Has all been forgiven?

Former Campus Pride head Shane Windmeyer (left) and his drag alter ego, Buff Faye. Credit: Facebook

On Sunday, November 24, Shane Windmeyer will be performing in Charlotte as their drag persona Buff Faye, in a series that started on October 20 at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille. The presentations come nearly a year since their expulsion as CEO from Campus Pride for misappropriating more than $100,000 from the organization.

Faye’s recent performances, which have largely taken place in Rock Hill and date back to August are only now resurfacing in Charlotte. Among the other entertainers who have been and will be in performance along with Faye are Reann Ballslee, Erica Chanel, Kristin Collins, Devida, Brooklyn Dior, Giovanni Diamond, Ashli Farrington, Lilli Frost, Malayia Chanel Iman, Saniya Chanel Iman, Kiana Layne, Angela Lopez, Mania, DJ Magik Mike, Jayla Serena Mitchell, Cierra Desire Nichole, Taylor Knight Adams St. James, Dorae Saunders, Rebecca Stardust, Quindyn Tarentino, DJ Bear Traxx and Venus Wyre. Venues listed on promotional ads are Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, Midtown Tavern and Kounter.

As reported by Qnotes on December 15, 2023, an anonymously dropped envelope was received at White Rabbit Books. Inside of it was a collection of materials, ranging from exchanges via email containing financial activities highlighted across excel spreadsheets and legal documents pertaining to Windmeyer’s financial activities at Campus Pride.

The result that followed was a series of investigative stories that became a subject of intense debate in the Charlotte LGBTQ+ community, and a question of Windmeyer’s reputation after admitting to misappropriating funds in excess of $100,000 from the nonprofit.

Since the stories originally appeared, Windmeyer’s Buff Faye has made only a few stage appearances, including one during Rock Hill Pride earlier this year, but a scheduled performance at The Fillmore’s Icons of Pride event was postponed with no replacement announcements made as of this writing.

With the inclusion of so many notable figures in Charlotte’s drag community, the question arises: does a year after the admitted misuse of such a large amount of funds, paired with only the admittance of guilt without even an apology tacked on, give Windmeyer entree back to Charlotte and the southeast drag performance community?

Additionally, who pays the price for re-admittance? Since the initial incident, Campus Pride has seemingly ceased operating as an organization, with no replacement being instated as CEO after Windmeyer’s ousting. Before all of this, the institution was nationally recognized, supporting LGBTQ+ youth by providing guidance to students seeking welcoming and vetted environments at campuses across the country.

Given Windmeyer’s impact on such important work dedicated to potential future LGBTQ+ leaders, have venues and other drag performers that previously rallied against Faye/Windmeyer’s actions chosen to turn a blind eye?