In 1968 Walter Cole met a dance choreographer named Roxy Neuhardt. Neither one knew it at the time, but the resulting vision of the bar owner and the choreographer would be a 50-plus year personal relationship, and the birth of one of the most Trans supportive personalities in the United States, Darcelle.

Darcelle, also known as Darcelle XV or Rose Empress XV the Divine Darcelle, was created initially as an attempt to draw customers into a "Vegas-style revue" at Demas' Tavern. At that time in Portland, Oregon it was not legal for a woman to dress as a man, or a man to dress as a woman, except for theatrical performances. The answer- give them a performance that is theatrical, and from the heart.

In "Queen of Hearts" a 2008 video documentary about Darcelle, the producers tell a story about a woman who called Darcelle in the 1980s to report that she had just found women's clothing in her husband's car. After confronting her husband about his supposed mistress the husband admitted it was his clothing. The wife called Darcelle to ask why a man would do "this" and shared that she planned to divorce her husband. After listening Darcelle assured the wife that if she would just give him a chance, she would find the most loving and caring man in the world was the man she had already married. Ten years later the woman called back to say that they had stayed married, had two wonderful children, and announced that her husband was the best husband in the world. This is the world that Darcelle creates for members of the Trans-community- one of acceptance, love and strength. As one local transgendered leader says, "Darcelle is a role model who teaches us in all she does that being who you are is the most powerful thing that you can ever do. She is a performer, but more than that she is a mentor, a role model and a counselor." All of that praise for a man who says "I have never even owned a bra, but I know how to push them up!"

On the practical side, Darcelle has supported the transgendered community by giving them a place to meet and party, by helping to finance the newsletter and events and connecting the people who went on to found the Northwest Gender Alliance in 1980. Darcelle was honored by the Northwest Gender Alliance in 2007 with their highest award, the Ellen Summers Award for Lifetime Achievement. She and her partner have been recognized with numerous award, from Grand Marshall of the Portland Pride Parade to keys to the City of Linnton (her drag fundraiser in this small struggling ex-mill town saved their community center) and was honored by Mayor Vera Katz of Portland with a special "Spirit of Portland" award for nearly 40 years of service to the City of Roses. A teary-eyed Darcelle took the microphone in her acceptance speech and said "I can't imagine another place in the country where a Mayor would present such a prestigious award to a drag queen. I am honored to accept this award on behalf of myself and the entire gay community". After this heartfelt sentiment, Darcelle easily slipped into a comical monologue that saw the entire City Council Chambers filled with riotous laughter.

Darcelle's continues today as the longest continuously running drag show in the United States, and a safe haven for anyone who wants to learn a little more about themselves, and smile at the world we live in.

Darcelle has graced the cover of countless publications, been a regular on several local radio shows, been featured in local theatrical productions, acted as spokesmodel for dozens of businesses and is one of the "Famous Seats in Oregon" at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.

An ordained Minister, Darcelle has even administered several weddings!! It seems there is nothing she can't do!! At the age of 76, still performing 6 shows a week, with special engagements in between, Darcelle shows no signs of slowing down.
Since the cabaret's earliest days as Demas' Tavern, charity has been a big part of the picture. In those days, charity fundraisers were held for the Boys and Girls Club, Shriner's Hospital for Children, the Oregon Humane Society and the Oregon Symphony.

During the 80s and 90s, the focus turned to the AIDS pandemic and charities such as the Cascade AIDS Project, Esther's Pantry, Friends of People with AIDS Foundation, The HIV Day Center and Our House benefited from Darcelle's talents and generosity. Today one of Darcelle's favorite charities is Camp Starlight which provides a week-long camping experience for children who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

As an advocate for higher education, Darcelle continues to hosts numerous dinners, auctions and cabaret shows raising thousands of dollars annually to support post-secondary education through The Pride of the Rose Scholarship Fund, the Bill & Ann Shepherd Scholarship Fund, the Audria M. Edwards Scholarship Fund and the American Business Women's Association Scholarship Fund. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Bradley Angle House,

Outside/In and the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) have also found their spotlight at the Darcelle XV Showplace.

Over the years, Darcelle has hosted countless political fundraisers for notables such as Barbara Roberts, Gretchen Kafoury, Vera Katz, and Bud Clark not to mention the dozens of ballot measure initiatives she has championed to gain and protect our civil liberties.

30 years ago, Darcelle XV began hosting a Christmas Eve feast complete with all the trimmings for the Foster Hotel above the cabaret. Today all are welcome and the local homeless come out to celebrate the seasons with a hot meal and warm hugs from Darcelle and her merry band of volunteers.

All in the name of charity Darcelle has donated her cabaret, time and talents to the young and the old, the rich and the poor. She has entertained on stages, bars and table-tops, in hotels, hospices, parks, homes, barns and on the street. She has competed in walk-a-thons, dance-a-thons, bowl-a-thons and tricycle races. She has Jell-O-wrestled, taken pies in the face and been dunked in tanks of water all for charity sake. No legitimate request for a charity gift certificate has ever been turned down and the Darcelle XV Showplace is available for charity fundraisers for the price of a sound & light technician. Stop by and visit the biggest heart in the heart of Old Town, Darcelle XV, 208 NW Third Street, Portland, Oregon.