By Ali Siemens (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 21, 2012
Songs such as “I’m Sexy and I Know It” and “Born This Way” were blaring from inside AfterMath on Thursday, March 15, as UFV students gathered for the King and Queen Drag show, put on by PRIDE, and co-sponsored by AIM (the Anti-Ism Movement), CIVL radio and AfterMath. The evening was emceed by the charming and hilarious Mimi Marcel, also known as SUS rep-at-large Ryan Petersen.
With over 100 people packed inside the campus pub, gender-bending students dressed to impress and showcased their many talents in a show that wowed the judges. From pie making to swing dancing to poi spinning, each contestant made their mark and had the audience clapping and laughing with delight.
Sitting proudly behind the judging table was Student Life programmer Martin Kelly, head of Human Rights & Conflict Resolution Curtis Magnuson, head of Fashion Design Deanna Devitt and the guest of honour, UFV president Mark Evered.
During the Q&A, Vera, the ‘50s housewife, was asked what her thoughts on world peace were; her stereotypical response,“I don’t know, I’ll have to ask my husband,” had the audience in stiches laughing. Billy Joe, the hunter redneck, proceeded to shock and appall the audience with his over-the-top sexist answers, while the sleezy French prostitute Fiona LeBlanc definitely pushed a few lines herself in the way of political correctness. As for Carla Black, a character parodying Ke$ha, she spent the show mostly too “wasted” to do anything but seductively move and shake her hips.
At the end of the evening, two participants were crowned Queen and King of the contest: Vera, the endearing housewife portrayed by Finn Nevill, and Jimmy with his wife Joelle as consort, the swing dancing couple played by Jennifer and Joel Colbourne who likened themselves to Charlie Chaplin and Julia Roberts.
One of the goals of PRIDE is to disassemble social stereotypes. By bending their gender, they took pride in themselves and had a night of fun dressing as the opposite sex. There were even a number of audience members who showed up cross-dressed to show their support. Above all, though, PRIDE put on a successful event that left attendees smiling.
