BENEFIT HAUS

PHOTOS: Mike Ruiz, Johnny Weir, Lisa Lampanelli Hold Court At Night Of A Thousand Gowns

Saturday night, a kingdom’s worth of drag queens attended the 26th Annual Night of a Thousand Gowns, a dazzling display of regal glamour was held at New York’s  Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Over the years the event, organized by the Imperial Court of New York (ICNY), has raised more than $1 million for HIV/AIDS and LGBT youth-enrichment causes.

This year ICNY crowned their Most Imperial Sovereign Majesties Emperor XXI Ritz Kracker and Empress XXVI Witti Repartee, while photographer/ex-A List-er Mike Ruiz was honored with the Imperial Diamond Award in  acknowledgment of his work for the LGBT community. Special guests and performers included Lisa Lampanelli, Lea DeLaria, radio host Elvis Duran, MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts, Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, Tabatha Coffey and Real Housewives cast members Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen.

Click through for more pictures from Night of a Thousand Gowns.

Photos Courtesy of Andrew Werner/the Imperial Court of New York

Lisa Lampanelli

 

Ruiz and Weir receive honors

Amanda Lepore

Ted Detwiler

Johnny Weir

Mike Ruiz

Empress Witti Repartee and Emperor Ritz Kraka

Lea DeLaria

Pepperica Swirl and Vanity Society, the exiting Emperor and Empress

 Witti Repartee and Ritz Kraka as the new reigning Emperor and Empress

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