Jade Esteban Estrada, creator and star of the solo musical comedy "ICONS:

The Lesbian and Gay History of the World, Vol. 1," will perform the show at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Rocket Theater, 224 19th St., Rock Island.

     The performance is being sponsored by Quad Citians Affirming Diversity (QCAD), a nonprofit organization that provides support, education and advocacy regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) issues. The program will kick off a campaign to heighten awareness of the programming QCAD provides to GLBT seniors, particularly through its Gay and Gray support group.

     Estrada, who has been compared to such disparate personalities as Billy Graham and Andy Warhol, formerly was the lead dancer for Charo and a scratch vocalist for the Backstreet Boys. Estrada's "ICONS" performance explores the movers and shakers of gay history with the uncanny voices of Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Sylvia Rivera and Ellen DeGeneres.

     Estrada has been a familiar face on Comedy Central's "The Graham Norton Effect" and the headlining host of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade on HBO Latino. He's known for his explosive Latin dance music, which can be heard on "The Shield," the FX network's Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning police drama.

     QCAD hopes the show and the publicity campaign will bring more GLBT seniors to Gay and Gray to connect with services and each other.

     "The vision of Gay and Gray is to create a community where all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors are valued and affirmed," said Joyce Wiley, QCAD vice chair. "Many GLBT seniors are isolated. We're hoping  'ICONS' will help to educate the Quad-Cities community and help us reach those who most need our services."

    

©2005 Rock Island Argus