- Miss Dee-Lovely
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Miss Dee-Lovely 
Miss Dee-Lovely in 2011.
Birth name Douglas McGraw Born February 1, 1979 Origin Chippewa Falls, WI Occupations Drag performer
Actor
Singer
Political Activist
JournalistYears active 1990s–present Website [1] Miss Dee-Lovely (born Douglas McGraw, 1 February 1979) is an American drag queen entertainer originally from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, who has been a notable activst for gay rights and transgender issues in addition to being a nightclub entertainer, actor, singer, speaker, and journalist.[1]
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LGBT Activism
Widely credited with helping to bring LGBT issues and the art of female impersonation to the forefront of discussion in rural Wisconsin, Miss Dee-Lovely is the co-founder/organizer of the annual National Coming Out Day Candlelight Vigil event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.[2] Created in response to the rash of 2010 teenage suicides as the result of anti-gay bullying, the event is now an annual gathering of inspirational speakers and suicide prevention information distribution. She is also the co-founder of the annual Kitanahpalooza event in Menomonie, Wisconsin.[3] Miss Dee has also served on the Board of Directors for the LGBT Community Center of the Chippewa Valley[4] and has been heavily involved with charity fundraising since the 1990s. She has the distinction of being the first-ever female impersonator to sing The Star-Spangled Banner at a Wisconsin sporting event.[5]
Theatre/Stage Persona
Taking her stage moniker from the Deee-Lite song Groove is in the Heart, Miss Dee-Lovely has performed across the Midwestern United States since the 1990s, alongside such notable entertainers as Lady Miss Kier and Yoko Ishida. She has also acted as a mentor to several other established performers including Felicia Ashton, Deb U. Taunt, Dominique DeGrant, and others. Miss Dee-Lovely has gained much attention for her acting and singing talents, directing and starring in productions of The Rocky Horror Show,[6] Hedwig and the Angry Inch,[7] and A Midsummer Night's Dream (as Titania). She has also acted as a mentor to several other established performers including Felicia Ashton and Dominique DeGrant.
Music
Miss Dee-Lovely is also an accomplished nightclub DJ,[8] appearing in many nightclub venues across Midwestern America. She has also collaborated with several well-established musicians in the burgeoning Eau Claire, Wisconsin arts and music scene that has spawned such artists as Bon Iver and Peter Phippen.[9]
Television
Miss Dee-Lovely has appeared in a number of television programs, including a 1999 episode of The Jerry Springer Show. In 2010, Miss Dee was the subject of a WQOW segment that highlighted her career and persona. The segment went on to win a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association award and a Best Feature award from the Associated Press.[10] Miss Dee was also one of the subjects of a 2011 controversial series by WQOW focusing on LGBT issues in Western Wisconsin.[11] In the segment, Miss Dee appeared alongside her mother Virginia to discuss parental relationships within the rural gay community.
Awards and nominations
- 2009 Volume One Magazine Reader's Poll: Best Theatrical Production of the Year: The Rocky Horror Show[12]
- 2010 AP Best Feature: Miss Dee-Lovely In Person (with Steve Betchkal)[13]
- 2011 Nomination: Best New Event: National Coming Out Day Candlelight Vigil[14]
- 2011 Volume One Magazine Reader's Poll: Best Hip Hop Act/DJ (second finalist)[15]
- 2011 Volume One Magazine Reader' Poll: Best Theatrical Production of the Year Hedwig and the Angry Inch (third finalist)[16]
References
- ^ In Person: Miss Dee-Lovely
- ^ Vigil Draws Attention To Recent Suicides
- ^ Kitanahpalooza
- ^ LGBT Community Center of the Chippewa Valley
- ^ Neil Gaiman's Blog
- ^ Best Theatrical Production of 2009
- ^ Hedwig Pushes The Envelope, Teaches Acceptance
- ^ Ravyn Entertainment DJ's
- ^ Eau Claire, WI
- ^ 12&d1=189833&LaunchPageAdTag=Search Results&activePane=info&rnd=15480008 AP Best Feature: Miss Dee-Lovely in Person
- ^ 12&d1=189833&LaunchPageAdTag=Search Results&activePane=info&rnd=15480008 That's My Girl: LGBTQ Series Vol 5
- ^ Best Theatrical Production of 2009
- ^ 12&d1=189833&LaunchPageAdTag=Search Results&activePane=info&rnd=15480008 AP Best Feature: Miss Dee-Lovely in Person
- ^ Best of 2011
- ^ Best of 2011
- ^ Best of 2011
External links
Categories:- Drag queens
- 1979 births
- Musicians from Wisconsin
- Living people
- LGBT people from the United States
- American female impersonators
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- Gay actors
- People from Chippewa County, Wisconsin
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