BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Students with Illinois Wesleyan University’s Pride Alliance and Campus Activities Board are expanding the festivities for the 21st Annual Charity Drag Show on Saturday, March 23, to create a weekend of joy and celebration.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the events on March 23-24 as seating is limited. RSVP here.
At 4 p.m. on Friday, March 22, a drag queen story time will be led by performer Reggay Boots (Reggie Cooke '13) on the first floor of The Ames Library. Free and open to all ages, the event will feature story books about queer culture.
“Sometimes as a college student, you just want to be read a children’s book,” said Em Chamberlain '25, President of IWU Pride, which is hosting all weekend events along with the Campus Activities Board. “We wanted to bring some cozy, chill comfort to college students and also offer it to others in the community.”
After the story time on March 22, the IWU Pride Alumni Community (PAC) is hosting a game night at 6:30 p.m. on the first floor of State Farm Hall. Organized by PAC chair Aaron Harris Woodstein '15, all members of the campus community are invited to enjoy games and activities.
The 21st Annual Charity Drag Show will take place Saturday, March 23, at Hansen Student Center. The event is free and open to the public, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Five professional performers — including Reggay Boots, Sharon Sharealike, Roxanne Drogyny (Lena Smith '22) and Celexa Sharealike — and two student performers will take the stage throughout the evening. Any cash tips made during the show will benefit Points of Pride, a national organization that provides financial aid and direct support to people in the trans community. Tables with LGBTQ+ resources will also be on display.
“We’re hoping for a really fun night for people to enjoy and learn about different resources while supporting Points of Pride, an organization that is really saving lives,” said Chamberlain. “We want everyone to relax and have a great time while enjoying incredible performances by drag royalty. This event not only highlights a way for people to express their identity, but it also allows any Illinois Wesleyan student or community member to come and be themselves for a night. It’s connected to the message we try to send with our Pride RSO, which is all about building community.”
The final event of the weekend will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 24, as a drag royalty brunch in Young Main Lounge at the Memorial Center. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. where a self-serve buffet will be available. Reggay Boots will host the brunch-time show featuring five performers.
“Drag brunch is a staple in drag culture. It symbolizes not needing to hide in the darkness, but to continue that pride and celebration on a beautiful Sunday morning,” said Chamberlain.
Additional details about the weekend’s events can be found at @pride.iwu on Instagram and questions may be sent to pride@iwu.edu.