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From left to right, Madelyn Freeman as herself, Ingrid Olive Udd (former King of the Beaver) as Cleatis Clit, and Chelsea Whitlow as herself, perform at the annual Pride Week Drag Show, hosted by the Rainbow Continuum in the MU ballroom Friday night.

'Pride' drags into the night

Queer Pride Week ends with annual drag show promoting diversity, awareness, identity

By: Gail Cole

Posted: 5/12/08

OSU once again welcomed the LGBT community last Friday to celebrate diversity, friendship and fun, all while looking amazing.

The MU ballroom was filled with laughter and acceptance for the Drag Show, the final event of this year's Queer Pride Week.

Drag queens, kings and their entourage - each a student - took to the stage to show off their performance skills and promote gender diversity and acceptance.

The show was hosted by the Rainbow Continuum, who also hosted the fall's Cirque du So-Gay drag show. Proceeds raised by the show return to the Continuum to promote future shows and events like Pride Day.

According to the website, the Rainbow Continuum is an organization that promotes diversity among students as well as education about the LGBT community.

Ryan Landyn, a co-director of the Rainbow Continuum, said 500 attendees were expected at the show.

"It's just the big celebration," Landyn said about the show.

Peer Health Advocates participated in the event, according to Katy McHenry, a student coordinator, to promote safer sex and how to "be a friend of the community."

"We want to show how to become an ally," McHenry said.

The group's table was filled with free stickers, pins, goody bags and informational fliers. Peer Health Advocates also had a booth set up in the MU Quad throughout Pride Week.

Poison Waters, a drag queen performer from Portland, entertained the crowd between acts with stories and by poking fun at the crowd, all while wearing a sparkling brown dress.

Young adults from the Jackson Street Youth Shelter were just a few of the attendees eager to celebrate both the show and Pride Week.

"It's a fun thing to do," said Brian Kneeland, one of the attendees from the shelter. "The dresses will be cool, (as well as) people showing who they really are."

"I'm just looking to have fun!" said Angel Hutesell, another spectator from the community.

The performers may have sparkled, but many of the show's attendees were also dressed up in equally elaborate suits, dresses and dramatic makeup.

Alexis Purvee, a freshman in biology and Spanish, was one such attendant who wanted to support the LGBT community by showing outward confidence.

"I think we need to challenge and threaten ourselves more," Purvee said.

Like other attendees, Purvee was excited for this spring's show and happy to be a part of Pride Week.

"I love seeing how they portray themselves," she said. "When [we] come here, we all have something in common."

Many attendants used the show as a way to connect with friends.

David Bensel of Corvallis was one of the many audience members who came to be with friends, and looked forward to the show's "good music, good dancing [and] a good performance."

"Everybody's so incredibly nice," said Josh Baltzell, a freshman in biology, who attended the fall show, as well. "It's a really great thing for a group of friends to do."

"I go knowing that I'm going to have a really good time," Baltzell said.

"It's cool to see a different side of life," said Kari Thompson, a freshman in pre-nursing, was a first timer at the drag show.

"I've never seen one before so I'm kind of excited!" Thomas said of her first experience.

Gail Cole, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231