Bold dramatic makeup, a flashy outfit covered in sequins, and provocative dance moves were all on display as Roxxxy Andrews danced to “Pon De Replay” by Rihanna on March 16th.
Along with other local drag performers, Andrews performed in the UCF Student Union’s Cape Florida Ballroom to help raise awareness about gender identity.
The event, called Drag Divas: Gender Realness, encouraged donations given both at the door and by tipping performers. All proceeds went to Zebra Coalition, an organization that offers services for LGBT+ youth including counseling and housing. They raised $372.
“I think this event was important for students because it gives an answer to the differences between a performance and someone who 's going through transition,” Earl Johnson of Zebra Coalition said. “It 's no longer an LBGT thing, it 's LGBT+.”
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Adrien, a former UCF student
-Gypsy Gemini, a UCF graduate student
Andrews also gave introductions and joked with the audience between performances.
After the performances, there was a Q & A panel that allowed students to learn more about the differences between drag performances and transgenderism, as well as hear the performers own experiences with gender identity. Over 100 students and other members of the public attended the event and many came away saying they learned something.
“I know now that there is a difference between drag and transgender,” said Bethany Myers, a sophomore studying speech-language pathology. “They’re not the same thing.”
The performers also felt that it was a good experience for both them and the students. They hope that those who attended left a little more open-minded.
“’Do they want to be women?’ Well some do, some don 't, some are still figuring it out,” performer Axel Andrews said. “Don’t put anyone in a