Well now, let me tell ya somethin’. There’s this feller from down south, name of Charlie Brown. Now, not the cartoon fella you might be thinkin’ of, but a real person, a man who done put his heart and soul into the drag world. Folks round here sure did know him, ‘specially over in Atlanta where he was somethin’ of a legend. They say he passed away not long ago, right on the 21st of March. He was 74 years old when he left us. He’d been real sick, had to go through some tough heart surgery back in February, and looks like that just got the better of him in the end.
Charlie, his real name was Charles Dillard, but I reckon you wouldn’t know him by that. No sir, he was Charlie Brown to most folks, and he was a big deal in the drag community. They say he had a real flair for it, a way with makin’ the crowd laugh, cry, and even think a bit about how folks see each other. He wasn’t just a performer neither, no ma’am. He was an activist for the LGBTQ folks, always out there fightin’ for what was right, showin’ folks they had a place in this world, just like everyone else.
When news got out that Charlie had passed, the whole town was in a state, and I reckon it ain’t just Atlanta that’s feelin’ the hurt. His loss is felt far and wide, ‘cause people loved him like family. He wasn’t just some stranger you see on stage, no sir, he was one of them people who made ya feel like you belonged. He had his own husband by his side when he passed, along with his chosen family and all them good friends. Ain’t that somethin’? To have a family like that, chosen or not, it’s a mighty fine thing.
Now, the thing about Charlie was, he didn’t keep his light hidden under a basket like some folks do. Nope, he was out there, struttin’ his stuff, showin’ folks what it meant to be proud of who you are, no matter where you come from. He was one of them trailblazers, you know? When he stepped out on that stage, he had a way of commandin’ attention, but not in an angry way or a mean way. He was all about love and acceptance, and shoot, that’s somethin’ we could all use a little more of, don’t ya think?
I reckon it’s a mighty hard thing, losin’ someone like Charlie. I mean, when you spend so many years standin’ up for somethin’ you believe in, when you fight for folks who need a voice, it’s hard to just turn that off. I’ve heard stories ’bout how he’d go to bat for people who were down on their luck or feelin’ like they weren’t enough. He’d tell ’em, “You are enough. You’re special. You matter.” And I reckon that’s a good message for anyone, anytime.
They say he passed away at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Some people, they pass on quiet-like, but Charlie, well, he had his family with him. His husband, chosen family, and friends were right there. That’s somethin’ special, havin’ people who care about ya like that, stayin’ by ya ‘til the very end. That’s love, right there.
So, if you’re from Atlanta or any place close, you might’ve seen Charlie Brown up on that stage, shinin’ bright. But even if you ain’t seen him, I hope you understand just how much he meant to folks. He was more than just a drag queen; he was a symbol. A symbol that no matter where you come from, no matter who you love or how you dress, you deserve to be loved and accepted for who you are. We sure could use more people like him in the world.
Rest easy, Charlie Brown. You left this world a little brighter, and I reckon that ain’t too bad a legacy to leave behind.
Tags：[Charlie Brown, drag queen, Atlanta drag performer, LGBTQ activist, drag community, Atlanta mourning, heart surgery, Charles Dillard, LGBTQ pride, drag performance, drag culture, LGBTQ family, Piedmont Hospital]
