Monty Tayara and Joey Viola’s MOJO Toronto events are rebranding their FML Mondays party on June 20, 2016, to raise funds for victims of the Orlando mass shooting. Held at Flash on Church Street, MOJO promises a two-hour show featuring over 15 local drag queens and kings, “to promote love and unity.”
Radio personality Shaun Proulx will introduce the show. “He was in Orlando one week before the shooting. I thought he’d be the perfect one to open up for this,” Viola says.
The show’s list of performers is a medley of Toronto’s favourite queens and kings mixed with some newer emerging talents: Boa, Enya Dreams, Blake Brooks, Sapphire Titha Reign, Faye Tality, Jacklynne Hyde, Juice Boxx and more will pay tribute to the tragedy while fostering love and togetherness.
“LML will be an act of joyful resistance. Our community was cultivated on the act of taking up space, socially and politically, long before Stonewall, so it’s really important that LML is happening in the Village,” says Craig Dominic, the nights’ DJ and a regular around Toronto’s Church-Wellesley Village.
Matt Fancy, aka Helena Poisn, is one of the performers. “It’s hard to know what to do when there’s an attack on our community,” Fancy says. “The best way I can think of is to take the hurt and upset everyone’s feeling and turn it into beauty by being as loud and proud as possible.”
Another performer, Devin Farley (better known as Devine Darlin’) echoes the sentiment. “Taking part in this event is to show support for our brothers and sisters,” he says. “As a community, standing together makes us stronger and not fear our oppressors no more.”
The proceeds from the event will go toward the Orlando GoFundMe page. The fund has already raised over $5.2 million of its $7 million dollar goal. Equality Florida says the proceeds will fund victims’ funeral and medical costs.
“We’re still fighting for rights and for our lives,” says Matty Cameron, better known as Scarlett Bobo. She plans to honour the victims by performing Kesha and Zedd’s collaboration “True Colours,” and Christina Aguilera’s new song “Change,” which is also dedicated to the victims of the Orlando tragedy.
Beyond rallying Toronto’s LGBT community together, Viola wants everyone to enjoy themselves. “We wanna put on a great show for everybody,” he says.
LML
Monday, June 20, 2016, 8:30pm
Flash, 463 Church St, Toronto
facebook.com/events/1582139678752160
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