by Greg Layson
Pablo Jimenez Lopez could very well serve as the poster child for the annual True Fest in Amherstburg.
Lopez — stage name Dulce — was one of four drag queens to perform on the outdoor stage on Saturday night. The event celebrates what the Town calls its diversity and inclusivity.
Lopez was born in Mexico and immigrated to Canada when he was two-years-old.
“In my grade school, I was the only person of colour. I was the only queer person. There was really no one like me,” he said. “I was constantly ostracized.”
Lopez said there were never drag events and celebrations of the 2SLGBTQI+ community when he was growing up.
Lopez began the drag queen journey in 2020 in London, and now mainly performs in the Toronto region. He said he’s doing shows that never really openly existed 10 or 20-years ago.
“Now, for there to be one, it’s insane,” he said. “For young people to be able to come out and say ‘Oh, my God, this exists in my town?’ is insane.”
That’s the major point of the event, said Amherstburg Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, Jen Ibrahim.
“It’s a special night because it really celebrates inclusivity and brings people together, regardless of their preferences,” she said.
Lopez believes it’s important to represent all minorities on stage and make sure everyone in the room feels seen and to connect to the audience and community.
“Oftentimes, I genuinely didn't think that this was even feasible for me,” Lopez said. “Everything I was told to hide and not to do, I get to do now. And that's like my living.”
The event that began in 2020 continues to be tweaked, Ibrahim said.
“We tweak it with different elements that we think would benefit the people that participate,” she said. “So, for example, there are now fire tables and the s’mores and that sort of thing.”
It was a typically cold Canadian night, but it didn’t keep people from dancing in the street and taking in the Fire Guy Show, featuring Guinness Book of World Records fire eater Brant Matthews of Toronto.
“We're Canadians and we need to embrace the winter, and, I think it kind of makes the event a little unique,” Ibrahim said. “It’s about getting out of hibernation, coming downtown, dancing in the street, and enjoying some entertainment at a time of the year when not much is going on.”
Several downtown businesses joined in the celebration, from moving their bar outside to hosting an open mic night to throwing a disco afterparty.
The event also featured a charitable element, with the Rotary Club fundraising through the sale of hot chocolate and The House Youth Centre hosted a warming centre, where visitors could try their luck at the Spin to Win Wheel and learn about the centre’s annual Coldest Night of the Year event.