Block 22 hosts its very first drag show

queer-friendly.

On 21 August, Block 22 hosted the first drag show in Hatfield and the venue was packed beyond capacity. This performance consisted of lip-sync numbers from the queens and interactions between the performers and the crowd. As the self-titled ‘Yanos Bar’, Block 22 has shown that inclusivity and opening doors to new things can indeed be fruitful and entertaining. In a society that can be deeply prejudiced, queer-friendly hangout spots, in Hatfield particularly, are far and few between.

The show, itself, was phenomenal and Block 22 was incredibly hospitable to the queens. The crowd was respectful and rules were set by the emcee, Aurora Crysis. When asked what the intention behind the show was, the queens shared that they wanted everyone to simply have a good time. Krystal Methany, the event organiser, pointed out that queer people and drag queens are not a threat to straight people, and that they have been hesitant to perform in ‘straight’ establishments, such as Block 22. However, the establishment being open to host its first ever drag show proves its efforts to become more inclusive and

Springbok, Block 22 and The Square 2.0, otherwise known as the ‘Hatfield Trio’, are particularly popular establishments amongst UP students, and this event could be a positive step for inclusivity in establishments based in Hatfield. Among the performers, was Lolover the Charisma Uniqueness Nerve and Talent Darling, a Black drag queen. Lolover shared their struggles of being Black and queer in South Africa. As one of the two Black queens in a cast of seven, the issue of diversity appears to be persistent in the Pretorian queer scene. Lolover stated that the White and Coloured queens make up the majority in drag, which demonstrates the tricky matter of diversity in spaces that are otherwise designed to be safe and inclusive. Block 22 has vowed to have a drag show every month of the academic calendar, and offered to lend a helping hand to queer students by providing a platform for self-expression and creating a sense of community. In the future, hopefully more establishments in Hatfield will follow suit. UP has an incredibly diverse student population, and having more establishments take steps towards inclusivity would provide more safe-spaces for the queer community.