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 didn’t shave because I’m afraid of someone thinking I’m 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 community’s celebration to you, we hope that you will respect it. Now, don’t sit there and think, “I know how to respect Drag Ball” if you haven’t 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 won’t 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 you’re feeling freaky, use the body hair that your boyfriend just shaved off as a beard! But seriously, don’t just throw something on at the last minute (that whole “Look at this dirty ripped skirt I found in the dumpster behind five ten, isn’t it cool that I’m 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 god’s sake PLEASE don’t come in a skimpy corset/boustier, fishnets and maid’s 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 haven’t 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 — I’ll be the 6’5” 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