Drag show provides entertainment, education

By Matt von Boecklin

Dress up, make-up, fishnets and eyeliner; both men and women will soon be celebrated in their own right during the fifth annual drag show.

This controversial event will embrace homosexual culture while attempting to educate its audience about the drag world.

Participants can be of any sexual orientation, but the show is not solely for performers.

A panel held before the show will feature professional drag performers, and will answer questions about the event.

According to representatives of the Gay and Lesbian People for the Education of Diversity, the event's main sponsor, the drag show is the focal event of the year for the organization.

"The show pushes the envelope," said Amber Cameron, the director of the organization. "But it also contributes positively towards homosexual acceptance on campus. It shows student support, something that doesn't happen very often."

The show was advertised by a campus-wide e-mail asking for participants and volunteers. All of the performers and the crew are students.

GASPED previously existed as an Associated Students club, but recently the Santa Clara Community Action Program officially accepted the club as an official university organization.

This means that the university's administration, from the provost to the president, recognizes the organization as an official institution of the school.

Santa Clara University differs in this way because other colleges in the United States have not yet recognized such groups as institutions of the school.

"We're lucky to even have a drag show," said Meghan Hennessey, next year's associate director of GASPED. "Our administration is actually very progressive. Boston College doesn't even have an anti- discrimination policy."

The joining of the two organizations has had a positive impact for homosexual and transgendered students.

"We've gotten so many more allies than we've ever had before," Cameron said.

However, showcasing gay and lesbian culture is not something traditional at a Catholic university. The office of the provost declared a set of rules that must be followed in order for the event to be allowed. A dress-rehearsal will be held prior to the show to screen for appropriateness.

Limitations placed on the event have caused tensions between event coordinators and the administration.

"For the past four years, there's always been something where we have to talk to the provost to make this event happen," Cameron said.

"They had a problem with it being called a 'drag show.' They wanted to call it a 'talent show' instead."

The rules are four-fold. First, the show must be emceed by a Santa Clara student. Second, the talent must be screened by the organization for appropriateness. Third, any outside talent will not be allowed. Lastly, there must be a plan to manage audience reaction, specifically negative.

Anti-homosexual response is common for the drag show. Every year, letters of disapproval reach President Paul Locatelli, S.J. However, the sponsors of the show never see the letters.

Josh Crosson, the GASPED member responsible for the group's integration into SCCAP, said the negative feedback is "few compared to the positive reactions. The event is very educational for most people."

While the administration's allowance of the organization and its show are clear gestures of acceptance, discrimination is still felt.

"It is clear that our school's administration is progressive in its aim to represent the queer communities on campus by allowing the drag show every year," Crosson said.

"However, when acts of violence, discrimination, and hate against queer people are unfortunately ever present on this campus, it is clear that a mere allowance of groups such as GALA and GASPED and their events such as the drag show is not enough."

Members hope audiences will come away from the event with a new knowledge, a new education about an ever-burgeoning culture.

"While the school tries to balance a certain ideal of the Catholic Church and promote an institution of education, a conflict of interests occurs, specifically with tonight's drag show," Crosson said.

"When the ideal promotes hate and ignorance of queer identified people, it is in the university's best interest to do what it does best, namely, educate its students."

The drag show will take place May 12 in the Brass Rail at 8 p.m., and will be preceded by the panel at 7 p.m.

* Contact Matt von Boecklin at (408) 554-4546 or mvonboecklin@scu.edu.