Pickle was honored by the West Hollywood City Council at the June 15 meeting. (photo by Jon Viscott)

After three years, the first drag laureate of West Hollywood is passing her crown to the next titleholder. Pickle will be replaced by Odious Ari, the first drag king in the city’s history. At the June 15 City Council meeting, West Hollywood honored Pickle’s contributions, being not only the city’s drag representative, but largely defining the title during her tenure.

“Pickle was selected as the drag laureate to serve a two-year term, but we couldn’t let Pickle go, so we extended it to three,” Mayor John Heilman said. “Pickle has been representing the city, and as a singer, entertainer, a storyteller, representing the city at major cultural events, such as WeHo Pride, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, National Night Out and really strengthening the visibility of drag within public life and municipal events.”

Heilman noted educational events on drag history that Pickle had initiated, including free sewing workshops, drag story hours and her participation in Harvey Milk Day festivities.

“It’s really amazing that we get to have this in our community, and I know you’ve been somebody who’s brought drag and its leadership in so many different corners of this county,” Councilwoman Chelsea Byers added. “We’re so proud of the way that you’ve been a vehicle for West Hollywood’s values all across this county, shining that light everywhere. And I think it’s so incredible that, not just through the sewing workshops and the sort of drag workshops, but the leadership development pipeline that you’ve really created for drag queens and kings to see themselves as bigger than performers and stars and bars … but [as] leaders in our community and advocates for change and visionaries, and how they see the world and are able to help us all build it.”

Councilwoman Lauren Meister was among the council members who brought forward the initiative for West Hollywood to have a drag laureate.

“I don’t think any of us ever could have expected when you took the mic that first time and you sang and I was like, ‘Wait, she’s singing, she’s really singing.’ You just blew us all away,” Meister said. “And I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this initiative one that I can be so proud of, and I will be proud of it for the rest of my days.”

Pickle seemed overcome with emotion at the honor. She brought up how the most frequent question she receives from people is, “What is it you do? What is a drag laureate?

“I just never came up with a good enough answer,” she chuckled. “I get to work with children, and sometimes I feel very silly, because it’s like, ‘Well, what is this? I’m the only one, really.’ But I always tell my friends and people … “In 60 years, I’ll be so proud to have been this person.”

Pickle added that it was “the greatest honor” of her life to have left “a tiny little mark on a tiny little town.”

“I think things like this are really valuable and important, and it’s been a pleasure an honor,” she concluded.

Odious Ari will assume the drag laureate role from Pickle on July 1.