A student was temporarily detained after interrupting a post-sermon drag show in the SU green on the night of Sept.12.

Economics freshman Kyle Randle was taken off-site by UTD PD after disrupting a sermon and drag show hosted by the Synergy Wesley Foundation. Halfway through the performance, Randle began shouting that the event was “not Christlike.” In response, the crowd booed Randle as “Move B*tch” played on the speakers, and organizers tried to prevent further conflict. Isaac Simmons–who performs as Ms. Penny

Cost and is a candidate for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church–then performed “You Can’t Pray The Gay Away.”

After further discussion with Galerstein Gender Center Director Matthew Winser-Johns and a responding police officer, Randle was detained on-site away from the event. The show continued with- out further incident. Simmons is the first drag queen and gay individual to be certified as a candidate for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church and was invited to preach at UTD to celebrate National Coming Out Week. At Wesley’s event, Simmons delivered a sermon about the androgyny of the biblical figure Joseph and how people should not be afraid to speak up against injustice. Afterward, Simmons said that they hoped to show that anyone should be able to preach.

“I come and I preach to be like, the pulpit belongs to all people,” Simmons said. “And

SEE DRAG, PAGE

that this is about life or about heartbeats or about the life of the mother,” O’Rourke said. “This is about power and control, especially over women.”

Abbott, he said, “owns every piece” of Uvalde and other shootings in Texas, a state which — according to the Dallas Morning News — has the highest mortality rate from mass shootings in the country.

Those waiting to meet O’Rourke lined up all the way from Davidson to Chess Plaza. O’Rourke took pictures and greeted supporters from all grades and degrees for almost two hours.

Neuroscience sophomore Soumya Joshi said she wanted to get involved in politics because she has hope in O’Rourke’s promises for Texas.

“I think this new generation has a voice and has a community that should be heard,” Joshi said.

In an exclusive interview with The Mercury, O’Rourke touched on issues closer to the hearts of UTD students.

“I want to make sure that the use of state resources is a little bit more equitable across

IQ Headquarters opens

ANDRE AVERION Distribution Manager

UTD students are now welcome at the new IQ Headquarters, the next step in student entrepreneurship and city development which aims to turn 1,200 industrial acres into the future of the city.

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