The Second Annual ‘Doll Invasion’ of Fire Island Was a Celestially Fashionable Affair
The only thing I knew about Fire Island for many years was that it was where Frank O’Hara died. It is not, historically, a place hospitable to trans people looking to party. Last year, the first Doll Invasion—which was spearheaded by a group of trans women and their fashionable sidekicks—took place on Fire Island, and this year the party returned with one notable difference: the great Cecilia Gentili wouldn’t be present, after she died earlier this year. In her honor, “All Dolls Go to Heaven” was graffitied across the Pines and all attendees were encouraged to wear white, silver, and gold. Partiers described the dress code to me as “angelic” and “ethereal,” and of course, not everyone was on theme, but multiple revelers donned angel wings to show their heavenly aspirations. Body glitter, sparkly harnesses, halos, slinky white tops, and slip dresses weren’t hard to spot.
Toward the end of the festivities, DJ Lina Braford went onstage to deliver a house-music inspired set centered on community and family. Veteran performer Charlene Incarnate did a daring, cinematic, masterful striptease to the “Macarena”; musician and It-girl Macy Rodman wowed with teased hair and a slinky red dress; Chicago-based legend Ariel Zetina gave another inspired techno set; and model-actress Maya Margarita gave a fun, beachy performance to start the afternoon off right. The party was free for transsexuals, while everyone else was asked to pay an entrance fee (with a sliding scale of around $50-150 suggested). As the beach filled up, the VIPs took to the balcony to hold court and watch the rest of us frolic around the pool and light up near the sand pit.
Comedians Honey Pluton and Spike Einbinder emceed the first portion of the evening before Chiquitita—Miss Bushwig 2018—took the reins and tried to get the trans boys to make some noise. Mother, author, and activist Ceyenne Doroshow gave a speech asking everyone to take care of one another and discussed her current fundraiser for GLITS. She was welcomed with an uproar of appreciation. (The event itself raised money for Queer Art and Trans Equality Now.)
Those looking for titillation and gossip didn’t have to look far: Models and TV stars mixed with twinks, bodybuilders, and shy girls wearing bikinis for the first time. Geena Rocero, Julio Torres, Jaboukie Young-White, Chelsea Manning, Eli Erlick, Raquel Willis, Laurel Charleston, Gogo Graham, Cherry Jaymes, and JD Samson were all in attendance. Willie Norris, who recently started as the chief creative officer of underwear brand TomboyX—and produced a campaign with current Broadway star Cole Escola—was also present. For this year’s Doll Invasion, she created a series of 300 limited-edition red cups that read “Doll Juice.” Fran Tirado, whom Norris crowned “the matriarch of organizing,” coordinated last year’s shirts, which read: Everyone knows I’m a transsexual.
“The shirts are very legendary,” I said. “I would agree with you,” replied Norris, who wore an altered gold Norma Kamali dress. “The clothes are not that expensive,” Norris went on, telling me of her dress: “This was $150 full-price, not even marked down. You can tell they’re made well.” She wore a stack of her mother’s necklaces and bracelets.
“I see a bunch of people that haven’t always been truly comfortable in a public space with a swimsuit on being genuinely comfortable, and that, to me, is wearing Cecilia. Truly. That was always her thing,” Norris continued. “She inspired me about my body.” When she ran into Gentili at last year’s Doll Invasion, Gentili told her, “I didn’t know you had that under there!” before kissing Norris on the mouth.
