Today we’d like to introduce you to Patti O’Furniture.
Hi Patti, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Patti O’Furniture was born out of a dare from the students of college professor Pat Patterson in the fall of 1999 and has followed a very non-traditional path into female impersonation ever since. Called the “yard sale with legs” because most of her initial costumes were gifts from other entertainers and fans, her mix of professionalism and quick wit have earned her a spot as one of the most sought-after emcees in the region.
She first hit the stage on October 11, 1999 and has been entertaining audiences across the country ever since. From Los Angles to Boston and New York to New Orleans, she has worked at some of the most legendary clubs and with too many RuPaul’s Drag Race queens to count – but she’s a Southern girl at heart and will always be proud to call the Carolinas home.
A fixture on the Charleston drag scene from her annual hosting of Charleston Pride or Big Gay Bingo for Palmetto Community Care, for the past eight years she has hosted a monthly drag brunch show at Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company as well as and drag bingo at Pounce Cat Cafe. Patti can also be seen hosting the longest running drag show in Columbia, SC at PT’s 1109 on Assembly Street every Tuesday at 9pm.
In 2024, the readers of the Charleston City Paper chose Patti as the original “Best Drag Queen” in Charleston – and the voters chose her again in 2025 and 2026!
In 2021, Patti was featured on the season 2 premiere of the HBO series “We’re Here” set in her hometown of Spartanburg, SC.
In 2006 she was chosen as Miss South Carolina Pride but doesn’t need a title to support PRIDE where ever she goes. For the past several years, she has served as host and emcee for the Charlotte Pride, Salisbury Pride and Upstate SC Pride Festivals. For seven years, she hosted the SC Pride Parade live on WXRY 99.3 FM in Columbia.
In 2010, Patti was crowned Miss Red Ribbon Friends in Myrtle Beach and spent her reign raising money for HIV/AIDS services along the SC coast.
In 2012, she was presented with the crown and title of Vista Queen Emeritus for her fundraising for Trustus Theatre in Columbia where she help raise over $75,000.
One thing has remained consistent since that very first show: every dollar that Patti collects on stage gets donated back to the community. All of her tips are donated to causes including HIV/AIDS prevention and education, animal welfare, LGBT civil rights, the environment and a host of local arts organizations. To date, she has raised over $1.85 million… one dirty dollar bill at a time!
Learn more about her by visiting her website: allaboutpatti.com and following her on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, SnapChat, YouTube (or make an online donation via Venmo, CashApp or PayPal) at @allaboutpatti
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a drag queen has been mostly positive for me – but I realize that I am very lucky. Many drag performers face discrimination, violence, alienation and other problems. In recent years, laws regulating drag have become a big issue with lawmakers seek to ban drag performances. This not only impacts our source of income but our ability to use our art form to bring people together and entertain them. I try to make my shows appropriate for all ages – and I love seeing grandparents enjoying a show as much as I like to see a young person dancing along to the song I am performing.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a drag queen for the past 27 years, I have loved using my performances to raise awareness of worthy causes & organizations. It is hard to ignore a towering, colorful drag queen with a microphone and I do not let that go to waste. While other drag queens dance & do complex splits and kicks, sing live, impersonate celebrities or cover themselves in feathers like a Vegas showgirl, I am more of a host/emcee and storyteller. My favorite part of my job is putting a smile on someone’s face because it means that I have made them forget about their troubles for a moment.
While I am very proud of all the money I have been able to raise for non-profit organizations ($1.85 million to date), my proudest moment was performing with my younger brother in front of our father and many friends in our hometown as part of an episode of the HBO Max series “We’re Here” in 2021.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I depend on all the social media apps (Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Snapchat, Bluesky) to help promote my shows, keep me connected with my fellow entertainers, the venues we work at and the charities I support.
Canva is a lifesaver when I need a graphic to promote an event.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allaboutpatti.com/
- Instagram: @allaboutpatti
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/allaboutpatti
- Twitter: @allaboutpatti
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@allaboutpatti
