We can’t ignore a milestone birthday for one of the biggest drag queens of all.  Dame Joan Collins just celebrated her 90th birthday (I keep track of these things because she’s the same age as Big Daddy Masters).  Joanie posed for a number of snaps outside her home and looked fresh as – well, as a slightly wilted daisy.  But a daisy, nonetheless.

It would be impossible to not mention the passing of a Queen who wore her share of drag.  Tina Turner passed away at the age of 83.  She retired from performing in 2000, saying that she felt she’d done everything she wanted to do and now wanted to enjoy her life.  Shortly thereafter, she suffered numerous medical ailments – a stroke, intestinal cancer, kidney failure, and PTSD from her time with Ike.  Two years ago, she reflected on the past and said, “It wasn’t a good life.  The good did not balance the bad.  I had an abusive life, there’s no other way to tell the story.  It’s a reality.  It’s a truth.  That’s what you’ve got, so you have to accept it.”  Rest in peace.

Many of Freddie Mercury’s belongings are hitting the auction block, courtesy of Mary Austin – who was engaged to Freddie prior to his coming out.  He left Mary his homes in West London and Kensington, and most of his possessions.  She’s now ready to part with the 1500 items – save a few personal keepsakes.  “The time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life,” said the 72-year-old Austin.  An unspecified “portion” of the proceeds will be donated to the Freddie Mercury Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.  Sothebys will have preview exhibitions of Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own in NYC, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and London, prior to the sale in September.