This year the Lotus Awards celebrates fifteen years of showcasing the diversity of Melbourne’s Asian Gay Community. The famous local awards came from humble beginnings, starting as a weekly Wednesday ‘Asian and Proud’ night back in the nineties, initiated by owner of the former Star Hotel, Fritz Maaten. It’s now become one of the most anticipated events in Melbourne’s queer calendar.

The Lotus night and the Lotus awards have had a long association with its Abbotsford location, which is now the Opium Den, but used to be the Star Bar. The Star is where the group first started their social get-togethers and was the first venue to host the Lotus Awards. And it is a legacy that the Opium Den is proud to continue.

“We have been proud to host Lotus Wednesdays for the past three years, and the Lotus Awards for the past two years,” says Opium Den manager Chucky. “Even in just that short time we’ve watched the event grow. Stigmas and negative associations have been broken down, giving way to a new era of acceptance, diversity and pride.”

According to Chucky, one of the biggest changes that he has witnessed over the past years is that the competition seems to be attracting a younger audience and participants. It used to be slightly dominated by an older crowd.

Beginning Wednesday 5th November, and continuing Over three consecutive weeks every Wednesday and Saturday, the Opium Den explodes in a celebration of gay oriental talent and pride, in the form of three main competitions.

These award categories include Mr Lotus (sexiest buff Asian guy), Miss Lotus (Best Asian drag Performer), and the Mr Rice Queen Award (sexiest asian-attracted white gay man).

The Miss Lotus competition gave birth to such crowd pleasers and drag superstars as Aida, Miss Anita, and last year’s winner, Miss Cassandra. From first timers to industry staples, the competition will see ten Asian drag finalists out-diva each other to win the ultimate title of queen of the lady boys.

“I’m very passionate about performing and doing something creative,” says 2007 Miss Lotus Winner, Cassandra [second picture]. “I love the costumes, the music, the show… all the elements of the show. Miss Lotus gives me the opportunity to show off my ideas and what I like to do. I am so proud to be the first person from Thailand to be crowned Miss Lotus.”

On the surface it may look like it’s all just about having a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun. But there is something much more powerful going on. In a world seemingly dominated by white, blonde and anglo, these awards provide a rare moment of positive celebration of Asian identity, bolstering a sense of self pride, and showcasing talent within the Asian gay community. Far removed from the usual political humdrum of many queer organisations, the Lotus awards address issues of racism and queer Asian visibility in the most effective way possible – through fun and entertainment.

“I entered last year for the fun of it and to grow as a person. I was shy and I wanted to get confidence in front of audiences,” says last year’s Mr Lotus Winner Duy Huynh [top picture – centre].

“To me, Mr Lotus is an important title in our [GLBTI] community because it represents the masculinity of the Asian man. When I first came on the scene… it felt like Asian men were almost invisible and de-masculinised. This is changing and titles like Mr Lotus have really encouraged this,” says Huynh.

The third in the trio of competitions at the Lotus Awards includes the Mr. Rice Queen award. ‘Rice queen’ for those unaccustomed to the term is slang for Anglo guys who are attracted to Asian man. Incidentally ‘sticky rice’ refers to Asian guys who favour fellow Asian men. And then there’s ‘potato queen’ which refers to Oriental men with a particular attraction to Anglo men. Who would have guessed that food could so easily articulate the intricacies of sexuality?

Rice queens are definitely given a hard time and frowned upon largely in the gay community, according to a former contestant and self confessed rice queen Jason.

“Not only are Asian men often given a bit of a raw deal in the community at large, but so are the men that love them. And there’s nothing subtle about it. People make faces or say stupid things like ‘can’t you score a white guy or something?’” says Jason.

“I’m attracted to all kinds of men really, but I do have a particular attraction to Asian men. And I’m proud of that, and I’m proud of my Asian partner Geoffrey. I love him and I want to yell it from the rooftops.”

If you think you’d be a good candidate for any of the award catagories, then you better get a move on because registration for the competitions close on this Friday, October 31.

Whether you want to register as a contestant or just join the fun as a spectator, you’re gaurenteed a night rich in cultural flavour and fun.

The Lotus Awards are at the Opium Den every Wednesday and Saturday beginning 5th November, and culminating on 19th November.

Check out Alison Bennett’s photos from 2007’s Lotus Hat Competition and Ken Nakanishi’s shots from the 2007 Mr Lotus Competition.