RockOUT hosted Drag Brunch Bingo on Feb. 26 in the Robert M. Smith Student Center Ballroom. The event featured bingo games hosted by the drag queens, drag performances and a brunch buffet with mock mimosas.
RockOUT co-hosted the event with Rock the Weekend, Student Association of American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA) and Healthy Outreach through Peer Education (HOPE). Slippery Rock University’s Student Government Association (SGA) was also involved in planning and donating prizes.
Frankie Walker, president of RockOUT, has been a part of the organization since his sophomore year. He said previous drag shows starred up-and-coming queens. Now, Walker is using connections he made in Pittsburgh. A few of the queens come back regularly to perform at SRU.
“Here at Slippery Rock, the students really are a good audience . . . a lot of what drag queens do is interacting with the crowd, and they’re really good at interacting back with the queens, giving them a good time,” Walker said.
Walker is a super-senior majoring in public relations. During his time at SRU, he said that LGBT culture on campus has improved and more affirming organizations have been established.
Although Walker does not know of many local drag queens, he said he knows there are fans of drag culture in the Slippery Rock area.
Drag Brunch Bingo was open to the local community as well as SRU students. Walker said he had heard about many high school students and at least one professor who were planning on attending the event.
“It’s kind of novel and unique, so whenever it does come to Slippery Rock, I feel like people are really drawn towards that and that’s why the event that we had last Saturday was as successful as it was,” Walker said.
Compared to previous drag shows, Walker said this event was more of a collaborative effort. He called the participation “heartwarming,” as RockOUT usually plans events on their own.
“Having events like that improves the reach of our community, shows that there is a community here, allows people to feel more safe expressing themselves . . . I think it means a lot for us, personally, to have other organizations supporting an LGBT-centered event,” Walker said.
