A night of unique performances promotes the notion of transformative love for the LGBTQIA+ community.
On Oct. 10 at 7 p.m., the Temple Performing Arts Center opened its doors to an eager crowd for the 10th Annual Drag Show at Temple. Hosted by Temple’s Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership (IDEAL), the show featured performances from Temple students and other prolific local performers in the drag scene, making for an unforgettable night of fun and freedom.
The annual show is presented during National Coming Out Week (NCOW) every year, and the theme for 2024 was “Transformative Love.” Through the drag show and other events on campus, the prevailing message was how self-acceptance and embracing one’s true identity can be a powerful tool in fostering an inclusive and supportive community for all.
Stessy Mwadime, a junior psychology major with a minor in criminal justice, serves as a diversity peer for IDEAL. Mwadime distinguishes exactly which communities can receive the most benefits of transformative love and having an event like the annual drag show in place.
“Drag and a lot of communities like house and ballroom culture aren’t really mainstream things, so to see it being performed at a university like Temple where it’s being talked about and people can go see it is a really cool aspect,” Mwadime said. “It’s not really a recognized art in many spaces.”
Having an annual show like this on a college campus can present certain advantages that make it easier for students to express their true selves.
“[The drag show] gives a voice to the community and a platform – especially such a big platform at a university like Temple University where they can show their art,” Mwadime said. “It’s so important that the show is annual because we get so many different types of students every year, and to see that community on a big stage is really powerful and can be really helpful.”
Student performer Marielle Zakrzwski, a senior theater education major, feels as though the drag show provides accessibility for students who may not have had the chance to attend a show of this nature before.
“A lot of queer people, especially people who aren’t 21 yet, don’t get the chance to see drag that often,” said Zakrzwski. “So I think it’s a really great place for people who don’t have the opportunity to see drag anywhere else.”
Another benefit of holding an annual drag event on campus is an authentic representation of drag culture by the students for the students.
“Drag is kind of glamourized sometimes on TV, and no one really gets to see it live and in person – especially done by drag artists that go to this school,” Mwadime said.
Advertisement and marketing were seen as one of the strengths of this year’s drag show at Temple, likely contributing to the event’s high attendance this year and every year prior.
“Sometimes there are things on campus that are for queer people but just aren’t advertised as well, so I feel like this is pretty well advertised and we always get a really big turnout, which is nice,” Zakrzwski says.
Ultimately, a drag show during NCOW has a higher purpose: to educate the student body about the history of the LGBTQIA+ community while also informing students of the resources available to them. The mission to spread awareness about the support available on campus was evident.
Mwadime also noted how the show gives students access to resources they didn’t know existed before, like IDEAL and Temple Wellness – particularly for new students who had no idea that such resources existed until they came to the show.
Besides fostering a fun night out for students at Temple, the annual drag show during NCOW ultimately serves to consistently remind students of their worth and how valuable the acceptance of their own identity can be in helping others do the same.