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History of the Bag Ladies

Approximately thirty years ago around Halloween, 70 or so men dressed in drag, boarded three buses, and began a journey to help in the fight against AIDS calling themselves “The Bag Ladies.” The Bus Tour originated as a substitute for an annual Halloween party. Hoosiers who had moved away from Indianapolis were accustomed to reuniting at this annual party. However, the organizer of the party eventually grew tired of hosting such a large event. So, the friends who were used to getting together decided to start the Bus Tour as a substitute event so that they could still party together each year. Some of the original Bus Tour members were among the earliest AIDS deaths in the State of Indiana. From that humble beginning, the Bus Tour has morphed into the fund raising event it has since become!

The Bag Ladies got their name from an article out of a New York City newspaper. Coby Palmer, one of the original Bag Ladies, read in the article that the New York “bag ladies” were fun and campy and had lots of chutzpah, similar to what the Indianapolis Bag Ladies are like today! The Bag Ladies are men willing to dress in high heels and wear outrageous costumes who, each year around Halloween, travel from bar to bar soliciting money until the early hours of the morning on what is called “The Bag Lady Bus Tour.” Originally, at the end of the night the Bag Lady who raised the most money was crowned Bag Lady Queen for a year. While raising money is still a major factor in crowning the Queen, the organization now hosts a Bag Lady Queen Pageant prior to the annual Bus Tour.

The Bag Ladies could quite possibly be the nation’s first HIV/AIDS fundraising organization. Since the initial bus tour in 1981, more and more men have become part of this on-going and growing tradition. One of the first organizations that benefited from donations by the Bag Ladies was the Buddy House which provided housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS who were having financial difficulties. Even though the Buddy House is no longer around, the Bag Ladies are stronger than ever and the money they raise supports several local organizations. The Damien Center, the Gregory Powers Direct Emergency Financial Assistance (DEFA) Fund, Indiana Youth Group (IYG), Step Up, and the Indiana AIDS Fund all benefit from money raised by the Bag Ladies. In addition to the annual Bus Tour, several of the “Ladies” and the present and some former “Queens” raise money through performances put on throughout the year. In the early years, several of the Bag Lady Queens did other fund raising events such as photo signings, cook book sales, cut-a-thon, and helped organize the Garage Party.

The Bag Ladies have been part of several organizations throughout the years: Indiana Cares, AIDS Serve and Indiana Still Cares. In 2005 when Indiana Still Cares disbanded, the Bag Ladies joined with Indy Pride, Inc. where they march on in their high heels and outrageous hair and continue raising money to this day! During 2008-2009, the Pride Bag Ladies raised and donated over $25,000! The 2010 Bus Tour will mark thirty years of raising funds for the Indianapolis community!