Lion’s club dinner in November to feature ‘Greatest Showgirl ’21’

The Saipan Alliance Lion’s Club will be holding a fundraising dinner on Nov. 13 at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Ballroom, featuring a buffet and event called “The Greatest Showgirl 2021” that is being organized by Sharmaine Casquero.

Tickets to the event can be purchased for $30, with a portion of the proceeds going to T-Project, a trans-led nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and creating safe spaces for the CNMI’s LGBT+ community. Those interested in learning more can call Casquero at 670-788-0932.

Casquero said in an interview Wednesday that she recently spoke with SALC president Anna Cabael to discuss the possibility of combining the club’s fundraising dinner with an event intended to support the CNMI’s LGBT+ community. Cabael approved of Casquero’s plans, and the Nov. 13 dinner is now a joint event.

Casquero said the event will feature two competition segments: a “Best in Costume” and “The Amazing Showgirl.” For the costume competition, contestants will be presenting originally made, fantasy-themed costumes that use the colors of the rainbow, which are colors featured in the LGBT+ pride flag. For “The Amazing Showgirl,” contestants will dress up and impersonate famous Hollywood celebrities and musicians.

Casquero said that nine people have already committed to participating in the event and that she is working with T-Project founder Tyra Sablan to get more members of the community to join.

Having lived on Saipan for almost 20 years now, Casquero said she wanted to hold “The Greatest Showgirl” to continue to support the CNMI’s LGBT+ community.

“Every time I have an event, I feel that it’s going to be a fantastic night and a night to remember for everyone. It’s about the fun and enjoyment of the audience, especially this time around during the pandemic. [The Nov. 13 event] will be a time to let out stress,” said Casquero.

In July this year, the editors of American LGBT+ magazine The Advocate chose Casquero and Sablan to be featured on its list of “Champions of Pride 2021 From the Territories,” a list that also featured Guam Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, who is the first openly gay lieutenant governor in the U.S.

Casquero was recognized by The Advocate for organizing the CNMI’s first Pride event in 2018 with a celebration at the GIG Discotheque and Bossano Bar in Garapan and for organizing many LGBT+ beauty pageants in the CNMI.

Sablan was recognized by The Advocate for bringing the need for anti-discrimination and hate crime laws to the attention of the CNMI Legislature, and for founding T-Project.