Last Friday night I participated in my college's second annual Drag Show, which was put on by our Pride Club (LGBTQ).
Papi Chulo, ready for action
It was, hands down, one of the most fun events I've participated in since starting to work at MCC seven years ago. The only events that come close--and I'm going to say that it's an even three-way tie--are the Alternative Spring Break trips I took in 2009 and 2010.
The students organizing the drag show were out to raise awareness and celebrate the LGBTQ community. And they absolutely succeeded.
They started planning the event in the Fall and it was beautifully organized, with seven "kings" (five female students, me, and the student life coordinator), four amateur/student "queens" (the gutsiest four kids I've met in a while) and two professional drag queens. The MCC dance team also performed, and a half dozen Pride members spoke about serious issues among the LGBT community. The house was packed almost to the brim (our conference center seats 350, and it was nearly there), and they raised almost $2,000 for scholarships and various community support groups.
But, of course, being well organized and early to promote an event also means that crazy people in the community hear about the event early and decide to "protest." The College got almost forty calls and e-mails from people speaking out against the event. Some people were diplomatic, and some people were outright hostile. But none of them actually came out to the event itself, which didn't surprise me one bit. It takes a lot more effort to come to the school and march with a sign (flying your bigotry for all to see) than it does to pick up the phone and anonymously spout homophobic rhetoric. So nuts to them! The show went on and it was fan-flipping-tastic!
Here are some of the backstage photos I took:
Four of my fellow kings--amazing ladies, all of them
Makeup backstage
Backstage gang with Cee-Cee LaRouge, one of our amazing professionals
Nautica Nero, our other professional, ready to wow the crowd
Hugs!
Paola and Nautica
Ivana Deek, practicing her moves
Jack Zero (Brianna), Papi Chulo (me), and Slovick (Shauna)
Don Alejandro romances Paola
Now THAT is a wig.
Caroline (our Drag Mama!) and Jon
Mr. Drag 2013, Jasmine!
The Northwest Herald (the local paper) also had a photographer there to capture more of the behind-the-scenes action, and you can check out the online photo album here.
And the amazing Trevor, best husband in the world, came out to the show and took some videos of our performances. We're still hoping for a full length video (apparently someone was recording the whole show, but it will probably take a while to be ready), so when that's done I'll be sure to share it. In the meantime, here are two snippets.
This first one is Don Alejandro Guerrero Montoya de Venegas (a.k.a. Kaitlyn) with his back-up trumpet player, Papi Chulo.
And this one is me as Papi Chulo with my back-up Kingettes, the best back-up dancers in the world.
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