The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Luke Wenker Queer Pride Week wrapped up last Friday with the Drag Show in the MU Ballroom, sponsored by the Rainbow Continuum. The event featured student and professional entertainment.

Students flocked to the MU ballroom for a night of racy, raucous fun and professional entertainment Friday for the Rainbow Continuum's annual Drag Show.

"We sell out every year," said Matt Ryder, a junior in bioengineering and co-director of the Rainbow Continuum. "This year, we were out of tickets by the second day."

The drag show was put on by the Rainbow Continuum, a student-fee funded organization designed to raise awareness and promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning and intersex (LGBTQQI) students. The event marked the end of Pride Week 2007, an annual celebration of the LQBTQQI lifestyle, held this year from May 21-25.

"We do this for two reasons: First of all, we provide a safe place for people to look fabulous and have a fabulous time doing it," Ryder said. "But really, it's an educational thing. It's about sharing our culture and expressing ourselves."

The event opened with 30 minutes of student performances, including appearance by OSU's King and Queen of the Beaver. The two students earned their royal titles earlier this year at the annual All-Student Drag competition, held in the fall as a part of Queer History Month. The reigning king and queen performed at Friday's show as part of their royal duties.

Myra B. Long, a junior in pre-medicine and this year's King of the Beaver, rocked the crowd as alter-ego Mylo B. Long.

Set to "Moneymaker" by Ludacris, Long lip synched and performed a choreographed dance routine. Accompanied by six backup dancers, Long wore all black clothing and accessorized with a realistic facial hair apparatus she created.

"I actually cut my own hair and used it to make my beard," Long said. "I had to kind of glue it on."

Long described the event as a gender-bending good time, full of exceptional student performances. She reported this year's show to be a successful one, with great energy and crowd involvement.

"It went awesome," Long said. "It's one of the most fun, relaxed and entertaining nights on campus."

Long laughed as she added, "And though I may be biased, I think I got one of the loudest cheers!"

The Queen of the Beaver entertained crowds under the stage name Iva Fetish while sporting a costume of women's formal wear, full make-up and a brunette wig.

"I loved it," said Fetish, who chose to remain anonymous. "Performing in front of 500 people or so? What an incredible rush."

After OSU students left the stage, audience members were treated to an hour and a half of professional entertainment, courtesy of Portland's self-proclaimed drag queen, Poison Waters.

The event ran from 8 to 10 p.m.; however, the night's festivities didn't end there. Students were also invited to attend the after party, held on campus at Club Escape from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Participants and audience members mingled and danced to music and footage of earlier drag shows.

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