Plans for Vanderbilt University's 14th annual drag show are under way and the event's organizers are calling for all queens to participate.
The event, hosted each year by Vanderbilt's Lambda Association, will be held Sept. 27 in the Vanderbilt Student Life Center at 7 p.m. More than 700 people attend last year, making it one of the university’s largest events (barring athletics), according to Lambda President Klint Peebles.
Vanderbilt’s Dean of Students Mark Bandas, who spearheaded the search for a director for the new Office of LGBTQI Life, and Chancellor Nick Zeppos, are expected to attend the event.
Peebles said the event's popularity demonstrates the importance of GLBTQI culture in Nashville.
“It shows that Vanderbilt and Nashville has a very prominent GLBTQI presence and that Vanderbilt’s student organizations reach far out from campus into Nashville to get spectators and performers."
The first shows were held on Olin Lawn, a relatively obscure area of campus, Peebles said. As the event grew in popularity, it was moved to more prominent areas of campus - first to Currey Lawn and then to Alumni Lawn.
The October show in the Student Life Center will mark a new milestone.
“It makes it more official and prominent on campus,” Peebles said.
The free event is sponsored by several departments on campus and through funds allotted to the Lambda Association.
Peebles said professional and amateur female impersonators from across Nashville are invited to register to perform at the event. Music will be provided by DJ Ron and GLBT organizations from across Tennessee have been invited to set up booths for a Sharing Knowledge awareness event, to be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Life Center before the show, where the can share information about GLBT issues.
"The purpose of the event is to show the mainstream community that drag can be fun and is a learning experience and legitimate artform," Peebles said. "It brings the campus together to show we can have fun together and understand each other through cultural elements."
To participate in the show or to set up a booth for you organization, contact Peebles at klint.peebles@vanderbilt.edu.
The Vanderbilt Lambda Association strives to provide programming and resources to inform the entire Vanderbilt community of issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity.