In 1972, Bill Miller, Michael Hodge, Jan Koren, Wally Wood and Sue Hannah, who eventually became known as the Gay and Lesbian Gang, sought to create gay and lesbian clubs and bars in Orlando, two of which holds significance for both gay and female impersonation history: Diamond Head and Parliament House Orlando. The Diamond Head, considered the first gay bar of Central Florida, was purchased by Bill Miller and Michael Hodge and was a venue that provided a show bar for female impersonators and pageants such as Miss Diamond Head. The date of its closing is unknown. Parliament House Orlando, once a part of a hotel chain in the early 1960’s, was purchased by Bill Miller and Michael Hodge and later opened on May 1, 1975. The original location was closed on November 2020, with the resort being demolished. Within this resort was the Footlight Theatre, where after the Diamond Head, became a popular site within the national female impersonation scene. Several performers from the early days mentioned the use of the handkerchief by Orlando police, who would request random individuals at Parliament House to wipe their face, when making their rounds as a means to arrest female impersonators and crossdressers, under the pretext of “concealing their identity.” Due to this, many of the performers refrained from dressing into their impersonation before and after their performances (in comparison to contemporary female impersonators who commonly dress prior to shows and venture throughout the bars, clubs and pagaents.) Yet, at the same time, this did not hinder the later creation of drag houses in Central Florida.
During this same period, Miss Gay America, Miss Florida F.I. and other pageants began to emerge, focusing on the illusion of female impersonation. The growing popularity of pagaentry placed Central and South Florida in the periphery of greater female impersonation subculture, as the creation of these pageants allowed local female impersonators to travel and participate in national pageantry. Venues such as the Footlight Theatre also played a major role as Miss Central Florida and other similar pageants were held at Parliament House Orlando as a precursor towards entering state and national pageants. However, we must keep in mind that the development of these subcultures occured throughout an era of social homophobia and should not be discredited as mere entertainment history but rather an important development towards the historic narrative. Several performers and impersonators such as Billy Boots, Miss G, Lana Lane and Miss P participated in these pageants and were locals to Parliament House, which was a safe space for many. Several performers such as Willie Tillmon and Wille King Jr. have explained that many, gay and drag, lived on the property because it was a place where they felt welcomed and safe.
Below are images taken from our archives which show the connection between Central and South Florida had in the developing pageant scene. Note: as research progresses, information about El Goya, the Palace Club and other bars across Central Florida will be added to this exhibit and our collection. Meanwhile, please feel free to take a look at our digital archive at: https://floridalgbtqmuseum.omeka.net/
During this same period, Miss Gay America, Miss Florida F.I. and other pageants began to emerge, focusing on the illusion of female impersonation. The growing popularity of pagaentry placed Central and South Florida in the periphery of greater female impersonation subculture, as the creation of these pageants allowed local female impersonators to travel and participate in national pageantry. Venues such as the Footlight Theatre also played a major role as Miss Central Florida and other similar pageants were held at Parliament House Orlando as a precursor towards entering state and national pageants. However, we must keep in mind that the development of these subcultures occured throughout an era of social homophobia and should not be discredited as mere entertainment history but rather an important development towards the historic narrative. Several performers and impersonators such as Billy Boots, Miss G, Lana Lane and Miss P participated in these pageants and were locals to Parliament House, which was a safe space for many. Several performers such as Willie Tillmon and Wille King Jr. have explained that many, gay and drag, lived on the property because it was a place where they felt welcomed and safe.
Below are images taken from our archives which show the connection between Central and South Florida had in the developing pageant scene. Note: as research progresses, information about El Goya, the Palace Club and other bars across Central Florida will be added to this exhibit and our collection. Meanwhile, please feel free to take a look at our digital archive at: https://floridalgbtqmuseum.omeka.net/
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/3/4/133407272/miss-p-performing-at-miss-florida_orig.jpg)
Miss P performing a recreation of the 1977 Bette Midler television special for the 1978 Miss Florida Pageant. The pageant took place at Fontainebleau hotel, Miami Florida. His brother Dave Wegman comments that " I believe he was MC'ing, not a contestant." Rusti Fawcett Hurd was in the number as well.
Below are a series of slideshows that showcase the connection of Miss Florida and Parliament House Orlando. On the left are images taken from Miss Florida F.I. 2021 and on the right are a series of images taken of the dressing room at Parliament House Orlando.
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Oral History Interviews & Footage from Miss Florida
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