Philadelphia: drag queen dies after collapsing onstage during performance – Metro.co.uk
A popular drag queen died after collapsing onstage during a performance.
Valencia Prime, a well-known Philadelphia drag queen, died at Jefferson Hospital after collapsing mid-performance on Monday.
Prime was performing at the Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar in the city’s Gayborhood. Her cause of death has not been released as of Friday.
Prime described herself as ‘Philadelphia’s Plus Size Dancing Diva’ on her Instagram page. She was the host of PrimeTime, and a regular performer at Tabu, Philadelphia Drag Brunch, and Drag-a-Rama PHL.
She was from Delran, New Jersey, and studied at Temple University and Rowan University.
‘I’m trying to be strong and I’m trying to brave because you were the one the taught me how to be strong and brave,’ wrote Anthony Veltre in a memorial post on Facebook. Veltre, who also known by the stage name Aloe Vera, performed with Prime at Drag-a-Rama.
‘I love you with everything in my heart Valencia. Rest in power,’ Veltre said.
A GoFundMe was organized by family friends to collect donations for Prime’s funeral expenses. ‘We would love for the community to help her mother and the rest of her family give her the proper memorial we know she deserves,’ the organizers said.
The page has already raised over $11,000 for Prime’s family.
‘Today we mourn the loss of a very bright and rising star in the performance community and a person who was always full of life and positivity,’ Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar posted on Instagram. ‘We say goodbye to Valencia Prime but we will not forget the light you brought to the stage.’
Tabu also announced they will be hosting a memorial for Prime on Monday, September 19. The bar will welcome Prime’s mother, Christiana Marcus-McRae, and all proceeds and tips from the evening will go directly to her family.
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