Charlotte showed up again for Dudley’s Place on March 29, filling both events for the organization’s latest drag brunch at the NoDa restaurant The Degenerate. The 1970s-themed “Disco & Divas” event followed a pattern that has defined the series over the past two years: strong turnout, steady community support and funding that moves directly into services for people living with and affected by HIV.
The drag brunch started in December 2022 as a way to support a holiday food drive. What began as a single event has grown into an ongoing fundraiser that has raised more than $100,000, primarily used to stock pantry items and provide essential goods for clients. According to Dudley’s Place, every dollar raised through ticket sales, tips and donations goes directly to client needs, with no funds used for administrative or operating expenses.
That approach has been in place from the beginning. Letty’s on Shamrock hosted the early brunches, providing space and buffet meals at no cost. Performers, DJs and volunteers donated their time, and performers returned all tips to Dudley’s Place. That model continues today, with the event operating as a fully community-supported effort.
The performances are led by Dudley’s Divas, including Dale Pierce’s charity persona Mink Shoals alongside Karen Affection, Nova Stella and Lili Frost, who joined the cast in December 2025. Each event also features a rotating guest performer and local DJs, and nearly every brunch has sold out across two seatings.
After Letty’s closed in 2024, the series paused briefly while organizers searched for a new venue. It returned around World AIDS Day and found a new home at The Degenerate in NoDa. Since then, attendance has remained strong, including the March 29 event, where tips and donations once again supported Dudley’s Place programs.
Dudley’s Place, founded in 2019, serves more than 1,500 individuals living with HIV or enrolled in prevention services in the Charlotte area. The organization partners with Rosedale Health and Wellness to connect clients to medical care while also supporting mental health, nutrition and day-to-day needs.
The services supported by the drag brunch extend beyond immediate food assistance. Dudley’s Place offers mental health support through peer groups and counseling, nutrition programs that include cooking demonstrations and access to fresh produce, and prevention services such as HIV and STI testing and PrEP education. Clients can also access benefits advocacy, pharmaceutical assistance, emergency food vouchers and essential items, all designed to support stability and ongoing care.
The drag brunch has become one of the most visible ways the community connects to that work, but its impact remains straightforward. Tickets, tips and donations from each event move directly into the programs clients rely on. For Dudley’s Place, the drag brunch has become a steady, community-driven way to meet real needs, with each event directly supporting clients across Charlotte.
To learn more about Dudley’s Place, visit https://www.dudleysplace.org/