Mirror Universe
Chez Est
Hartford
Oct. 11, 2026
Chez Est is a stylish gay bar less than a mile from my house that hosts a drag performance fundraiser on the second Sunday of every month.
The festivities are organized by The Imperial Sovereign Court of Connecticut, a chapter of the International Court System. Each of the more than 70 chapters spread across North America acts as an independent nonprofit, raising money for the LGBTQIAA+ community and anyone else in need. The Connecticut chapter has raised more than $500,000 in its 26 years of existence; every dollar has gone to causes right here in the Nutmeg State.
Each fundraiser has a theme and target organizations. This month’s theme was Star Trek’s Mirror Universe. For the uninitiated, the Mirror Universe is just like ours, but slightly different: Spock sported his infamous beard in the Mirror Universe, along with other fun changes. The idea is to give everyone an opportunity to step outside of themselves for an evening and be someone they usually aren’t.
The beneficiaries for October are the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus, the CT Breast Health Initiative, TV365, and the Sovereign Court’s scholarship fund.
If we’re talking about a court, then there must be royalty. The chapter is led by Empress XXVII Dolores Degage Seqouia prima de Luxe (in the cowboy hat above) and Emperor XXVII Lyum Troi, pictured in the cheerleader uniform. Although I should use his Mirror Universe name: Astra Deluxe, the biennial alter ego of the Emperor who appears to fundraise.
And fundraise they did, the old-fashioned way, by shaking their money makers. Attendance at the show is free; the audience is encouraged to shower the performers with cash as they lip sync to a chosen song and strut their stuff across the stage. It was fun to hear which song each performer chose, and see how they made it their own through their unique staging.
The best performance I saw came from “Oh Lord” Ken Lord Dégagé, the crown prince of the court. The prince told me that he usually presents as preppy in his fashion choices, so he went wild with a leather motif for his mirror universe persona.
Ken chose “Listen” by Beyonce as his song. Even though he wasn’t singing, it was still a bold choice, as Beyonce’s stage presence is as impressive as her voice. Beyonce herself would be jealous of how effortless the prince commanded the stage.
I had no idea that royalty existed just down the street from me. They truly are royalty in the best sense of the word, by using their skills and talents to help others. That’s worth singing (or lip syncing) about.
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Jamil goes back to Carmines in East Hartford to catch up with a band he missed.
