G.S.D.A. (Gender and Sexual Diversity Alliance), RHA (Residence Hall Association) and Union Board sponsored a Drag Show Thurs. at 8p.m. in the CDR.
“Life is very very hard, but you have to live your best life because there’s only one you. So I know we can all say ‘Oh I don’t care what people think,’ but we really do care,” Amaya Sexton, a Drag Queen, said. “But at the end of the day, try your best to live your best life because life is very very short.”
The event raised a little over 400 dollars towards Equality Springfield, an organization who diversifies and enriches the civic lives of people in the Springfield area. They work to welcome and appreciate the LGBT community.
“The drag shows purpose [is] to entertain and educate people on campus,” Jillian Poska, ’21, student senator, said.
Poska believes the event was successful because they had a good turn out and people enjoyed it.
Each queen went through two sets, a Q and A session and a suicide drag. During the suicide drag, the deejays picked songs randomly for the queens.
“The Drag Show was phenomenal. The queens were so confident and empowering, you could definitely feel the love in the room,” Kathryn Nydegger, ‘19, said.
The event featured queens: Amanda Sue Punchfuk, who is former National Miss Comedy Queen; Zach Matthews; Amaya Sexton, who is Miss Masque 2018; Tasha Salad, a former Miss Gay Columbus America; Jareje Rashad; Sabrina Caprice Heartt, who is Miss Ohio Gay Pride; Ty Erup, who is Mister Ohio Gay Pride King, and Olivia Jane, who is the Miss National EOY Femme.
The queens gave their advice during a Q and A session, where they talked about their personal experiences, how to deal with them and how to look forward.
“I love that they gave us questions to ask and one girl was like ‘Do you have any advice for the LGTB community?’” Marcus O’Neal, ‘20, said. “Then they all gave their advice and opinions about it. I started getting really emotional because this is beautiful and we all have similar stories—you know with friends disowning us or with parents disowning us.”
“Build each other up. Don’t try to tear each other down. Life is hard enough being gay, bi, trans— anything like that. Life is hard so build each other up. Be there for each other,” Matthews said.
“Being kind and nice to each other is important, because you never know what other people are going through,” Salah said.
“It gets better. Hold on to who you are. Don’t let anybody tell you what you cannot be and what you cannot do in this life,” Rashad said.
“It [was] really nice to see so many people at the show,” O’Neal said. He did add that he wishes people who are uneducated on or unsupportive of the LGBT community would have come to the event.
Reach out to Punchfuk, or other queens, if you need someone to talk to or support you.
“This is a community of people who cares about you,” Punchfuk said.
community would have come to the event.
Reach out to Punchfuk, or other queens, if you need someone to talk to or support you.
“This is a community of people who cares about you,” Punchfuk said.
