Union College’s Pride Club is hosting a drag show this Saturday, February 24, at the Nott Memorial.
The event will be held from 6:15- 8:30 p.m., and performers at the show will be Union students and staff. Pride Club has been working on putting this event together for a while, and we encourage everyone with an interest in the show to come support the performers. Opening the performance to students and staff gives the Union community a chance to showcase their talents in a safe, low-pressure environment.

I am particularly excited about this event because it gives us all a chance to celebrate the joy, creativity, and expression of my community. Pride Club’s last large event was Transgender Day of Remembrance, which we held a vigil for last November. It was a solemn, important event for Union’s LGBTQ+ community, where we mourned the transgender people who were killed in 2022 and discussed the increase in anti-trans violence.

So much of my involvement in Pride Club and LGBTQ+ events in general revolves around dealing with hatred, intolerance, and loss. Even outside of our own efforts at Union, there is a national push to have marriage equality, healthcare services, education, and personal autonomy legally taken away from LGBTQ+ people. Focusing solely on all the terrible things that are happening to my community takes a toll on many peoples’ mental health, including mine. Being there to help support LGBTQ+ people during difficult times is important, and necessary work, but it isn’t the only way to help. Making sure to take time to appreciate gay and trans joy is just as  important, whether it’s as an ally or a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Having an event focused fully on celebrating art made by proud members of the LGBTQ+ community has the potential to be a very healing moment for LGBTQ+ people during a time of immense tension. For allies, attending the drag show is an easy, fun way to show up for Union’s LGBTQ+ drag performers and give your support. It is always so impressive how wild and expressive drag performers can be with their makeup, dancing, costumes, and performances. Watching drag
queens pushing the boundaries of gender, fashion, and art makes me so proud of what my community can do when they are properly celebrated and appreciated. I am really excited  to see what my peers come up with for this show.