{"id":172642,"date":"2026-03-23T21:37:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T21:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/172642\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T21:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T21:37:12","slug":"queens-melt-ice-at-benefit-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/172642\/","title":{"rendered":"Queens melt ICE at benefit concert"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On March 21, Chicago drag icon Lucy Stoole and The Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., presented Chicago Drag Melts ICE, a concert fundraiser for immigration organizations.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Utica-and-Lucy-Stoole-onstage-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458212\"  \/> Utica and Lucy Stoole onstage   Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p>The nearly sold-out event\u00a0\u00a0featured not only Stoole but Emmy winner and RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race contestant Laila McQueen (season 8) and RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race contestant Utica (season 13). Also on the bill were 38 local performers for a streamlined, at times chaotic, action-packed night of drag and protest. Audience members were treated to four sets of performances.<\/p>\n<p>Among the talent onstage for the event were Essence, Valerie Mendez, Tiki Vonte, Aurora Gosmic, Meya Douglas, Helvetikah Blak, Kerosene, Jay Kay, Serena Fiierce, Bambi Banks, Lady Cummeal, Khloe Park, Neutral Gena, Anita Horchata and her dance squad, Stephanie and Abhijeet.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Dear-Jamie-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458216\"  \/>Dear Jamie. Photo by Vern Heste<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Anita-Horchata-and-friends-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458217\"  \/>Anita Horchata and friends. Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p>Other performers included Satvia Diamond, Shutt Up, Rachel Slurrz, Dear Jamie and their dancers, Tila Von Twirl, Sindy Viscious, Alexandrea Diamond, Ari Gato, Koda Pendants, Vonda La Rose, The Dommm, Fantasy Banks, Bang Bang, Milani Varela, Honey Bee Rose, Alex Jenny, Cleo Le Maneca, Persephone Brooklyn LaRue, Valentine Addams and Jerika Thique Diamond.<\/p>\n<p>Beneficiaries of Chicago Drag Melts ICE included Immigration Bond Fund, ICIRR, Stand with Minnesota and National Immigrant Justice Center.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Tila-Von-Twirl-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458230\"  \/>Tila Von Twirl. Photo by Vern Hester.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Aurora-Gosmic-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458218\"  \/>Aurora Gosmic. Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Cleao-Le-Maneca-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458219\"  \/>Cleao Le Maneca Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Koda-Pendants-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458222\"  \/>Koda Pendants Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458223\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Lady-Cummeal-makes-an-entrance-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458223\"  \/>Lady Cummeal makes an entrance Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458224\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Lucy-Stoole-and-Laila-McQueen-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458224\"  \/>Lucy Stoole and Laila McQueen Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Rachel-Slurrz-in-the-audience-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458225\"  \/>Rachel Slurrz in the audience Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458227\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Sindy-Viscious-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458227\"  \/>Sindy Viscious Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Stephanie-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458228\"  \/>Stephanie Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" data-id=\"458229\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Tiki-Vonte-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458229\"  \/>Tiki Vonte. Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"519\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DRMLT-Abhijeet-Photo-by-Vern-Hester-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458232\"  \/>Abhijeet Photo by Vern Hester<\/p>\n<p>\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On March 21, Chicago drag icon Lucy Stoole and The Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., presented Chicago Drag&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172643,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[1358,9,24,63,122,124,123],"class_list":["post-172642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-drag","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172642\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}