I've heard reports of lawlessness in New Orleans in the wake of Katrina, but this is just bizarre. A gang of six-foot-plus men in drag who are allegedly “drug-addicted and fearless in their lust for designer shoes, jackets and jewelry” have been robbing shops in the city's Lower Garden District.
Salesman Eric Ogle: “They're fearless. Once they see something they like they won't stop until they have it. They don't care, they'll go to jail. It's really gotten bad. You know it's ridiculous when everyone on the block knows who they are. They come in groups of three or four. One tries to distract you while the others get the stuff and run out the door. It's very simple. They're all very skinny and very flamboyant.”
Shopowners have not been receiving much help from the police, so they have created a “Drag Queen Alert List” and distributed it to businesses in the area. When signs that the drag queen gang is afoot, shops begin calling each other, warning them of the impending danger.
The owner of a shop called Trashy Diva describes how the drag queens threw her to the ground and tossed a mannequin on top of her: “…They think they're women so they don't mind hitting women, but they're dudes. If you get hit by one it's like getting hit by a dude. … Because the police are so poorly staffed, we're kind of on our own but the system we have seems to be working. I haven't seen them in at least a week but they'll be back. They're never gone for long.”
Not to make light of an ugly situation, but perhaps next time she should try ripping their wigs off.
Transvestite gang pesters Magazine Street [new orleans city business]
