VCU Drag Ball benefits Fan Free Clinic

On a recent Saturday night in the University Student Commons, about 250 people packed the Commonwealth Ballroom A-B to listen to music while eagerly awaiting the special show – the Drag Ball.

“I came to have fun and be entertained by a drag queen,” said James Gibson, a first-year prepharmacy major.

Queer Action, a student group established in February 2004, organized its first ever VCU Drag Ball to benefit the Fan Free Clinic’s transgender clinic. Jeremy Kidd, president of the group, said he hoped people would have fun and learn a little.

“We want to show people they can have fun with gender. … We have these rigid boundaries of what male and female means in our society,” Kidd said. “(It’s great) having people break out of that even for a night.”

All ticket-sale proceeds and paid tips given to the volunteer performers, which totaled about $1,200, went directly to the clinic.

“Anytime somebody does a special event like this for us – going to all this trouble to help out the clinic – it’s really amazing,” said Cat Hulburt, director of development for the Fan Free Clinic, who was handing out free information and condoms at the door.

Professional drag queen Tiffany Devereaux kicked off her energetic performance wearing a black curly wig while dressed in black leotards, black boots and a black leather jacket while dancing and lip-synching to the legendary music of Cher.

India Spaulding, dressed in an elegant blue gown, followed with a mellower rhythm and blues number.

The third performer, drag king Vegas, entered the stage guiding a sparsely dressed S&M-type man on a leash. They both danced and performed to a rock rendition of “Tainted Love.”

A second act followed with Devereaux rocking the crowd as Britney Spears with Spaulding slowing it down with a ballad, and Vegas closing with John Legend’s “Ordinary People” rendition.

Next, student amateurs took the stage, including Kidd wearing a long brown wig, a bright blue bra and tight black pants. Highlighting the amateurs’ performance, “Tahara Le” and her two backup dancers grooved to the music of the Pussycat Dolls and Christina Aguilera. “Tahara Le” said they practiced for a week to learn the choreographed dance steps, thinking it would be a good event with a good cause.

“It’s a great event. … It’s good to get out of your comfort zone,” she said. “It’s something we all benefit from.”

The crowd seemed to think it was a special event for the VCU community, as some in the audience members also dressed in drag outfits.

“It seemed like a good idea, and it was an excuse for me to wear my skirt,” said Daniel Dellinger, a political-science major. “I think it’s really cool (of VCU). It shows they’re accepting all different kinds of lifestyles. We have our big support-the-troops day, and the day after you have this. It shows a lot of diversity.”

Other students agreed.

“I’m glad they’re (VCU) open-minded,” said Amanda Caffi, an art-education major. “It’s nice to be exposed to other subcultures you are not familiar with and exploring other social values and morals.”