Performers & Speakers
Wondering what Seattle Black Pride 2006 has in store for you? Well, it's all here. From local to world famous,
from lifetime equal rights achiever to fabulous & famous drag performers, we have a selection of artists
and personalities to make your Seattle Black Pride a very memorable one. To name a few artists:
Xavier Onassis Bloomingdales from Washington D.C.'s Club Chaos,
ókànomodé aka SoulChilde, and more... Read on!
Xavier Onassis Bloomingdales (Club Chaos)
"I am the arbiter of beauty, taste & style. I'm obsessed with glamour, beauty & all things haute couture.
This is my passion. They say that passion can make you crazy, but is there any other way to live? Life without
passion is unforgivable."
Read more...
Xavier is one of D.C.'s finest drag performers. She is the legendary host for Club Chaos' Xavier Onassis
Bloomingdales Show and is excited to be coming to Seattle to share in this year's 2006 Seattle Black Pride
Opening Night Reception!
ókànomodé(*) aka SoulChilde - featuring Ge' (of GE'3)
Enigmatic expressionist, ókànomodé aka SoulChilde fuses gospel tinged soulful balladry with romanticism &
lush arrangements. ókànomodé is a psychedelicfunk & soul-folk singer of 'grit-gut', with an audacious
offering of the spoken blues. A part of the progressive art & underground scene for the last 17 years,
he has performed in various basements, dives, cafes, theatres, bathroom mirrors & bedrooms at home &
abroad under various aliases—but not to worry, you haven't missed your chance to witness the fire!
Read more...
ókànomodé aka SoulChilde will perform at the Friday Opening Night Reception.
(*):ókànomodé is pronounced uh-kahn-uh-mah-day.
Jasmyne Cannick (National Black Justice Coalition)
Jasmyne Cannick is one of the founding members of the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation's
only Black gay civil rights group and an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Chosen as one of ESSENCE Magazine's "25 Women Shaping the World" in 2005, at 28, she is most known for her
social and political commentary that addresses the intersection of race, religion, politics and sex.
An advocate for political civic engagement, she is the co-chair of the National Stonewall Democrats
Black Caucus and is involved with several voter education and registration initiatives in Los Angeles.
She also works very closely with L.A.'s Urban Policy Roundtable, a weekly non-partisan public policy
forum that addresses issues important to Blacks.
Read More...
Jasmyne will be with us for the Friday Opening Night Reception.
Debra A. Wilson
Debra A. Wilson will come to Seattle Black Pride to present her new film: "Jumpin' the Broom: The New Covenant"!
Donna Payne (Human Rights Campaign)
As one of the Human Rights Campaign’s key representatives at the national and state levels,
Donna Payne works closely with a number of civil rights organizations across the country to
increase visibility of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community within the religious
and people of color communities.
Read More...
Donna will participate in the Saturday panel discussion: "Equal rights in Washington: Why people of color don't matter."
Aleksa Manila (Empress XXXV of the Court of Seattle)
Aleksa Manila—Empress XXXV of the Court of Seattle—is one of our local drag performer that you will be able to enjoy at the Friday Opening Night Reception.
Aleksa Manila first appeared in 1998 on All Hallow's Eve. Thereafter, applying the magic of make-up every
Halloween night through the New Millenium. Seattle Pride 2001 launched the beginning of a new phase which
culminated in her being crowned Miss Gay Filipino in October of that year. And the rest has been, as
they say, "history..."
During her year, Aleksa founded the "Lola Maharlika" LGBT Youth College Book Fund. The fund is named in honor
of Lola Maharlika aka Lola Maria, Empress VII of Tacoma, for outstanding achievements as an openly gay Filipino
man in the community.
In 2002, Aleksa was crowned La Femme Magnifique of Puget Sound, the pageant in search of the "most glamorous
female impersonator..."
In February 2003, Aleksa was bestowed the title of First Lady to Olympia XXXIII during the Century Reign of the
Leather Monarch Butterfly with the Imperial Sovereign Court of Seattle, the Olympic and Rainier Empire by the
Empress, Ronda Rose Recoveree.
Aleksa is the 40th Miss Gay Seattle, which is believed to be the oldest drag title west of the Mississippi, if
not the world! From local bars to arenas, lip syncing to live singing, solos to productions, black boas to Pink
Martini, Aleksa has traveled as a performer across North America.
On President's Day weekend, Aleksa was elected and crowned Olympia XXXV- The Empress of Seattle, one of the oldest
and respected drag titles in the community. Aleksa recently completed a week's worth of fundraising during Empress
Express in June, raising money for the JC-Lady Graytop Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Aleksa Manila is known in Seattle and beyond as a stellar drag artist, consummate host and community activist.
When not in face, he educates the community about the harms of crystal meth with Seattle Counseling Service,
counsels on HIV & STD with Public Health, and serves as a Commissioner with the Mayor's Commission for
Sexual Minorities.
Awards & Achievements:
Jose Honors Recipient- International Court System, New York - April 2006
Entertainer of the Year, Court of Everett - January 2005
Court Member of the Year, Court of Seattle - February 2004
"George Ray" Emperor Emeritus Award, Court of Seattle - February 2004
President's Award, Court of Seattle - February 2004
Court Member of the Year, Court of Seattle - February 2003
"September Frost" All Season Award, United Ebony Council - April 2003
Court Member of the Year, Court of Seattle - February 2003
Drag Performer of the Year, Spotlight Awards - December 2002
Single Best Performance of the Year, Spotlight Awards - December 2002
Gia Manila (Miss Gay Seattle XLII)
Gia Manila—Miss Gay Seattle XLII—is one of our local drag performer that you will be able to enjoy at the Friday Opening Night Reception.
Pebbles (Miss Show Queen 2004)
Pebbles—Miss Show Queen 2004—is one of our local drag performer that you will be able to enjoy at the Friday Opening Night Reception.
Sapphire Knight (Miss Gay Seattle XXXVI)
Sapphire Knight—Miss Gay Seattle XXXVI—is one of our local drag performer that you will be able to enjoy at the Friday Opening Night Reception.
Lady Chablis (Empress XXVI of the Court of Tacoma)
Lady Chablis—Empress XXVI of the Court of Tacoma—is one of our local drag performer that you will be able to enjoy at the Friday Opening Night Reception.