Bolivia Carmichaels | |
|---|---|
 Bolivia Carmichaels performing at CC Slaughters in Portland, Oregon, in 2021 | |
| Born | Daniel P. Elliott |
| Occupation | Drag performer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Daniel P. Elliott, known professionally as Bolivia Carmichaels, is an American drag performer based in Portland, Oregon. Since 1995, she has performed at LGBT establishments such as CC Slaughters, Darcelle XV Showplace, and the defunct Embers Avenue, and has also participated in many community events.
Daniel P. Elliott was raised in Portland, Oregon and was aware he was queer at a young age. He enjoyed theater and played the trumpet. At 18, Elliott frequented City Nightclub, described by Crystal Ligori of Oregon Public Broadcasting as a "haven" for LGBT youth in Portland during the 1980s and 1990s. [1]
Elliott's drag persona [2] Bolivia Carmichaels was created at City Nightclub. Since 1995, she has performed at the LGBT establishments CC Slaughters, Darcelle XV Showplace, and the now-closed Embers Avenue. [1] By 2020, she had been a drag host and emcee at CC Slaughters for 16 years. [3] She has also competed in La Femme Magnifique International Pageant, performed at the annual variety show Peacock in the Park, and hosted a radio program. [4]
In 2016, Bolivia Carmichaels served as a judge at the Schlittentag, a Red Bull-sponsored event at Mount Hood's Skibowl in Government Camp. [5] She also hosted the farewell celebration when Blue Collar Baking closed. [6] She was part of Darcelle XV Showplace's cast, as of 2017. [7] She performed at CC Slaughters' weekly Superstar Diva MegaShow and other dance events, as of 2017–2021. Andrew Jankowski of the Portland State Vanguard and Willamette Week has described the Superstar Diva MegaShow as one of the city's longest running drag shows with "self-expressive takes" on comediennes, celebrities, and Disney villains, among other figures. [8] [9] In 2019, he wrote, "Darcelle's is the go-to place for the most traditional style of drag: heavy makeup, classic gowns, and groan-worthy jokes from some of Portland's finest queens", including Bolivia Carmichaels, Darcelle XV, and Poison Waters. [10]
In 2019, Bolivia Carmichaels officiated a mock wedding between a man and his boyfriend fabricated from wine boxes at an event benefiting the Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. [11] She also performed at the Kona Pride Festival, impersonating Reba McEntire. [12] Bolivia Carmichaels received the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon's 2019 Spirit of Crown Prince Roc Award, which is presented to individuals who influence the community via activism and performance. [13]
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she performed in a virtual drag show hosted by the University of Oregon's LGBTQA3 Alliance. The Daily Emerald 's Drew York wrote, "A longtime queen with a history of community outreach, Bolivia Carmichaels gave a multi-faceted performance, dressed in a velvety purple gown and lip-synching a duet to 'A Whole New World' with a puppet. Carmichaels allowed her hobby of puppeteering to take center stage, and it certainly had humorous moments." [14] She also performed via Drag Delivered, providing socially distanced performances to benefit a local nonprofit organization, [15] [16] and at Shine Distillery and Grill's Drag Thru, allowing patrons to view drag performances during take-out service. [17] [18] The popular Drag Thru series returned in 2021, with Bolivia Carmichaels participating. [19] She also co-hosted Oregon Children's Theatre's virtual gala in 2021. [20] [21]
Bolivia Carmichaels' preferred gender pronouns are she/her. [22]
Darcelle XV Plaza is a square that was a small park and fountain at the intersection of Southwest Park Avenue and Southwest Harvey Milk Street in downtown Portland, Oregon, in the United States. It received the current name in July 2023. It was named after Hugh O'Bryant, Portland's first mayor.
Darcelle XV was the stage name of Walter Willard Cole, an American drag queen, entertainer, and cabaret owner and operator in Portland, Oregon. Guinness World Records had certified him as the oldest drag queen performer in 2016, with a career as an entertainer spanning 56 years at the time of his death.
CC Slaughters is a gay bar and nightclub located in Portland, Oregon, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Portland bar is located in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, and the Puerto Vallarta bar is located in Zona Romántica.
LGBT culture in Portland, Oregon is an important part of Pacific Northwest culture.
Stag PDX, or simply Stag, is a gay-owned nightclub and strip club in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District, in the United States. The club opened in May 2015 as the second all-nude gay strip club on the West Coast.
Scandals, or sometimes Scandals PDX, is a gay bar in Portland, Oregon, in the United States.
La Femme Magnifique International Pageant is an annual drag pageant. In Portland, Oregon, the event has been hosted by Darcelle XV.
Darcelle XV Showplace is a drag venue in Portland, Oregon, opened and operated by drag performer Darcelle XV.
Crush Bar is a gay bar and restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Buckman neighborhood, in the United States. Established in 2001, the bar was scheduled to permanently close at the end of 2023, until an employee's investment kept Crush open into 2024.
Shine Distillery and Grill is a distillery which previously operated a bar and restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Boise neighborhood, in the United States.
The Roxy was a diner serving American cuisine in Portland, Oregon. Located on downtown Portland's Southwest Harvey Milk Street, the restaurant was established in 1994. The Roxy was popular as a late-night food destination and had a diverse clientele. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the diner operated 24 hours a day, except on Mondays. The Roxy has been described as "iconic" and a "landmark", and was known for being an LGBT-friendly establishment because of its employees' community involvement and its location within the historic hub of LGBT culture and nightlife. Following a forced six-month closure due to the pandemic, the diner opened under new public health and safety guidelines in November 2020. The diner closed in March 2022.
Local Lounge was a gay bar in Portland, Oregon, operating from 2010 to 2021.
Kevin Cook, known by the stage name Poison Waters, is an American drag performer. Since the 1980s, she has been an emcee, entertainer, and community activist. She is a longtime hostess at Darcelle XV Showplace and has participated in fundraisers, LGBT events, public service announcements, and other community activities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Cook has also taught at Portland Community College.
Cart Blocks is a food cart pod in Portland, Oregon's Ankeny Square, in the United States. It is operated by Friends of the Green Loop.
Santé Bar is an LGBT-friendly bar in Portland, Oregon.
The Coffin Club, formerly Lovecraft Bar, is a horror-themed, LGBT-friendly bar in Portland, Oregon.
Flawless Shade is the stage name of Tajh Jordan, an American drag queen and make-up artist based in Portland, Oregon. A former Miss Gay Oregon, Flawless Shade has been featured in campaigns by Adidas, GLAAD, and Top Level Design. Jordan competed under their real name on the subscription-based streaming service WOW Presents Plus's competition series Painted with Raven.
The Queen's Head was an LGBT-friendly pub and lounge in Portland, Oregon, United States. Daniel Bund opened the restaurant in late 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Described as an inclusive drag bar and gay club, The Queen's Head hosted burlesque and talent shows, karaoke, poetry slams, trivia competitions, and other events.
Drag-a-thon was a drag show held during July 10–12, 2023, at the drag venue Darcelle XV Showplace in Portland, Oregon. The event was a successful attempt at setting a Guinness World Record for the longest drag stage show. Drag-a-thon was conceived and produced by Emma Mcilroy, co-founder of Wildfang, in response to the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act and similar anti-drag legislation across the United States. Eden Dawn, the host venue Darcelle XV Showplace, and its longtime performer Poison Waters were also credited as co-organizers. Drag-a-thon was also a fundraiser, yielding approximately $290,000 for LGBT support service The Trevor Project.
Media related to Bolivia Carmichaels at Wikimedia Commons