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GLBTSA's spring drag show draws almost 400

Patrick Clay (left) and Tim Armstrong perform as “Kiki” and “Dick Jagger” Thursday.  DTH/Heather Kagan
Patrick Clay (left) and Tim Armstrong perform as “Kiki” and “Dick Jagger” Thursday. DTH/Heather Kagan

He spent days practicing in heels, hours in dress rehearsal and 45 minutes applying makeup, but when junior Noel Bynum stepped out on stage Thursday night, the audience’s reaction made all of it worthwhile.

Bynum, as “Sasha Apprecianté,” danced down the runway to a “Single Ladies Medley” as part of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender-Straight Alliance’s spring drag show, “Dance in the Dark.”

The Lady Gaga-themed performances drew an audience of almost 400 to the Great Hall and featured original student performances from drag queens and kings, as well as performances from headliner and drag queen Vivian Vaughn.

GLBTSA co-president Alex Kilkka said the Lady Gaga theme was inspired by the singer’s work in the gay rights community.

“Lady Gaga has been a really big role model,” he said. “She’s very vocal about gay rights, and we wanted to do something to kind of recognize that.”

Before the performances began, sophomore Lexi Cribbs discussed why she decided to become an amateur drag king.

“It’s largely about queering performances,” Cribbs said.

“You don’t have to conform to one strict standard of drag queen or king, because it’s all about queerness and not sexuality.”

Cribbs dressed as a drag king and performed alongside two others.

“Every time you do drag, you can’t avoid that you’re making a gender statement,” senior Reva Grace Phillips said.

“You’re either saying, ‘I want to be a man and feel the transgression of gender,’ or ‘I want to be subversive and campy about what I consider to be stereotypical male attitudes.’”

Though some of the performances were more comedic and lighthearted, the drag show was ultimately about embracing androgyny and having the courage to be comfortable and true to yourself, both Phillips and Cribbs said.

Sophomore Demi Marshall said she continues to come to the performances for the show and the overt gender statements.

“I love the spectacle,” Marshall said. “But I believe strongly and idealistically that people should feel beautiful no matter what their gender identity.”

But the night offered the audience more than sequins, spectacle and entertainment. Part of the night’s proceeds were used to purchase toy soldiers as a part of “Stand with Honor,” a nationwide campaign to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

GLBTSA has partnered with other gay rights organizations at N.C. State University and Duke University to purchase 3,000 toy soldiers to send to senators.

“We want to go to D.C., have a press conference and deliver them,” Kilkka said.

“People want to serve in the military and also be true to themselves, and it’s very hard to do that in those situations.”

Freshman Antonio Jackson said that he had large expectations for his first drag show and that he wasn’t disappointed.

“I think it’s sort of an art from,” he said.

“You have to be extremely comfortable with yourself to be able to dress in drag.”

GLBTSA aims to advocate and educate students on issues that affect the LGBTQ community. They work to create dialogues and strengthen relationships between the homosexual community and their allies.



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.

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