"Gather round, children, gather around," I say to all my children as I sit comfortably in the middle of the couch wrapping myself in my robe "I have told you all how my story as a trans woman began, the people who helped me and how I started this house wanting to pay it forward, to children like you, like me, like us"

They look at one another and smile, I flip my hair from one side to the other "this is a story, not of how Elenor passed away, but of how in life we celebrated her and while doing so, learned a valuable lesson" the excitement in their faces brought joy to my life, I took a sip of my chocolate and cleared my throat

🌈

It was finally June 16, 1990, for the past two days we'd been battling with the ever-growing crowds of hateful people trying to deter our celebration, but as the news broke done of what was happening in South Los Angeles, people from all over the state started to rally in support of our parade. Busses from San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Diego, Santa Monica, Santa Fé, Northridge could be spotted on the highway. Campers took the side of the roads, camping sites were filled, it was overwhelming seeing the two sides of the quarter fighting to have their voices be heard.

As the sun came up at breaking dawn, so did we, my children got up early and made breakfast, my brothers and sister arrived to help with hair and makeup, I was running up and down the house making sure everyone's attire were ready when a sudden knock on the door grabbed all of our attention. I head to the door and look through the fisheye, my eyes couldn't believe it, I opened the door and stared at the tall, dark olive skin man with big brown eyes and black curled hair "Cole, wha" I stuttered "what are you doing here?" He locked eyes with me and smiled "I heard you required a couple of dresses, and well, there is nothing I wouldn't do for Elenor"

It has been five years since we met, almost three since I left without saying goodbye, and still, that man managed to come, without an invitation, or any knowledge with garment bags in hand and a pearly smile on his face. I move out of the entrance so can enter and as Elenor sees him she smiles "Cole, my dearest friend" she makes a pause to let out a tired breath "you made it" he puts the clothes on the dining table "when you called, I knew I had to come" I looked at Angel, he returns the same questioning look, "so, did you bring me what I asked?" he unzipped the bags and showed her the masterpieces he had made.

He turns around to face me "the one by the end of the table is your Marritza" he sounded so dry and serious, everyone stared at me as I opened the bag. It sparkled in different tones of blue that dropped to the long tail the dress had, I didn't know how he knew the description of the dress I was looking for, but somehow he knew, he always knew.

🌈

Dani's eyes glittered "I don't know why, but, he sounds like that one friend who falls in love with you and when you tell them you can only be friends he ghosts you" they all started laughing, I gave him a look "Dani, that is not at all what happened, Cole was a great friend back in the day, and because of it, he deserved better than what I did to him" I take a deep breath "now, can you guys please, do your best and not interrupt me?" They all remain silent "I want to finish the story" Lilibeth nods at me "we won't now continue, I want to know how the parade went" "all alright, but just so you know, this is the end of a chapter, not the story"

🌈

At 9:35 am we all started to head out, dressed up, with our flags in hand and our chins up. Elenor comes out in her radiant yellow dress, like the sun, she too was shining, and together we all walked out of the front door. As I close the door, Cole stands behind me, when I turn around I bump into him "oh, sorry" he looks at me with an emotionless face "nothing to apologize for" and walked away, I rushed after him but he got into another car, Angel calls for me "Marritza, hurry up we're going to arrive late at our own parade" I rolled my eyes at him "coming" and looked back to the car Cole got into.

After a ten-minute drive to LuiG's house, we got out of the cars and fixed our dresses, my entire Ballroom group was there, with flags, and banners, and horns rallying in front of the house as we got ready to head out. LuiG stood in front of all of our friends with a megaphone "all alright, ladies, gentlemen, thank you so much for coming first and foremost, this year, we decided to rally behind a woman that has given so much to our community" he turns to look at me "and no, I'm not talking about Marritza, I mean, she is one of the greatest gifts Elenor could have ever made us, but she has done so much more. She opened her house to all of these children in need, she loved them, teach them what being a member of this community looked and felt like, she expanded her knowledge and established herself as an icon in New York City"

Everyone started to clap as he continued "Elenor, like all of is a flawed woman, but she is also strong, resilient, bold and most of all loving, those are the qualities she let herself be known for throughout the years, and although she might not have much time left with us, we will make sure she gives us her all today, and always" he turned to look at her "Elenor, you have been one of the greatest friends a gay man could ever ask for, there will never be enough words to describe how thankful for you I am" he handed the megaphone to Angel who started tearing before he even spoke "mother, you thought me the meaning of love, of authenticity, you showed me what living with pride looked like, and like many others here today, I want to thank you, and celebrate you, here and now, while you're still able to hear me. Thank you for never giving up on me, I love you"

Angel turned around and handed the megaphone to me, all my friends, my children, and my siblings stared at me as I cleared my throat "anyone who knows me, knows that I didn't have an easy beginning, that my startup as an out transgender woman was rough, I was outed to my parents, beaten by their hands after being abused, thrown out and forgotten, but this woman" I walk up to her "this magnificent woman, with whom I fought at the time, with whom I disagreed on certain things, she showed me the meaning of life, and how important it is to live yours to the fullest" I take a deep breath and roll my eyes trying not to cry "Elenor, you are the greatest inspiration, the greatest role model but lost of all, the best mother any child could ever ask for. Today is proof of the impact you have had in all of our lives, whether because they knew you personally, or for the stories we have told, your legacy will transcend frontiers"

I look around those standing next to me "today is all about you, celebrating you, thank you, but most of all, getting to be with you on a day so special as this. As LuiG said, there are no words to describe how thankful we are, so let us show it to you" everyone started cheering as I put the megaphone down and went straight to hug her "I love you, mom" she started to cry and after a short while we began walking to the where we would begin marching.

As we turn left to the main avenue we see a multitude of people carrying banners with hateful messages, shouting at us and trying to start a riot, but from the left side, an ever-growing see of people with colorful attires and flags waving to the sun comes to join us. Together we start marching and singing down the streets like the proud community that we were, and as we kept walking the speakers of a black truck start playing the intro of a song, we recognized that song, to our community it meant the visibility we'd been craving for years on end, and finally, the world had stopped to listen. I mean, sure, pity a white woman had to come and do that for them to see us, but because of her, the world was introduced to Vogue.

I look at Angel, he smiles at me, and without another word we divide into two groups "are you ready for one last showdown Marritza?" I smile at him and shout at him back "MARRITZA'S QUEENDOM IS ALWAYS READY" my children assembled behind me and Mitch took over the megaphone "well ladies and gentlemen, it seems like we have a challenge waiting to begin, on the left side, the House of Elenor reunites, and on the right side, from a successor of hers MARRRRRRRIIIIIITZAAAAAAAA'S QUEEEEENDOOOOOM" everyone started cheering, the hateful protesters in the back fell silent as we all started to ignore them, and as the beat dropped I sang " What are you looking at?" I took a dramatic breath and "Strike a pose
Strike a pose" my entire house started to pose "and Vogue (vogue, vogue) Vogue (vogue, vogue) Look around, everywhere you turn is heartache. It's everywhere that you go"

The crowd went wild cheering on as our two houses kept dancing to the rhythm of Madonna's Vogue playing in the background. I moved to the side to catch my breath and someone taps me on my shoulder "hey" he smiles at me "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but you are beautiful and so filled with life" I turned red "thank you" I push my hair behind my ear, and from the corner of my eye I saw Elenor smile at me as she nodded. I don't know why, but I like to believe that was her last wish for me, to give myself a chance at love.

🦄

Hey Queendom, this is it, this where we say goodbye, but fear not, Marritza has one final page to share with you all, so go ahead and read that epilogue, I promise, it will be worth it.

💜🤍💜