Idols and royalty

Rainbow Pride Mosaic presents amateur Drag Idol

For anyone who has never ventured into the Rainbow Pride Mosaic centre, the show is about to come to you.

As part of UMSU’s LGBT (lesbian/gay/bi-sexual and trans-gendered two-spirited) awareness week, University Centre will be the spot for this year’s amateur Drag Idol performances on Friday, February 10. UC’s main floor next to the Pit will be transformed into the arena of Kings and Queens competing for cash prizes and the honour of being Winnipeg’s next Drag Idol winner.

More than a fashion show, more than a musical, with more than the usual amount of makeup one would expect to wear to lectures, shows like Idol have inspired and attracted audiences of all kinds to come out and watch the excitement. Drag requires the right clothing, music and moves, along with the right attitude.

“I have to drop every masculine bone in my body,” said David Fox, an organizer and participant in the show, adding that, likewise, drag kings have to suppress feminine traits “to take on the persona of a boy.”

Fox, along with others from the U of M, is going to face the unrelenting criticism of Idol’s feared guest judges: drag queens Destiny and Lucy Lube, along with kings Will Y’Do Me and Justin Timberlick, will open the show, displaying their talents and establishing their authority on all things drag.

These local performers have been handpicked to judge the U of M’s finest, having seen their fair share of leering and jeering audiences. They will parlay their hard-earned knowledge in a Simon-Cowell-style critique of the amateurs while a mixed audience gets to watch.

Prizes include $200.00 and a Gio’s membership for first place, $100.00 for second place, and $50.00 for third place.

After the heart-breaking (or drag-life affirming) advice from the panel, the show’s drama will unfold in “a Miss America-style [ending] . . . and the second runner- up is . . . ,” Fox explained.

Fox predicts that anyone hoping to see claws bared offstage and acts sabotaged will be disappointed.

“Everybody’s on board, working backstage and trying to make the performance the best they can. We want to [put on a great show], and we’re all students: who couldn’t use the prize money?” he added.

The drag demo/competition is just a part of the festivities planned for the LGBT Awareness Week, hosted by UMSU. Other performances include a Coffee House featuring the Lesbian Rangers (Thursday at 7:00 pm in Degrees) and film showings of Better Than Chocolate (Friday at 1:45 p.m. in the MPR) and Latter Days (Friday at 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of UC).

If you have ever done a drag number or missed any of this year’s other drag events; if you want to pick up a few tips or would just like to hear some old fashioned, mean-spirited Cowell-esque critiques, check out Drag Idol.

Drag Idol takes place next to the Bookstore at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 10. If you have any questions, want to participate or just hang out in an LGBT-friendly environment, check out the Rainbow Pride Mosaic, room 195, Helen Glass Centre, or visit www.umsu.ca and check out the student group’s page for more information.