VA RI ET Y Campus show is anything but a drag

By MERCEDES KAUPHUSMAN Staff Writer

Early March, an anti-drag bill that prohibits drag performances in public or in the presence of children was passed in Tennessee, inspiring many other state legislatures to pose similar threats.

Despite the uproar, the Mankato State LGBTQ+ center stands strong by carrying on with their tradition of the Spring Drag show Wednesday from 7-10 p.m. in the Ostrander Auditorium.

“Drag has always been a way for, you know, especially people within the LGBTQ+ community, to express themselves in many types of forms. That’s what drag is, many forms of a fabulous entertainment of fabric art,” said Stephen Thomas, interim director of the LGBT center.

The drag show was the first at the university to feature an entire cast of black, indigenous, and people of color, or BIPOC individuals. Eight performers took the stage, including three first-timers, who are students at MSU.

The drag performers included Megan The ManEater, Andre 1000, Lala Luzious, DeCrème, Princess Blue Rose, and student performers Venom Valentine, Marvin McSparkles, and Wolf Wheels

Starting off the show with a bang was Lala Luzious, a Twin Cities drag performer, who dazzled in their glittery, blue jumpsuit. During the second round, Lala displayed a rainbow gown while Lipsyncing Adele’s, “Hello.”