USU hosts first university-funded drag show in state of Utah

The Utah State University Housing Resident Assistants hosted the first-ever USU Drag Show Wednesday in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom to raise support and awareness for the LGBTQ+ community in Logan, especially on the USU campus.

“We decided to put on this drag show to include minorities and give them a voice in a safe space on campus, but there ended up being so many other benefits,” said Nathan Taylor, the USU Housing resident assistant who organized and planned the show. “Our research has shown us that drag shows can give participants 60-70 percent more confidence. If we can help them achieve that, we will have done our job.”

The ballroom was outfitted with 500 seats, but students, faculty and other community members filled all of the seats within 10 minutes of the doors opening and an additional 150 people stood in the back to watch the performance.

“After tonight, we have seen this is what Logan wants, needs and supports,” said Hannah McDonald, who organized the event.

Jared Gheen is a volunteer for Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information, the Access and Diversity Center and the Queer Student Association, and is active in the LGBTQ+ community. He attended the show to support his fraternity brother, friends and boss, performer Macy Keith.

“I am so excited this event is happening, I think it helps make USU campus a more inviting place for people from all walks of life,” Gheen said. “I want our community to notice the queer community since it has been in the dark for so long.”

The show was sponsored by USU’s Center for Women and Gender, The Access and Diversity Center, CAPS, SAAVI and the Cache and Logan Pride Centers.

There was a large range of experience of the queens and kings at the show. Some kings and queens were professionals and have made several drag show appearances. One such performer was Emerald Phantom, who has made appearances all across the country. Other performers were USU students performing in drag for the first time.

“I have been performing drag for about three years, but a chill still goes down my spine each time I step out onto the stage,” said Betty O’, a queen who performed at the show.

A drag show consists of drag artists of several different gender identities performing a wide range of entertaining acts. These acts most often feature drag queens and kings lip-synching to songs while dancing or pantomiming.

The queens and kings who perform at drag shows often wear elaborate costumes and makeup, sometimes imitating famous personalities. There are several types of drag kings and queens, including camp, faux and glam. Each brings a different look to the stage. Costumes often reject modern ideals of beauty, gender and heterosexism.

Nancy Raygun, who has been participating in drag since June 2018, performed a Christmas medley singing act dressed in camp drag, a comedy style of drag. Raygun is a sophomore studying theater education at USU.

“As a student, doing drag can be very taxing on my bank account. I do my best and utilize the D.I. My costume tonight is a bunch of old Christmas sweaters sewn together,” Raygun said.

Performer Kellin performed a non-traditional act, playing an original song acoustically. Their performance prompted several audience members to pull out flashlights and sway along with the music.

Cache Valley has historically been a conservative area with very little outreach and support of the LGBTQ+ community, according to the Cache Pride Center. However, several organizations and support groups have been created within the past decade to provide resources to Cache community members in the LGBTQ+ community.

“I often feel scared when I am in drag and not in the performance hall. I often feel uncomfortable standing in front of the bathrooms, not knowing which one it is okay for me to use,” said performing queen Anya Bacon, a Logan native. “But with help from people like this audience tonight, you have helped make Cache Valley a better, safer place.”

Tyler O’Loughlin, an RA for USU Housing, helped organize and run the tech booth at the show.

“This is really out of my comfort zone, I have never been at an event like this. It has shown me that everyone is so much more similar than we actually think. On the flip side, we should celebrate our differences to promote equality on campus,” O’Loughlin said.

O’Loughlin said this drag show is the first that was planned and funded by a university in the state of Utah.

Susan Grayzel, a history professor at USU specializing in women’s and gender studies, opened the show with a speech to encourage the audience to think critically and give context to the drag movement.

“We live in a culture with clear gender binaries, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” Grazel said.

Grayzel pointed out that gender symbols have changed over time. Before World War I, pink was a symbol for masculinity. However, pink today is commonly known as a symbol for femininity. She hypothesized this change is due to performativity of gender.

“We perform gender, we learn how to do this. Other people tell us how to perform, and we do it,” she said.

However, performativity and gender identity may not be the same for everyone. Many queens and kings of the night noted the difference during a panel discussion.

“Drag is a performance of gender. Being transgender is a gender identity, it is who you are,” said Marlone, a king who performed at the show. “If you want to know how we identify, or what pronouns we use, just ask us. We are more than happy to help you understand.”

Audience participation was encouraged, and throughout the show, students ran to the stage to tip performers, traditional for a drag show.

“I don’t do it for the money, but it certainly helps me look this fabulous,” said performing queen Madame LaCrude.

Drag shows have been cited as the beginning of several queer movements, according to Lisa Underwood, author of “The Drag Queen Anthology.” Several performers used their act to make a political statement.

Bacon held up posters depicting President Trump and Kim Jong Un, which received cheers and shrieks from the audience.

“I’m here to make a statement, the statement that we will not be erased, no matter who tries to erase us,” Bacon said.

Marlone waved a large LGBTQ+ flag at the end of his performance that garnered a loud cheer from the audience.

Audience member Brandon Barton attended the event to show his support for the new endeavor of equality on campus.

“I absolutely love drag, it is so cool to see how these (kings and queens) express themselves,” Barton said. “These performers put so much of themselves out on the stage, it is so inspiring. I love that they have the confidence to perform, despite those who may try to tell them they can’t.”

Bacon encourages all members of the Logan community to join the drag community and get involved over social media, especially Facebook.

“Even if you do not identify with the LGBTQ+ community, we would love to have you be involved. We have plenty of members who identify as female and perform as queens on stage. All are welcome,” Bacon said.

—brianne.sorensen@aggiemail.usu.edu

@SorensenBrianne