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SLUG Queen

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The SLUG Queen, slug queen, or S.L.U.G. Queen (an acronym for the "Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod"), is a humorous concept and popular event, an alternative festival, which takes place annually in Eugene, Oregon, United States. The queen is regarded as the reigning "monarch" of festivities, and the unofficial ambassador of the city of Eugene, where a new Slug Queen is crowned at the end of each summer. The queen is named "slug" in order to suggest images of the Willamette Valley region's lush leafy gardens full of snails and slugs.

The annual coronation process somewhat resembles a formal beauty pageant, but with a campy spin. The slug-themed pageant started in 1983, and Eugene celebrated the SLUG Queen coronation's 25th year with a Silver Jubilee in August 2007. [1]

The Slug Queen was first conceived in 1983. Cynthia Wooten, a city councilwoman, was discussing the idea of the Eugene Celebration. Wooten and then City Manager Mike Gleason wanted to name the city festival the Celebration. Karl Eysenbach and Paul Ollswang argued for the name Slugfest. Alana Probst organized the first Slugfest as an alternative to (and parody of) other cities' beauty pageants. This movement was in direct opposition to the wishes of the rest of the city council.

Rather than perpetuating typical beauty queen standards, the originators chose as their emblem a lifeform more in keeping with the Pacific Northwest's soggy climate and Eugene's iconoclastic spirit: the humble slug.[2]

The new SLUG Queen is now selected annually on the first Friday evening in September, (although 2009's coronation date is planned for a Thursday due to conflicting Friday events) in a three part competition that involves the judging of one's costume (based on campy appeal and over all slugishness), a three-minute on-stage talent performance, and a single question designed to test the quick wit of each contestant. The SLUG Queen is chosen by a collection of past queens officially referred to as "old," not "former" queens. The judges base their assessments on three factors: originality, creativity, and a flamboyant outgoing personality.

One important aspect that sets the SLUG Queen pageant apart from others is that bribery is accepted and encouraged and the judging is done by a panel of Old Queens. The moment a new queen is crowned, the old queens are open to bribery. [3] Creative bribes curry the most favor with the old queens. Since SLUG Queens retain the title of queen for life, and the power to crown new queens, they remain a vibrant, visible and vocal part of the community in their royal character.

The new SLUG Queen presides over the parade at the Eugene Celebration, on a roving date in September, where the queen meets the public for her first official duty. She is also expected to open the Mayor's Art Show, and the Salon de Refuse, a pun on Salon des Refusés, deliver a benediction at the [Maude Kerns Art Gallery's Jello Art Show in April][1], hold a charitable ball for the charity of her choice and "rain" over the coronation for the following year's SLUG Queen. She may choose to make other appearances throughout the year including: [The Oregon Country Fair][2], [Da Vinci Days][3], ribbon cuttings and openings, fashion shows, [Art in the Park][4],etc...

The Slug Queens pride themselves on representing the diversity of the City of Eugene. Anyone over the age of 21 is electable, provided they are able to impress the Old Queens. Of the 25 Slug Queens to date, five have been men, including one with cerebral palsy. One female Queen, Queen "Frank Slugnatra" 2005, takes on a male persona for her appearances. 1993 Queen "Bananita" uses a thick Russian accent for her Slug Queen character. 2006 Queen "Slugretha Latifah Uleafa Gastropodia Jackson", an Office Manager at the University of Oregon's Department of Philosophy and the only black queen so far, won by singing her version of Aretha Franklin's R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Queen Slugrethea was photographed with the reigning Miss Oregon 2006 shortly after her coronation.

Slug queens never lose their prestigious titles: they (female or male) are subsequently known forever as "Old Queens" or later on, "Very Old Queens", and finally "Exquisitely Old Queens".[4]

2008's Queen "Marie Slugtoinette," famously appeared as a hedcut drawing on the front page of the Wall Street Journal. [5] Slugtoinette's alter ego, Designer Constance Van Flandern, is also known for her work coining the term "Alpha Mom" for the cable network of the same name.

Since 1991, the Slug Queen coronation has been organized by Kim Still, who is the manager of the Eugene Saturday Market.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Eugene Weekly : 09.29.05
  2. ^ slugretha.tk
  3. ^ NEW SLUG QUEEN SURELY DID IT HER WAY. - Free Online Library
  4. ^ Slugretha Latifah Uleafa Gastropodia Jackson!

[edit] External links

 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (November 2007)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLUG_Queen"
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