Ely’s first ever drag brunch brings representation to The Iron Range

For the first time ever, a drag brunch was hosted in Ely, Minnesota. Bringing LGBTQ+ representation to a city some might say is lacking.

“We’ve never had something like this come to the range before”, says Brooke Anderson. She was one of the many people to get a ticket to the show before they sold out a couple weeks after being put on sale.

Produced by Flip Phone Events the show featured Queens: Sasha Cassadine, Onya Deek, Mercedes Iman Diamond (Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 11), and Jaidynn Diore Fierce (Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 7).

The show was a first for many who are fans of drag but don’t have the luxury of going down to the Twin Cities. Mercedes says, “It’s 4 hours away from Minneapolis, there’s no drag close to them. If we are able to come here and show them, why not do it?”

Before the show began, Drag Queen Host Sasha Cassadine said, “I’m sure this is like their first up close exposure to drag. I might get some glitter on them, but it’ll be okay.”

For a grand entrance the four queens started across the lake from the Grand Ely Lodge and rode over by boat. Then got ready to bring the LGBTQ+ style entertainment to everyone.

“I always like to expose different audiences to drag”, says Sasha Cassadine, “A little glitter and a little glam, you know, just to let them see what our world is about. And just show them that it’s all love and fun.”

And folks in the sold out shows had very positive responses. Kelli Porthan was in the audience and says, “It’s really taken a step in the right direction for the iron range. To have this kind of culture come this way.”

In a previous interview with Flip Phone Events, Owner Chad Kampe said, “We will definitely be coming back to do shows because there is definitely a need to bring LGBTQ+ experiences and drag experiences to the Iron Range.”