Sarah Bluestein says dressing in drag is “gender fucking.”
“It means playing with your gender,” she said.
“It’s playing with people’s perception of your gender,” interrupted Mary Bankhead.
“It’s blurring the line,” continued Bluestein.
“It’s not a freak show,” added Bankhead.
Bluestein added, “It’s a chance for people who are safe in their own socially prescribed gender to play with it.”
“It” is drag. Only a half-century ago cross-dressing was punishable by arrest, and police raids of gay bars incited riots such as the historic riot at the Stonewall Bar in New York City. Now many performers dress in drag as a proclamation of freedom. A drag show is an impersonation festival where performers become the opposite gender onstage.
The “Fish Bowl” Drag Show will be from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday in the EMU Fishbowl. The drag show, sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Alliance, will feature both drag queens (biological men that dress as women) and drag kings (biological women that dress as men).
The feature queen is Patti O’Dora, a former Miss Gay Oregon who has been playing in and around Portland for 18 years. She is the founder of the production company “House of the Goddess.” She is also the hostess for the Saturday night drag shows at The Embers Avenue, a primarily gay male bar in Portland. Other “House of the Goddess” performers include Mr. Ty O’Dora, Pebbles Campbell Star, Ephiphany BeYonce, DeLana O’Dora, Joey De ValMont and The “Butch Boy” Troy.
Eugene queens She Bangs will open for “House of the Goddess” performers from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Cher impersonator Bill Sullivan will also perform.
A question-and-answer session will follow the show. A dance will follow the performance with a DJ spinning until 2 a.m.
LGBTQA Events Coordinator Cat McGraw co-organized the performance.
“The intention of the event was to promote queer visibility on campus,” said McGraw. “It’s going to be fun.”
McGraw also wanted to bring talent from Portland, and O’Dora seemed the perfect choice.
“We wanted to get drag queens from outside of Eugene,” said McGraw. “Patti O’Dora was willing to do it for cheap, and she was excited about the event.”
Residence Life Assistant Director Katie Bryant is also organizing the show. Bryant organized a similar drag night in the residence halls during winter term.
“We did it last term with just the She Bangs, and it was very successful,” she said. “It’s an education opportunity and an opportunity for students to open their eyes to different things.”
The drag show is free and part of a program that encourages vibrant, alcohol-free programs in the middle of campus on weekends.