be more, should be more. Her original conception of a drag group was because she “needed more.”
Today, it has become more, the troupe has become more. They’ve evolved into a dedicated charity group of male impersonators, called the Salt City Kings, who raise funds not only for local organizations but for individuals in emergency need as well.
During the months of August through April the Kings perform a monthly show, to packed crowds, raising money for groups like the Utah Pride Center, People with AIDS Coalition and The Cancer Association. The shows are performed alternating months at Paper Moon, Salt Lake’s premier lesbian club, and the Brass Rail in Ogden.
During their off-months, May through July, the Kings remain busy by assisting other fundraising groups including the Queer Utah Aquatic Club and the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire (Salt Lake’s premier drag queen troupe). They also hold special events for community members in dire need. “Last year during Christmas there was this family that the Court [RCGSE] was helping and when we looked into it, we wanted to participate,” says Sean. They raised additional money as well as donated food and other necessities to the family.
And hitting too close to home, the troupe had pulled together and raised an emotionally moving amount of money for Sean’s sister, whose child had passed away. “We raised enough money to pay for the tombstone and $400 in medical bills,” remembers Sean.
“If people come to us and show a need for it [money], we’re willing to do it, for sure,” Sean states. However, the Kings refrain from involvement in political and legal fundraising as an “ethical” choice.
Currently there are six Kings: Sean LiQue, Drake LiQue, Adam Saddler, Bo Flex, Ben U. Over and Luther Cummington (the newest addition to the group). And then there’s the Kit Kat Girls, the troupe’s life partners and crew. Occasionally you’ll find this cackle of “female-female” impersonators on stage as a group or with their subsequent partners, but in truth, they are the troupe’s greatest behind-the-scenes support.
“They make sure are ties are straight,” quips Drake.
“They clean up after us and make sure we don’t lose stuff,” adds Sean.
The troupe also encourages additional performers to join their “family.” But it’s not a simple task. Just like any job out there, those interested in becoming a King must fill out an application and go through the interview process. They must also perform a 3-minute audition. And finally they go through a 60-day probationary period to see if “they’re a good fit.” They have to have a true understanding of what the group is about, “the ideals behind it.”
“This is serious stuff that we do,” says Ben.
However, there is a lot of light-heartenedness to them as well. Their weekly meetings “to brainstorm ideas” appear to be more folly than focus, focus, focus. There’s a sense of real comaraderie as they prepare dinner together, blindly ask for each other’s credit cards and joke with each other. Apparently Ben is a good kisser — Sean and Adam were ordered, during the interview, not to make out with him.
In addition, a few of the QSaltLake staff were privy to the unqiue relationship among the Kings at last year’s Southern Utah Pride, as they had neighboring campgrounds. Though little sleep was had that weekend, a great appreciation for the Kings prompted an article.
Upcoming performances, closing out the season, are Let’s Duet for Love, Mar. 20 at the Brass Rail and Fight Out the Night, Apr. 17 at Paper Moon. The first, which was performed last month at Paper Moon, includes a number of romantic duets by a King and his Kit Kat Girl. The donations raised go the the Kings’ Fund for the Future, a group holding-account for emergency funding to community members in need.
The second, an annual show now in its third year, is Sean’s “baby.” It’s a night of “powerful” and “inspirational” entertainment. “It’s not sappy,” iterates Sean. It’s about encouraging victimized people, as Sean admits like herself, to be survivors. Proceeds raised at this very personal show benefit the Rape Recovery Center.
The Kings would like to thank Toni Fitzgerald of Paper Moon for all her support. “It’s [Paper Moon] our home,” says the troupe.
To learn more about the Salt City Kings visit myspace.com/saltcitykings.