Ms. Colombia, Queens' ubiquitous, joyful drag queen
If you’ve been to any parade or festival in Queens, you’ve probably seen a friendly street entertainer with a colorful, bushy beard and extravagant women’s clothing, his pet parrot and poodle in tow. We most recently spotted him twirling and posing at the St. Pat’s for All parade and the Flushing Lunar New Year parade….
If you’ve been to any parade or festival in Queens, you’ve probably seen a friendly street entertainer with a colorful, bushy beard and extravagant women’s clothing, his pet parrot and poodle in tow. We most recently spotted him twirling and posing at the St. Pat’s for All parade and the Flushing Lunar New Year parade. Wherever he goes, he doesn’t hold back on having fun and bringing smiles to people’s faces.
So who is this character? It’s Oswaldo Gomez, also known as “Ms. Colombia” or the “Queen of Queens.” Gomez lives in Elmhurst and travels all over the city on a daily basis to be a part of the action (and a center of attention) at various parades, street festivals, beaches, and parks.
Pavement Pieces has the story behind this local street celebrity’s ways. Now in his late 60s, Gomez learned about 25 years ago that he had AIDS, and the devastating diagnosis changed his outlook on life. “He decided he should enjoy what little time he had left. So he put on a costume.” And he has been the life of the party every since.
Gomez has been in every single parade in NYC, even when his participation is not welcome (like in the Manhattan St. Patrick’s Day parade, when police kicked him out several times but he just rejoined the procession anyway). He was once a lawyer in Colombia and was studying for a Ph.D. when he was diagnosed with AIDS; but now his full-time job is to get strangers to smile. Despite his serious illness and the dozens of medications he takes to control it, he has said, “I do in one day what most people do in a week.”
He’s not dead! Just hospitalized for a nervous breakdown but is feeling and doing better.
Yes, he’s definitely still alive! Saw him at the 74th Street/Roosevelt Avenue stop 2 months ago and then again in the Flatiron district just minutes ago.
I was a friend of ms. Colombia. I heard today that he had passed away. He came to Macy’s almost every week and I had the insight of video taping him and adding him to my videos. Youtube.com Living in a train/Angela Peralta, It’s all about Love, and Todo Parece Abstracto. This morning on my way to work I was thinking to call him since I had not seen him in a few weeks. Before I called him a co worker told me that she had heard through Instagram that Ms Colombia had passed away . May this amazing soul who all he wanted to do was entertain and make people laugh Res in Peace Forever. He will be missed in all the festivals, parks and Macy’s.
I also had the privilege to meet him in NYC. If you find out that his pets need rehoming I am willing to adopt Rosita as I already own parrots. And I can assist with finding a good home for carino.
I couldn’t help but notice Ms. Columbia’s abscence from this year’s Queens Pride Parade. I’m so sad to hear that he passed away. He never failed to put a smile on my face.