It was supposed to be a fun night to celebrate community and a year of revitalization for Pridelines. Instead, there were insults, tears, hurt feelings and apologies.
Attendees at the Queerferno Masquerade Ball in Coral Gables were already on edge, worried that Lady Bunny, who was there as Pridelines’ National Icon Honoree, would go on a political rant as her political leanings have become a source of tension leading up to the event. That didn’t happen.
Instead, she got personal and took cheap shots at audience members. Some walked out during dinner before the program began. It would go downhill from there.
Longtime South Florida drag icon Tiffany T. Fantasia recounted the incident on Facebook moments after it happened. “I saw Lady Bunny, she gives me the middle finger,” she said. “We’ve always played around a lot over the years.”
There was some joking and some selfies, and everything seemed fine. Then Lady Bunny took the stage for her acceptance speech, which included a call for better support for the trans community. But it was a rough road to get there.
“The first words out of her fucking mouth were, ‘This girl said she’d do anything for $20, so I had her do my hair and makeup. Oh, it’s Tiffany Fantasia,’” she said. If Bunny had stopped there, Fantasia said things would have been fine. But Bunny continued.
“Then she said, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s the most applause she’s ever gotten and nobody even knows who the hell she is.’”
Fantasia says that’s when she walked out. “I got slapped in the fucking face tonight for no fucking reason.”
Fantasia also points out this is a gala, not a nightclub. She said had it been a bar or a show, they could have gone back and forth. But she says the gala was neither the time nor the place.
She says she had just donated $1,000 to Pridelines, and loves the organization. Indeed, Pridelines was there for her when she, like so many area youths, needed a safe space.
Reaction was swift
A couple members of the gala committee followed her out, but Fantasia says she wasn’t in a talking mood.
At the end of the night, Pridelines Executive Director Edward Summers posted an apology on social media saying, in part, “We do not tolerate hate of any kind. We do not tolerate any negative speeches or talks about our community.”
He then addressed Fantasia directly, saying, “To Tiffany Fantasia, you are Pridelines. We love you.” Then he addressed Lady Bunny. “We do not appreciate what you said about Tiffany Fantasia, and we denounce any of your hateful rhetoric.”
The next day, Pridelines issued a statement on the entire event, extolling the honorees and people who turned out to support. The press release also addressed the situation and had another kind word from Summers.
“The evening took an unexpected turn when an inappropriate joke about Pridelines' alumnus and one of the organization’s biggest supporters, Tiffany Fantasia, was made. Pridelines’ Executive Director immediately denounced the joke and rescinds any honor bestowed upon the guest that made the joke. ‘We love and always hold in high regard and honor Tiffany Fantasia. She was a former Pridelines youth and is a big supporter of our organization. Tiffany is Pridelines. She is our ICON,’ said Dr. Edward Summers, Executive Director.”
Edwards later talked with OutSFL, saying, “As a former Pridelines youth and long-time supporter of Pridelines, we deeply value Tiffany and her experiences. Tiffany Fantasia is Pridelines. She embodies the spirit of who we are. When a Prideliner’s hurt, we hurt. We stand by our Prideliners and most definitely Tiffany.”
Pridelines also rescinded Lady Bunny’s award. Bunny does not appear to have addressed the controversy on social media.
Bunny was long ago designated to receive the award, but in recent weeks she made political comments criticizing many politicians, mostly Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign to be president.
Pridelines says they told her they don’t do endorsements and the event was apolitical.
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