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More Than Drag
More Than Drag
Barony of All Vermont Celebrates Third Year of Serving Its Community
by Baron Kristoff Raimondo Reeves Sousa Fugett Della Notte
I am the reigning Baron of the Barony of All Vermont and a drag king. Sounds very strange, doesn’t it? Well, it is. This organization is definitely on the ‘left’ side of the norm. Actually, even when you understand what is going on, it still appears a bit wacky.
Put in its most business-like terms, the Barony of All Vermont is a non-profit organization that raises money for other non-profit organizations in the state of Vermont and the Upper Valley of New Hampshire. We support diversity in our membership, welcoming gay, lesbian, straight, bi, queer, questioning, and transgender individuals. We are a part of an international organization called the Imperial Court System that includes members from all across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
In reality we’re not so different from other benevolent charity organizations and clubs, especially the ones who have costumes or uniforms and esoteric rankings and feature trade-mark fund-raising events. Think about Lions and Moose and Elks and Masons. Think about the guys in fezzes with their teeny-tiny cars and motorbikes in parades.
The court system has been in existence for about 35 years and has raised several hundred thousand dollars to give to non-profit organizations that, in turn, help individual communities. The Imperial Court System is the third largest non-profit fundraising organization in the country. The organizations we choose to give the money to are as diverse as our membership, ranging from child-related organizations to those dealing with HIV/Aids, Breast Cancer, and many other issues.
Our primary purpose is to raise money for charities. Our secondary purpose is to demonstrate to the general public that diversity is not something to fear. People from all walks of life can live together in harmony. As a result of our fundraising activities there is a third function of the Barony of All Vermont: to have fun. We raise money in a variety of ways and always have fun doing it.
Yes, this organization is very campy. The general structure is taken from the Royal Courts of England. We in Vermont are a Barony, which means we are a young group, only three years old, and still have to prove to the Imperial Council, the governing body of the court system, that we can sustain the group on our own. Our “Mother Court” is the Imperial Court of New York City.
Each member of the Court gets a title, which depends on if a group is a Court, Barony, or Ducal. The figureheads or “monarchs” are, respectively, Emperor and Empress, Baron and Baroness, and Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. Ranks within each group vary and members rise through them according to how much they want to do in the organization. Monarchs are elected to their position either by the group itself or, in some instances, by the community at large. Members pay an annual membership fee to join and fill out an application. We welcome any and all to join us!
All members volunteer their time and efforts and may do as much or as little as they wish in the group, depending on their personal schedules. Each member pays for his or her travel costs and the cost of ‘fabulous’ costumes and jewelry. When an event raises money, the Barony keeps 20 percent to cover operating expenses: renting the hall, paying the DJ, some props, and other expenses. The rest of the money raised goes to the event’s designated beneficiary.
There is also the business side to the organization. The organization is run by a Board of Directors, whose President, Treasurer, and Secretary are all elected. Reigning monarchs and dowager (past) monarchs are also on the Board. There are general membership meetings once a month where the business of the Barony is discussed and voting is done. The monthly meetings of the Board of Directors are open to all members. We are now in the process of applying for our 501(c)3 non-profit status.
The Barony of All Vermont is a unique group even within the Court System. Vermont is one of the few realms that has a drag king as a monarch. We also are one of the few who will, as of August, have a straight woman as a monarch. As with Civil Unions, Vermont is always a step ahead!
I am often asked – and sometimes I ask myself – why we do what we do. We receive no personal profit, we have to pay for all of our own things, and, in some instances, we put in long hours of work. The answer is two-fold. First, there is the good feeling that we get from helping others. All that is required of the organization benefiting from a fund-raising event is that they send representatives from their organization to the fundraiser. We have actually had organizations refuse our help because they think there is some hidden catch! There is no catch – this is what we do.
The second part of the answer to “why” is something that has to be experienced first-hand to really understand: the sense of family within the Court System. There is a great opportunity to travel in this organization. Every court has a “Coronation” or “Adornment” each year, the biggest event of the year – ours is this month (see our ad or check the Calendar for the date, time and location). People travel from all over the country and Canada to attend these events. Think of it as a costume ball.
But perhaps the real question of “why?” is “what does it feel like to become ‘Baron Kristoff’?”
Kristoff and I, for the most part, are one and the same. Kristoff has a much darker side to him than I do. When I am in Kristoff “mode” I feel much more powerful and in control.
Kristoff has evolved and changed in the years of his existence. He started out a much milder personality but the heavier side has grown and matured over the years. He is truly my alter-ego in many respects. We are both outgoing, energetic, we like people, leather, motorcycles, and love to have fun. Kristoff continues beyond that and loves leather, hard rock music (Rob Zombie type), is into the more “wicked” side of things (not evil, but very dark, ominous stuff), and is sometimes very intimidating. If he were his own person in reality he would be a Leather Master.
I “become” Kristoff when I am in that role. It is a most exhilarating experience sometimes! When Kristoff is the Monarch, he is very regal and a total gentleman (more my own personality). Kristoff does things I wouldn’t do and I do things Kristoff wouldn't do. It is actually a very interesting study in psychology. Many of the drag queens also experience much the same effect between their drag selves and boy selves.
A Coronation or Adornment is the last party of the reigning monarchs before they step down and a new monarch is crowned. It is a celebration of a successful reign and a grand welcome for the new monarchs. After attending a few of these events you get to know many of the people and develop friendships. It really is like having a very huge family. There are spats, cliques, loves, and all the rest that goes with family. But in spite of the spats, there is the love and caring.
There are people in the Court system all across this country, who, if needed, would drop what they are doing and come to help. If someone is sick, there are phone calls and emails from all over. If there is a birthday, or a celebration of any kind, there are good wishes flooding in. It is incredible. I have met people I would never otherwise have had the opportunity to meet. I have been to places I never would have gone to. This is the payment for all the hard work and dedication to this organization. No amount of money could pay for what we all get in return.
We are always looking for new members. We welcome all. It is a great opportunity to be yourself and express who you are – or who you wish you could be. Most of our money is raised by doing drag shows. Participation in these shows is up to the individual.
Not everyone in our group performs or is on stage. We need people to do many things that do not involve performing or being in the public eye. We also raise money by doing raffles, yard sales, and food drives, among other fund-raising activities. We need people who are creative, have imagination, are a little offbeat, and just want to have fun. If you are interested in joining us or have questions please email the Barony at baronyofallvermont@yahoo.com.
I have had the honor of being the reigning Baron for the past two years. My name started out simply as Kristoff. It has now grown as other people in the court system have honored me by giving me their names. I cherish every name. It represents what this organization is all about: family, love, friendship, and a sense of community, of being part of a much larger picture. I would not give up a second of any of this.
I will be stepping down on the weekend of August 8-10 in Burlington. It is my last party as a reigning monarch. I invite all of you to come and celebrate with me! Come and meet many of my friends from the U.S. and Canada. See some really awesome drag and have an evening you won’t soon forget! For information about Adornment IV and other upcoming events, please check out our web page at www.geocities.com/greenmtsilhouettes.
Kristoff Raimondo Reeves Sousa Fugett Della Notte shares an existence with Kris Rowley and they live in Brookfield, VT with their “kids” (three dogs and a cat).