On May 13, the DU Queer Student Alliance held their third annual Drag Party in the Tuscan Ballroom in the Korbel School of Hospitality Management. The event began at 7 p.m. with food, beverages and mingling. Students were invited to come in drag, or any sort of costume or appearance that deviated from their normal look.
As soon as 7:30 rolled around, professional drag performer Lacey Fauxx Vanderpump burst onto the stage and began to dance in a manner most fierce and fabulous, opening the show with a bang. A cappella group DU First Edition continued with a lovely performance. Exit 205, another DU a cappella group, followed suit later on.
Candy Warhol, the party’s second professional drag performer, dazzled with her dance numbers during the show, and DJ-BrookStar Party Pants kept the crowd lively throughout the night.
In a highlight of the event, DU student Dillion Lynch, or “Delicious,” put on her first drag performance, not only dancing but also singing to “Like a Virgin” by Madonna. The night was filled with glitter, dancing, music and fun for all who attended.
The event was about much more than just the performances, though. On a deeper level, the drag party was an exploration of gender performance and raising awareness of a community that most DU students may not be aware of, said Becka Black, a sophomore psychology major from Aurora and current secretary of QSA.
“We invited people to come in drag or come however they wanted. It’s not a binary—a man dressing as a woman isn’t necessarily queer, and there isn’t just ‘straight’ and ‘queer.’ Just as gender is fluid, appearance is also fluid. We wanted to create a space where people could be who they want to be and dress how they want,” she said.
Black also discussed the importance of starting a conversation about issues of gender and sexuality.
“Even if conversations start out like, ‘What? Is that a man dressed as a woman?’ that’s still a conversation. Even if you go into a situation a bit alarmed and uncomfortable, you are still allowing yourself exposure to something different. That’s how you are able and begin to open your mind,” she said. “It’s important to talk about things even if you aren’t sure how to approach them.”
As a group, QSA is transitioning to an activist and awareness-focused group and wants to become more visible and spread out amongst the DU community in a network of both queer students and allies.
“Everyone is welcome in QSA,” said Community Outreach coordinator Marina Laguna, a sophomore psychology major from Minneapolis. “People may fear labels associated with taking part of the club, but it truly is a place for everyone and anyone in the DU community. We want to stress that QSA is a safe place.”
Laguna also asserted the group’s motivation to reach out to those who may not have the same mindset or don’t know much about the issues of gender and sexuality that they address.
“We are trying to branch out and help everyone create a safe place, so that it’s not just one hour a week where students can come together and feel safe,” said Laguna.
Students are encouraged to reach out to QSA via email at denverqsa@gmail.com or their Facebook page if they have questions, comments, concerns or just want to say “hello.”
