Tolerance gets dolled up in drag
by Steph Wiechmann
The drag show finale brought out both guys and girls...or girls and guys? Photo by Stephanie Wiechmann
October 7 at the Law School became a display of diversity as the
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) and OUTLaw held their Second Annual Drag
Show.
The event is a way to celebrate Coming-Out Week and the GLBTQ (gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer) culture, cooked up by the two
organizations last year.
"A drag show is a fun way to expose people in the community to a
different type of life," said Tammy Graham, OUTLaw Co-Chair. "The drag
show allows folks who wouldn't normally dress in drag or even perform to
step out of their shells and walk in the shoes of another for a bit."
GSA President Calvin Awkward was excited about this year's show, because
of the bigger involvement from the undergraduate side.
"It is the first time the undergrad side of the University is playing a
large role in participants, preparation, and involvement," he said.
The rain moved the show from the Law School Field into the Moot
Courtroom, but the venue change did not stifle the atmosphere.
"Straight people, gay people -- all participated, all came, and it was
such a great time," said junior Emily DeVoe, GSA Treasurer.
Keary Alderson, GSA Secretary, emceed for the night, dressed in feminine
attire and sporting the drag stage name, "Koko Colay."
Many brave souls strutted their stuff to pop hits blaring from the
speakers. Black Law Students Association (BALSA) females in fedoras and
ties danced to Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and OUTLaw
Co-Chair John Martin, a first-year law student, grooved to Britney
Spears' "Toxic."
Law student Scott Somerset stole the show with his rendition of Bonnie
Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." His number included a mid-act
costume change, where he ripped off his slinky blue dress to reveal a
black silk shirt, jean skirt, and fishnets.
Awkward was not disappointed in his wish for undergraduate acts.
Alderson had three separate numbers, including a parody on Britney
Spears' "Baby One More Time" and Mariah Carey's "Shake it Off." Devoe
also participated, dressing as a man and crooning Frank Sinatra's famous
hit, "Fly Me to the Moon."
The crowd was invited to dance with the drag queens for the last number.
After Madonna's "Like A Prayer" began, Moot Courtroom quickly resembled
a dance club.
"Everyone was out of their seats and dancing, and just having a really
great time," said DeVoe.
GSA and OUTLaw were pleased with the support of the show on W&L's
typically conservative campus. DeVoe saw the show as an outlet for a
lesson in tolerance of cross-dressing.
"It's a form of expression that should be accepted and tolerated," she
said. "And, the W&L community really needs to be open to cross-dressing.
There really isn't a lot of it that goes on [here], so when it does
happen, I think there is a very dramatic response to it."
DeVoe hoped the event would be an introduction to the GSA, and it's law
school counterpart, OUTLaw.
"I think we have the most fun of any group on campus," she announced.
"We're a social group, we're an educational group, we're an awareness
group. But most of all, we are friends. It's a really tight-knit group
of people and I love it."
Listen:
DeVoe, who performed as a man for the show, talks about stage fright.
Listen:
Is it easier to cross-dress as a man
or a woman? Emily DeVoe gives her thoughts.
History of National Coming Out Day
Gender Expression and Identity Issues
Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming
Editing supervisor: Prof. Pamela Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd