The Pride Alliance and Student Union Board (SUB) hosted Iowa State’s annual Spring Drag Show in the Maintenance Shop on Saturday, featuring performances from local drag queens and Innovation, a group from the DubH hip hop dance club.
The event featured two shows, a matinee and an evening show, each with a cast of performers who showcased their dance moves and comedy talent. Each performer explored the room and engaged with audience members to the backdrop of songs of their choice.
The evening show included performances by Ames and Des Moines residents, including Lieza Sinz Diamond, Sharaya Sinz Diamond, Xander Lyon Frost and Matte Black.
Black, an Ames resident, shared why they love performing in drag.
“I love it here,” Black said. “I love supporting my hometown and I just love helping students and everything and just getting the name out there… with queer kids today, with everything going on recently, it’s important that someone’s standing up for us, especially kid’s who, unfortunately, go to a very republican, right school.”
Alexis Newport, a junior in linguistics and the activism and advocacy chair for the Pride Alliance, shared how she has found community through events like the Spring Drag Show.
“It took me a while to find my footing within the community and being part of Pride Alliance and doing all that has really opened so many doors and really allowed me to find that community and find that shared experience,” Newport said.
She also spoke about overcoming risks that the show posed at Iowa State after backlash from some on campus.
“There were, of course, people who were vocally not very happy about this event, but we know that our community is strong and that they’ll have our back,” Newport said. “This is really a great time for us to come together and really experience some queer joy.”
Before the show Saturday, the ISU College Republicans released a statement condemning the show’s presence on campus.
“We strongly condemn the upcoming “Spring Drag Show,” hosted by the Iowa State University Student Union Board and Pride Alliance. This event represents a blatant promotion of cultural decadence and moral decay, funded and endorsed by our student government and university resources,” the group said in a statement on Instagram.
In an interview with the Daily, Brandon Simmons, a junior in industrial design and president of the College Republicans club, shared his opinion on the Spring Drag Show.
“Free expression doesn’t mean like a blank check to use university funds and university platforms and resources to push a specific ideology and kind of activism,” Simmons said. “I think the [Spring Drag Show] was a mockery of gender norms and it contributed to normalizing gender confusion and decadence over stability.”
Black also shared a message for those who support drag and are fighting to keep it alive.
“Focus on what matters to you and what your heart needs to do, what your gut tells you to do and just keep moving forward,” Black said. “Keep a smile on your face… just keep true to yourself. There’s people there for you.”
