After winning an Emmy Award for her work as Dana Evans in “The Pitt,” Katherine Lanatha reveals where she keeps her newly-built trophy.
“It’s in the bar cabinet that divides our living and dining rooms,” Lanatha told Variety on Sunday night with the best pink carpet at the drug pageant at the Orphaum Theatre in Los Angeles. Lanatha and her husband, Grant Shaw, were among the judges, along with Judy Grier, Cheri Oteli, Dan Bukatinsky, Kamlyn Mannheim, Casey Kinney and Variety’s Mark Malkin.
Celebrating 30th year, Best in Drag raises funds for APLA Health’s Housing and Healing Alliance, helps HIV/AIDS displaced people and immobilized individuals, and provides Los Angeles-granted apartments and emergency financial support. This year’s event, hosted by casting director Patrick Rush, raised $250,000. This year’s winner was Wisconsin’s Bailey Burnum, a circus-inspired bearded man.
“The best of drugs is fun like hell. It’s about accepting everyone they have and celebrating people as they are,” Lanatha said. “I hope this event teaches people that Drug Queens won’t kill them. There’s nothing to fear here.”
The Pageant was the subject of a “small pageant possible” in which the 2024 documentary focused on the rise of the best drugs. Oteri said watching the documentary made her want to be part of the show.
“I was really taken to a documentary. It made me want to come (to support). I’d say I’ll fly your freak flag. “It’s great that every gay young person learns that there are all different kinds of ways to become gay.”
