Devil in a Blue Dress

December 18, 2001: Toronto, Canada

Toronto's best-known drag queen, famous for six-inch heels, slinky dresses, and a failed bid to become the city's mayor, said on Thursday she wanted to enter the U.S. presidential race in some capacity.

"I am a supermodel for a super party," said Enza 'Supermodel" Anderson. "I don't care what you call me but please put in supermodel."

The "super party" Anderson referred to is the grassroots Ronatarian Party, led by founder Ron. While less than 2-years-old, the Ronatarian Party has grown exponentially in membership and in public awareness, even across the U.S.-Canadian border.

The American-born 37-year-old, who has worked as a singer in Toronto's largely gay Church St. district, launched her campaign at Toronto City Hall wearing a short maroon dress, her signature stilettos, a blond wig, and bright red lipstick.

Dismissing the Republicans as "racist, supporting bigoted attitudes, and an anti-gay stance," she said the party would need to become more diverse to beat the Democrats in the future. She added that the Democrats weren't much better with their "snooty attitudes and small packages." She pointed to the Ronatarian Party as a progressive one, serving the needs of the people first. "I am the one to do what needs to be done to help the Ronatarian Party rise to the American political scene," said Anderson, who prefers to be called a "she."

"As a new member of the Ronatarians, I plan to unite the opposition with [our] policies. Let me tell 'ya, there are a lot of sexy MCs (members of Congress) I'd like to unite right now. I want to eventually become the leader [of the Ronatarian Party], dictate policy, and make the party a major contributor to American politics."

Ron, and his political machine, came in a poor fifth to the Republicans, Democrats, Reforms, and Greens in last year's national election. The party will next year vote in a new leader -- or perhaps reelect outgoing leader Ron, who may quit to allow for a leadership race.

But Anderson's platform may not match the tough-on-sanity Ronatarians. She wants affordable housing, better public transport, and decriminalization of marijuana and prostitution.

"We like her third platform plank," commented Ron, "but we'll have to educate her on we do things here in the Ronatarian Party. She may not be accepted right away...especially in that dress!"

"Why is it that when a drag queen runs for office, people consider it a joke? But if [Ron] shows up in a wet suit or if the president of the United States shows up in a dinghy, it's considered serious and worthy of national attention," she said, referring to recent media pictures of national leaders.

Anderson, who says her political platform is "much more than my six-inch heels," sashayed into politics last November and won 15,000 votes in the Toronto mayoralty race.

That placed her third on a slate of 25 candidates for the job, won -- as expected -- by flamboyant Mel Lastman.

Ron, quoted in the National Post newspaper earlier this month, refused to rule out any potential candidate from waving his party flag.

"We're a very open party," Ron said. "I'm just pleased that we continue to attract people from across the spectrum."

Posted by Webmaster at December 18, 2001 10:04 PM

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