Life > February 21, 2008

By Mariclaire Hicks | Managing editor

The fourth floor of Benson was transformed into a glittery club-like atmosphere for the fifth annual Demon Drag Show benefiting AIDS Care Services of Winston-Salem on Feb 15. The event was hosted by the university’s Gay Straight Student Alliance.

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The event raised more than it had in past years with approximately $1,800 made in ticket sales, according to GSSA Executive Chair Kelly Chauvin, senior.

The seven professional drag queens who performed did so without compensation so that all of the evening’s proceeds could go to ACS.

The performers put on quite the show as they struted up and down the runway in fabulous outfits, some of them even thematically fitting the songs to which they were lip synching and dancing.

One of my personal favorites was a super-short black and hot-pink patent leather number worn by a redhead named Kelly Powers as she twirled around a matching umbrella to the sounds of Rhianna’s popular song, “Umbrella.”

The outfit was accompanied by artfully torn fishnet stockings and stilettos. My friends and I couldn’t help but note our jealousy of her killer legs.

The performances were fun and upbeat and the audience members seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves, singing along to the more well-known songs and offering monetary tips to the queens … some in more creative ways than others.

The evening’s only somber performance turned out to be what was, in my opinion, one of the highlights of the event.

One of the queens who had performed earlier in the evening, Uniquea, came out in a golden robe-like dress to the strains of Christina Aguilera’s “My Reflection.”

Everyone seemed to appreciate the throwback to Mulan, but the performance took an unexpected turn when she began removing her false eyelashes and huge wig. She produced a bottle of makeup remover and this fabulous diva quickly transformed into a good-looking male as the mask of makeup was removed.

By the time the song ended, he had rid himself of the gown to reveal jeans and a tank top that wouldn’t have been out of place at a bachelorette party.

About this time, Justin Timberlake started bringing “sexy back” and he completed his performance with some pretty spectacular gyrating.

All silly suggestive dancing aside, the performance came across as quite the commentary on society’s perception of gender.

The rules that have been ingrained into us since we could tell the difference between the nondescript figures on public restrooms were challenged when an attractive female became an attractive male before our eyes.

The performance seemed to strike a chord with the rest of the audience as well.

“My favorite number was when Uniquea came out and took off her makeup, showing the queens aren’t just impersonal performers, but out of their costume are the same as you and me,” senior Will Rothwell said.

Amidst all the glitter and fabulousness, the real reason for the evening was consciously kept at the forefront of the event.

In addition to the table at the back of the room that offered information about volunteering with ACS, the emcee frequently discussed the help that the organization provides for countless individuals living with HIV and AIDS who have no where else to turn.

The condoms thrown at our heads from the stage were a nice touch, too.

“We are excited that we could have a successful charity event that can help so many people in the community,” Chauvin said.

According to the ACS’s literature, its mission “is to empower and serve our brothers and sisters living with HIV/AIDS and to educate our community in the struggle against the disease.”

Learn more about ACS at www.aidscareservice.org.