Drag
Queen Calls For Respect For Drag Community
To
the Editor:
As
someone who is interested in Drag, who has researched Drag, and
who practices Drag fairly regularly, I would like to make a plea
to the campus regarding the upcoming Drag Ball: please respect my
community.
At its best, Drag Ball has the potential to be an amazing coming
together of disparate cultures and belief systems, as well as an
disgustingly decadent party and breathtaking work of art. The opportunity
to explore gender in an atmosphere supported by both the College
and the students is fairly unique in its scale here at Oberlin:
events at other colleges are often sparsely attended, exclusively
GLBT, or just tacky.
That said, I feel that I need to address some problems that are
also unique to the Oberlin College experience: the harassment, the
threats, and the disgusting thrown-together ripped up dirty skirt-over-jeans,
clown lips makeup, I purposely didnt shave because Im
afraid of someone thinking Im queer men-in-dresses. One thing
that I feel the other colleges have going for them is the fact that
I rarely hear about gay-bashing, at least INSIDE the event. For
a Drag Ball to have anti-gay harassment issues and Queens
who feel physically THREATENED (I speak from experience) on the
actual dance floors, is absurd. And it takes A LOT to threaten a
Drag Queen.
There are several ways in which the above problems are solved in
the real world: 1) Balls are restricted to ONLY the gay community,
with distinct lines between the Kings and Queens and the general
public (note: not officially, of course but you would get
the shit kicked out of you if you were to insult harass or threaten
anybody). 2) Balls are designed to be shows; i.e. the
Kings and Queens on one side and the spectators on the other. Fortunately,
at least I think so, Oberlin has resisted the urge to take the above
measures. Drag Ball remains open to all. In the same way we open
our communitys celebration to you, we hope that you will respect
it. Now, dont sit there and think, I know how to respect
Drag Ball if you havent actually had a conversation
with a Drag King or Queen, or someone who identifies as Transgendered.
One thing that really gets my teeth grinding is someone who asks
me what is appropriate to wear to Drag Ball and then DISAGREES with
me. The posters up around campus the Drag Ball Bible
for this year are there to help you respect Drag. They are
guidelines, not laws. Shave your body hair, men (it wont KILL
you), and women, find that friend who has a suit (its actually alot
easier than finding size 15 heels, let me tell you!). If youre
feeling freaky, use the body hair that your boyfriend just shaved
off as a beard! But seriously, dont just throw something on
at the last minute (that whole Look at this dirty ripped skirt
I found in the dumpster behind five ten, isnt it cool that
Im wearing it above my jeans and sneakers from A&F?
thing). Honestly, I feel that it would be more respectful for a
man to come in a suit, or nice clubbing clothes than to half-ass
a frock. And for the women: for gods sake PLEASE dont
come in a skimpy corset/boustier, fishnets and maids hat.
This is NOT safer sex night and NOT a costume party. This is Drag
Ball. If you feel put upon by these restrictions
you are first of all welcome to NOT COME. Also, I would like to
stress, if I havent already: THIS IS DRAG BALL. Not, gay
ball not sex ball not Big Ass All-Campus Party
To Fuck Around At Ball (thought it can be any combination
of these things at any one time). In fact, an argument the committee
heard this year while planning Drag Ball pointed out that the theme
of Drag Ball is DRAG, and that to make it anything else invites
the above problems. The dress code mentioned on the
posters is not arbitrary, nor were they put up simply to exclude
YOU. They are there to help you respect the space you are being
invited into.
If you have large problems with what I have said, please come and
talk to me at the Ball Ill be the 65 Drag
Queen in the 2 meter wide frock and the sequins, surrounded by adoring
fans.
Ms.
Lola Profane
Drag Queen and
Drag Practicum ExCo teacher
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