Annual Mardi Gras drag show celebrates LGBT culture

April 4, 2016

Halle Thornton
[email protected]

Hosted by MOSAIC to raise awareness and celebrate the LGBT community, the second annual Mardi Gras Drag Show will be in Berger Hall from 7-8:30 p.m. on April 7. The show is free to UCCS students, faculty and staff.

Graduate assistant from the LGBT Resource Center Brian Garris said that the members of MOSAIC and the LGBT Resource Center originally created the idea that has since become a popular annual event.

Garris also explained that the event is a fun and engaging way to experience queer culture.

“The event is bringing awareness, but is also a celebration of queer identities,” said Garris.

Around 200 people came to last year’s show, according to Jesse Perez, assistant director of MOSAIC.

While it is important to have educational events such as lectures from members of the LGBT community, it is also important to connect and be visible in other ways on campus, according to Perez.

“It is important to have things to identify with, and bring in diversity from many different people’s backgrounds.”

Perez explained that drag is a huge part of LGBT history and, at its core, was and continues to be an uplifting event to recognize the LGBT community.

Perez said that the event is “in your face and over the top.” The goal of the event is for all that attend to have a good time while celebrating LGBT culture.