Valentine's Day, What a Drag

Story and Video by Jarred Green

Fort Lewis College's Residence Hall Association in conjunction with the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, FLC’s Diversity Programming and the Native American Center celebrated Valentine's Day with a drag show.  The Drag Show took place in the Student Union Ballroom and attracted a full house.

Drag Shows

Drag shows consist of lip sync performances put on by men and women where participants dress up as exaggerated forms of the same or opposite sex of the performer.

“Drag is beyond dressing in clothing in a gender different than you present as. It’s also a full on performance, and that’s where the fun happens,” Nancy Stoffer, Diversity Programming Coordinator, said.

This year’s drag show was emceed by King Kendrick and Drewsilla Diãne with performances by: Drewsilla Diãne, Kendrick, Lyzz Bien, Mainstreet Maya, Maximilliano, Seeley Mudd and Roger Fromage.

All tips earned by performers went to the FLC Gender and Sexuality Resource Center program T at the G, Drewsilla Diãne, professional Drag Performer, said.

The idea of having a drag show was brought up by Rachel Lodwick, an FLC RHA member, Stoffer said.

Initially the drag show was going to be an RHA program, but more groups wanted to join and it expanded to a large event, MeKayla Smith, RA in Cooper and Drag Show performer, said.

The Drag Community

The drag community in Durango is growing because the first official Drag Show was held last year, Smith said.

This Drag Show was put on by the local LGBTQ community that works with students at Durango High School and on the FLC campus, she said.

“Ever since then, since it went well, they have been trying to build up a community here,” Smith said.  “A lot of the performers are from Farmington and other areas in New Mexico”

The drag community seems pretty quiet though, Kayla Shaggy, a drag show participant, said. They are holding events in the area, but is sort of off the radar.

LGBTQ Representation

Allowing students to see that there is a place on campus that they can go and be themselves around people who are peers or allies is important, she said.

“Representation has increased so much since I was young.” Stoffer said. “Nonetheless there is still a stigma and still a fear of public shaming, harassment, ridicule.”

If we can inspire people to come out and be themselves without being restricted, the Drag Show would be really successful, Shaggy said.

For those who are not part of the Drag Community, it is important to show that this campus supports and protects this different community, Stoffer said.

“I’m hoping it will encourage them to be more free with themselves,” Stoffer said