An online fundraiser has been established to assist with funeral expenses for Jherrion Bates, who performed under the drag persona of Gigi Mayonaè, who was killed as the result of an accident in Boystown the early morning of July 18. He died July 21.
“This GoFundMe is to help raise the necessary funds to helps cover the costs of a proper funeral for our departed sister,” said organizer Maxine LaQueene at the fundraiser’s site. “We don’t fully know when the funeral is to be planned, but her family gave us the go ahead to start raising funds for whatever miscellaneous costs they will incur.”
CWB Chicago reported July 20 that Bates was in a head-on collision along Halsted. Gerrick Birt was charged July 20 with felony DUI causing an accident with bodily harm, two counts of misdemeanor DUI and various traffic violations. Birt’s blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit.
Bates was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he underwent surgery July 21 for a broken pelvis. He posted regular updates to Facebook—promising that Gigi Mayonaè would return—but passed away from a pulmonary embolism caused by a blood clot.
The fundraiser is at http://www.gofundme.com/f/dream-girl-fund. The CWB Chicago article is at http://www.cwbchicago.com/2019/07/tragedy-popular-drag-performer-injured.html?f.