Gay Straight Alliance stomps stereotypes
The Glenn Miller Ballroom was packed on Tuesday with more than 200 hundred people waiting to see men dolled up in curly wigs, short skirts and glitter, as the Gay Straight Alliance hosted its annual “Twisted Fairy Tales Drag Show: Fallen Divas.”
The drag show, which made its debut last year, is one of the largest events hosted by GSA. It was created to inform the student body about GSA.
“The drag show raises awareness about (GSA) and the GLBT community while providing a nice, safe way for people to dress up before Halloween,” said Kaela Joseph, a senior psychology major and the chair of GSA.
The show lasted for approximately two hours and was filled with upbeat music and flashy costumes. Performers ranging from CU students to professional drag queens entertained the audience with lip-synching and dancing to songs that varied from the Backstreet Boys to Broadway hits.
While the twists and turns in high heels amused the audience, the show inevitably referred to the topic of gender identity. Romero Hairston, a junior anthropology major, said that the drag performances help dismantle society’s impression of gender.
“This type of show makes people address issues of sexual identity and recognize that not everyone fits into some cookie-cutter stereotype,” Hairston said.
Lacee Jauregui, a senior English major who was a back-up dancer in the show, feels that drag shows contradict how society assigns gender.
“Drag shows allow people to express themselves how they like to instead of how society expects them to,” Jauregui said. “People are therefore able to see how lines become blurred among gender.”
Some of the drag performers in the show said they wanted the audience to take with them an understanding that gender is an acquired, not an innate, quality.
“I want the audience to understand that gender identity is a social construct,” said Countess Divinya, a member of GSA and a drag performer in the show.
The drag show was seen as an opportunity for performers to openly express this “twisted” gender identity in a positive and safe environment.
“It’s not about making people uncomfortable,” Hairston said. “It’s about being yourself without being embarrassed.”
The show was well-received overall by the audience, who responded with a standing ovation at the end of the performance. It even left some female audience members feeling a little envious.
“If I could be a drag, I would,” said Sarah Perletz, a sophomore sociology major. “Unfortunately, I’m already a woman.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sara Fossum at sara.fossum@colorado.edu .
