On March 5, DIFFA (Design Industries Fighting AIDS) threw its Seventh Annual Lip Sync for Life Benefit in front of a near-sold out Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., with a goal of raising $80,000.
The event was packed with individuals working in architecture, textiles, design and construction for a night of drag, competitive video screenings, networking, comedy and fundraising.
As guests snacked on gourmet sliders and fries, they watched homemade industry sponsored music videos featuring many in attendance. On top of that, drag performers included LGBTQ Hall of Fame Inductee Muffy Fishbasket, Ginger Ambrosia and Vanity Unfair, with Edna D. Mascara serving as emcee.
The show kicked off with a welcome from event co-chairs Ethan Barbour, Susan Thomas and Amanda Gotsch, followed by grant recipients Desiree Solis of TPAN and Emily Decker of Legal Counsel for Health Justice.
Emerging drag talent Unfair stuck to tradition and performed “I’m the Greatest Star” from Funny Girl, which ignited cat-calling and cheers. After several video screenings, Ambrosia plunged into the crowd, performing splits and setting off a lot of cheerful mayhem.
After more videos were shown, Muffy Fishbasket playfully shocked the throng by performing a song which was clearly aimed at The President of the United States. “Why are you so obsessed with my life?,” she sang, amidst choruses of “Fuck yous,” before ripping off her intricate silken gown to reveal a handmade dress resembling a t-shirt with the words resist and revolt painted across the front.
As Fishbasket made her exit with both middle fingers raised in defiance, Ambrosia came back onstage and announced that Homeland Security Director Kristi Noam had been fired a few hours before. The room exploded with cheers and applause.
As the evening progressed, the audience was able to keep track of the fundraising through a digital thermometer which counted pledges in real time. At the close of the evening “Your Welcome,” which was produced by employees from Steelecase and Forward Space, took the “Fan Favorite” award. The fundraising winner is set to be announced on March 20 after online fundraising ends.
Photos by Vern Hester
