Dickinson College’s annual Drag Show showcased many different drag queens and kings who performed diverse and enthusiastic lip syncs and dances. With 468 students and community members in attendance, the event continued the celebration of LGBTQ History Month.

Olivia Riordan ’21, a special events chair for the Multi Organizational Board (MOB) said the “Drag show is our biggest event of the year. MOB tries to create high quality events for the Dickinson community that bring people together, and I definitely think drag show does that. All of the drag queens and kings had fun at Dickinson and felt supported by the crowd which is really important.” 

At the end of the show, several students were brought up onto the stage to engage with the host and audience. Mason McIntyre ’22 described that it was, “amazing to be on stage, especially because Peppermint was the host.” 

Peppermint, the host of the drag show and contestant on season nine of Rupaul’s Drag Race, said “[…]when you’re up on stage – you can feel the audience; the energy [the audience] put[s] out goes into the performer, the performer uses it, and […] spits that energy back out to the audience. It’s like recycling energy.” 

Peppermint explained that she attempts to educate and communicate through entertainment. “The truth is that when people walk in with pretenses and prejudices, it’s really difficult for them to continue to hold those while they are enjoying themselves and having a good time with a performer,” she said. 

Peppermint also used the show as a platform to discuss Title VII, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, class, religion, sex and national origin. “In six months, the Supreme Court decides whether or not to dismantle Title VII,” she continued, explaining that it is critical “to talk to our friends [because] The Supreme Court will be conducting polls on what people think. If you are for equality in the workplace, you are for Title VII.”

She explained that she tries to make the stage a welcoming place for diverse groups of people, “I try my best to make sure everyone feels represented on the stage. “I try to make it [as] diverse as possible [and] talk to different people and not just one type and not just the predictable type […]”

At the end, Peppermint discussed dealing with ideological differences, “They can make a decision about whether they want to share that space, but the invite is there.”

Aya Salim ’20 summarized peppermint’s overall message. “[Go] from your heart, [have] good intentions, don’t just assume people are the who they are because of [what] they look like. The way she talked about all of that I thought it was beautiful,” she said.

For many students, it was their first time attending a drag show. Jessie Hayes ’22 said “it was my first time going and I really enjoyed it; the lights, the music, and the energy.” Lucas Curran ’22 said that he “thoroughly enjoyed it.” 

Other students reflected on the drag show as their favorite on campus event. Orlandi Novak ’21 said this year’s show was “as fabulous as the rest” and said that the host was “very engaging and invited students on stage, giving them a chance to express themselves in front of the crowd. It was truly beautiful to witness the pure acceptance and love coming from the audience.”

Ayana Rahman ’22 said “I loved it […] These drag performances are […] so unique. They do these theatrical pieces. I really like that.”

MOB’s annual Drag Show was held on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. in ATS and was hosted by MOB and the Office of LGBTQ Services.