ANGLS drag show raises money, HIV/AIDS awareness

When most people from around Commerce hear the word drag, they picture tires burning out, a checkered flag waving and a sleek car racing down a straight path. They do not picture body glitter, sequins and rhinestones adorning a male-dressed-female singer in high heels.

A&M-Commerce may have to redefine drag to include the second annual Association for the Needs of Gay and Lesbian Students (ANGLS) Benefit Drag Show, which was held April 7 in the Ferguson Social Science Building's auditorium. The money raised goes to the Set Apart Aiming Victoriously to Eliminate Diseases (SAAVED) organization, which aims to educate people about the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases through research, counseling and seminars.

More unusual than the over six-foot queens in skimpy costumes was the partnership between Christian group Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and ANGLS, a group that promotes the needs of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual students on campus.

Chi Alpha members were helping direct around 100 event-goers to their seats before the drag show. According to Director of Chi Alpha Nathan Cole, the groups had been talking about partnering on some broader social issues such as human trafficking, poverty and AIDS.

"For a legitimate social cause like AIDS awareness or an organization like SAAVED, a lot of people wouldn't think twice about supporting something like that," Cole said. "Even though we're totally committed followers of Jesus, we're excited about the opportunity to partner and show love."

ANGLS Vice President Steven Martin said he was glad for the partnership, especially since SAAVED is an organization that encourages people to put aside rumors and the negative associations they have with AIDS.

"I think showing everyone a group like Chi Alpha helps us show that, differences aside, we're doing this for a good cause," Martin said. "You might not like gay people, but we're not doing this for gay people; we're doing this for anyone affected by AIDS."

The audience members came from around the metroplex to show their support of the organization and to encourage the drag queens during their acts. Twenty-year-old Danny Lopez said he's been to several drag shows and it takes a lot of courage for drag queens to get on stage.

"Not everybody can do it," Lopez said. "You have to have the guts to go out there and be somebody that you're not, and it's in public."
There were four drag queens total that came from Station Four in Dallas to help collect dollar bills out of the audience for SAAVED, all the while maintaining a lip-synching performance that required coordination in platform shoes. The costumes ranged from a performer with a hot pink afro, fishnet tights and a green mini-dress, to a punk-like queen in black leather pants, pink mesh shirt and Converse sneakers.

Rita Fine, who was a vocal performance major at Southern Methodist University before trying her hand at drag shows, said it takes her over an hour to get ready. It was during her first number where she dawned a pink fringed dress with sequins that the audience erupted in applause when her afro fell off.

"It's a new and different way to express myself, and I think it's for an amazing cause," Fine said.

One of the performers gave some insight into what it takes to be a drag queen.

"Lots of make-up…and duct tape," performer Lacey LaDawn said.