LGBTQ influencer, radio personality, promoter, comedian, and organizer Otis Mack threw his annual birthday party at Lips-Chicago, 2229 S. Michigan Ave., on Nov. 16 in front of a packed house.
Hordes of friends from out of town came in for the event, which featured an all-star cast of drag talent, a performance from Chicago South Side Casanova Spanky Hawkins and his Crew, and co-host Miss Ruff n’Stuff.
Among the performers for the show were Lila Starr, Iyana Frantz, Kenya Sanchez, Shavonna Brooks, Alisha Kelly, Phoenix Black O’Hare, Dymond Carrington, Victoria LaPaige, Terri D’Mor, Alexis Principal and Regina Aigner.
The show got off to a risqué start when Mack hit the stage saying “Ruff n’Stuff was late because she was indisposed in the bathroom cracking, “She ain’t been right for three weeks…”
Things didn’t get any less raunchier when Ruff n’Stuff hit the stage in what looked like a green and white polyester church-lady ensemble and a matching Kermit the Frog hand bag, blurting out that “Otis is wearing diapers”
The only thing to keep the show from going completely off the rails were the performances, which were stellar and polished from start to finish. Amid all the racy humor and dazzling performances though, was a lot of heart. Mack, who is also known as “The Heavy Diva,” has had such a major influence in the LGBTQ+ community for over 30 years that throwing a big splashy birthday party for himself seems oddly appropriate and not egotistic in the least. Balancing his entertainment career with his work as a facilitator with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Mack has aimed much of his energy toward youth on the South Side of the city through organizing and promoting safe-sex awareness.
The real surprise with this edition of his anniversary party is that Mack finally admitted his age… Early in the evening he cracked, “On Nov. 21 I will be 65 years old and everything still works.”
