Rainbow Center hosts annual Drag Ball

The Rainbow Center hosted the annual Drag Ball Friday October 26th, as a part of their weekly “Rainbow Lounge Presents…” program.  Every Friday evening, the Rainbow Center hosts a lounge event, where students can gather and socialize in the “safe ally-zone.” Usually, the lounge event is a relaxed gathering of students, munching on refreshments, and enjoying the theme of the week. This week, the Center decided to host a “Drag Ball” themed lounge event. Students were invited to come in drag and dance the night away.

The “Drag Ball” is usually an annual event sponsored by AQUA, or Allies and Queers Undergraduate Association, an organization that functions as a part of the Rainbow Center . Unfortunately at this point in the semester, the organization is no longer active, so the Rainbow Center decided to host it. 

Martina Powell, a 3rd-semester women’s gender and sexuality studies major, said of the selection of the drag theme, “We pick a new theme every week, and we didn’t want to pick Halloween, we wanted something cool, so we picked drag as an interesting way to celebrate Halloween.”

Powell also mentioned that many students enjoy dressing in drag and that this was a good opportunity for the students to enjoy a night of fun. Richard Smith, an 8th-semester English major and one of the organizers of the event, said of the Rainbow Center’s undertaking of the event, “We wanted to at least have it this year.”

 By 7 p.m. ,the lounge was in full swing, with students dancing and mingling to the beat of popular favorites. The lounge was decorated with rainbow streamers and multi-colored balloons and students were dancing in unison to favorites such as “Cha-Cha Slide” and “Party Rock Anthem.” Gerson Mendoza, a 3rd-semester Economics major, said “I wanted to see what it was about, I had no idea it was this lively.”

Many students came dressed in drag, while others opted for Halloween costumes, or regular street ware, making for a colorful and diverse environment. Students had fun dancing and mingling in the party environment and snacking on freshly baked cookies and Krispy Kreme Donuts. 

Of the goals of the event, Smith wanted to make “people feel comfortable to come as they are, being who they are at all times.” Powell agreed, saying, “It’s a fun night; we want to bring people together, and make people feel comfortable here, and feel like they can come to our more education programs and lectures.”