The Latest

All hail the queens

By Tiara Yazzie and Alx Lee Indy Staff Writers

Author: Elder, Dorothy/Thursday, December 9, 2021/Categories: Home, Campus, Culture, Events

Rate this article:

No rating

Kassandra Carrasco, Assistant Director of El Centro and The G, felt like there was a lack of LGBTQ representation on campus, she said.

After attending Drag Trivia at the Starlight Lounge in downtown Durango,Carrasco took interest in the connection of Puerto Rican descendancy and drag queen identity of the host, Aria PettyOne. Carrasco noticed the intersectionalities of identities and wanted to bring that to campus.

Click through the photo essay below to learn more about the FLC drag scene.

Aria Pettyone gets ready for her performance.

Only moving to Durango five years ago, the drag scene was not in the limelight but definitely existed, Aria PettyOne, Alien Queen of Durango said. Four Corners Alliance for Diversity was hosting quarterly events like Winter Pride and Drag Durango, she said. “I didn't expect there to be that many people who are interested in drag here in a small town like Durango, so that was really exciting for me to see,” she said.

The table at the event.

Drag Bingo is a monthly event at FLC that includes Planned Parenthood offering free HIV testing for students as well as sexual health answers and information. Using a grant through the state of Colorado, Planned Parenthood can provide this service throughout the community, Brian Garcia, HIV Program Specialist at Planned Parenthood said. The goal is to provide public health resources in an easy-to-understand way, Bailey Carlson,HIV Program Specialist said. “Instead of sitting in a class or seminar, or something like that, we do things that are fun,” he said.

Vivica Validation performs at the event on campus.

Since childhood, drag was always a way of life and the pandemic brought time to focus and shape a drag persona, Vivica Validation, Durango Drag Queen, said. Out of drag, life is getting through college at Fort Lewis as a theatre major, she said. “I’m the only current collegiate diva,” she said.

Pettyone performs off campus.

Drag events are more in-town rather than on campus, Validation said. Events that feature drag queens at FLC opens a community for students that are unable to attend such events at bars downtown due to cover charges and being underage, Carrasco said.

FLC students cheer on Pettyone.

Validation said there’s a new confidence while performing drag as well as an attitude that you are in a position to achieve whatever you want.Drag may not be for everyone but it’s an art, and art is subjective, PettyOne said. Seeing the joy that drag brings to the audience is what makes the hard work worth it, she said.

Accessories are laid out before the performance.

Drag is a journey from the name and persona a queen takes on to the massive wardrobe, PettyOne said. “I have about 30 or 40 wigs in the house just chilling,” she said. Unlike bigger cities, Durango does not hold an expectation to spend excessive amounts of money on outfits, she said.

Validation on a banner in the theater hall on campus.

Musical Theatre Scenes, hosted by the Fort Lewis College Theater Department in 2020 was an opportunity to highlight inclusion and diversity within theatre, Validation said. The plan was to appear in drag, but it was a decision and moment that helped get a drag career in motion, she said. Photos were taken at the event and Vivica Validation can now be seen on the banner posted at the theater hall.

Pettyone performs.

The drag events offered thus far have been one of the most attended within the Diversity Collaborative, Carrasco said. El Centro’s goal is to feature more queens of color from around the four corners, Carrasco said. Right now, El Centro encourages other RSOs to reach out for a collaboration involving drag queens, Carrasco said. PettyOne sees the future of drag at campus involving drag courses that she herself could lead, she said. “More drag queens on campus! A drag queen for everyone!” Validation said.

Number of views (12263)/Comments (0)

Please login or register to post comments.

All News

Campus Heroes: How FLC make do with COVID-19 and budget cuts

By Jackson Zinsmeyer Indy Staff Writer

Friday, November 27, 2020

As Fort Lewis College students have had to adjust to campus life with COVID-19, the staff has had to adapt and overcome this virus as well.

As Fort Lewis College students have had to adjust to campus life with COVID-19, the staff has had to adapt and overcome this virus as well. Along with COVID-19 changing how the 2020 fall semester would work, budget cuts hit FLC and caused the administration to lay off staff members over the summer. Without the FLC staff constantly working for the students, this semester would not have...

By Morgan Reed Indy Staff Writer

Thursday, November 26, 2020

With many Americans hurting right now, the Durango community has made many efforts to be there for those who are in need of healthy, nutritional food.

According to Greg Rosalsky, a reporter for National Public Radio, the unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April — the most disastrous figure since the Great Depression. With unemployment comes poverty, and with poverty comes food insecurity. With many Americans hurting right now, the Durango community has made many efforts to be there for those who are in need of healthy,...

Native Students Feel Silenced: FLC’s regulation of student feed questioned aft er students posted in support of “white culture” on Indigenous People’s Day

By Dorothy Elder Indy Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

After a problematic series of posts advocating for “white culture” hit the Fort Lewis College app on Oct. 11, questions of inclusivity and proper representation of FLC’s diverse student population rang through campus. In the late evening hours of Indigenous People’s Day, a series of memes pertaining to “white culture” were posted, sparking a wildfire on...

By Dorothy Elder Indy Staff Writer

Saturday, November 7, 2020

When Fort Lewis College made its decision to bring students back to campus for the fall 2020 semester during the COVID-19 pandemic, a plethora of considerations, new policies, and a reckoning of resources followed, trying to make the campus return as safe and manageable as possible.

By Jackson Zinsmeyer Indy Staff Writer

Thursday, November 5, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the way Fort Lewis College students are able to live on and off campus. Important information about restrictions was given to students prior to the start of the semester that would affect their time on campus this semester. Rene Klotz, the FLC Health Center’s nurse practitioner and clinical director, recommends...

First Previous 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next Last

TheIndy

The Latest

All hail the queens

By Tiara Yazzie and Alx Lee Indy Staff Writers

Please login or register to post comments.

All News

Campus Heroes: How FLC make do with COVID-19 and budget cuts

By Jackson Zinsmeyer Indy Staff Writer

Food for Thought: A look at food distribution in Durango

By Morgan Reed Indy Staff Writer

Native Students Feel Silenced: FLC’s regulation of student feed questioned aft er students posted in support of “white culture” on Indigenous People’s Day

By Dorothy Elder Indy Staff Writer

Campus Life, Learning and Health: How FLC planned for our return

By Dorothy Elder Indy Staff Writer

Should I Stay or Should I Go? What does FLC's travel policy entail?

By Jackson Zinsmeyer Indy Staff Writer