KELOWNA, B.C. — The mayor of a city in B.C.'s picturesque Okanagan Valley has turned an insult into his own proud, tongue-in-cheek persona.
Colin Basran, now known as Kelowna's "Sugarplum Mayor," is working with the city's Young Professionals Collective to host a Sugarplum Ball on July 9 to show support for the region's LGBTQ community.
The event comes one year after the city installed a rainbow crosswalk at a downtown intersection in an effort to promote inclusion.
But while the crosswalk had unanimous support from city council, it gained unexpected backlash from a few residents.
In an online forum, one community member referred to "Mayor Sugarplum" in an effort to insult Basran for supporting the installation of the crosswalk. The comment had the opposite effect.
"I actually found it kind of funny and I kind of liked it," Basran said.
Recognizing the opportunity to increase support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, Basran said the Okanagan Pride Society approached him with the idea of hosting a Sugarplum Ball.
![](https://media.darpanmagazine.com/library/uploads/news/content/lgbt3@#</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
the event will include two dance floors, locally produced beer and wine, and a lounge with a wig bar and photo booth for attendees to dress up and capture the night.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"this ball is about being whoever you want to be and that's something we want to be promoting in our city," basran said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
and for basran, that means becoming the sugarplum mayor. as a participant of a drag makeover at the ball, he will be wearing makeup to reflect his character, which he likened to david bowie's 1970s ziggy stardust persona.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
although basran said he will be swapping his usual mayor's attire for a more colourful look to embrace the fun event, he won't be in full drag.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"anyone wanting to see me in a dress and heels is going to be disappointed," he said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
a number of other local figures will be getting makeovers as well and organizers promise that at least one person will be in full dress-and-heels drag.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
.jpg)
![](https://media.darpanmagazine.com/library/uploads/news/content/lgbt2@#</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
the ball, however, is not solely for the lbgtq community and attendees are welcome to wear what they want — from jeans and t-shirts to costumes.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
like the crosswalk, basran said the ball is intended to make people feel welcome and build connections, which is why he partnered with the young professionals collective to host it.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
organizer drew vincent said there is an effort to attract and retain young professionals in the region, and giving them fun, inclusive events to attend is part of that effort.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
supporting the okanagan pride society, including donating proceeds from the ball, is one way to build and foster connections, he said.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
"in order to achieve equality we need to be fighting for those who are marginalized or oppressed... and when there are a lot of people who get together and, form meaningful connections, we are a lot stronger as a whole."</div>.jpg)
MORE National ARTICLES
Surrey RCMP Out To Catch Distracted Drivers
Surrey RCMP’s Traffic Services, ICBC, and the Surrey Crime Prevention Society are participating in a distracted driving enforcement and education campaign.
Surrey RCMP Out To Catch Distracted Drivers
'Why Didn't I Stop Him?' TV Doc On Calgary Mother's Radicalization Battle Airs Thursday
A Calgary mother who finds out from a reporter that her son had been killed fighting with an extremist group in Syria is both the subject and voice of a new TV documentary slated to air this week.
'Why Didn't I Stop Him?' TV Doc On Calgary Mother's Radicalization Battle Airs Thursday
Boy Airlifted To Calgary Hospital After Falling From Chairlift At Lake Louise
EMS says they were called to the scene at around 2:30 Monday afternoon.
Boy Airlifted To Calgary Hospital After Falling From Chairlift At Lake Louise
No Charges Against Toronto Dad Whose Baby Was Subject Of Amber Alert: Police
Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook says the man was standing "a few feet away" from the vehicle when the suspect jumped in and drove off Sunday afternoon.
No Charges Against Toronto Dad Whose Baby Was Subject Of Amber Alert: Police
Experienced Snowmobiler From Seattle Dies After Falling Into Pemberton Glacier Crevasse
The 53-year-old man was part of a group of 10 people, all from Seattle, who were riding Saturday on the Pemberton Icefield's Appas Glacier, about 150 kilometres north of Vancouver.
Experienced Snowmobiler From Seattle Dies After Falling Into Pemberton Glacier Crevasse
B.C. Photographer Found Safe And Sound After Spending The Night Outdoors
RCMP and search-and-rescue crews launched a rescue operation after learning a wildlife enthusiast had failed to return from a day-long photo excursion around the community of Golden, B.C.