WEST LIBERTY — Last week on the Hilltop, Wednesday, September 12 was a night like no other: WLU’s Pride Club held their 4th annual Drag Bingo celebration.
Dr. Felipe Rojas, Pride Club Advisor of 4 years, says “this is our most popular and fun event and the biggest event since Homecoming.”
Many people were in attendance for this event, filling the College Union with loud cheers and a fun-filled evening.
The Pride Club has been an established club for around 7 years, but its been at its most active in the last 4. Demetri Ray, the new Pride Club President who took over in September, said that there are about ten to fifteen active members in the club.
After speaking to Dr. Rojas, Ray, and Pride Club Vice President Jamie Fowler, the consensus of this club seems to be the same: they want to bring awareness to the LGBTQ+ community and give WLU students of the community representation.
Drag Bingo does just that. The reason that the Pride Club continues to host this event is to bring awareness to the community and the art of drag, as well as to offer a space for students to feel included and safe.
Drag Bingo has been hosted at West Liberty for the last 4 years, and it is led by drag performers with prizes and performances. This year, the Pride Club had 4 performers: Dixie Surewood, Alora Chateaux, Rev-Lation, and Hanna Roid.
Approximately 8 rounds of bingo were played with 6 prize baskets, which were sponsored by other clubs and organizations here at West Liberty. The event started at 8 and featured all 4 drag performers performing between rounds of bingo.
At around 11 p.m., a lip-sync battle inspired by “Rupaul’s Drag Race” was held for a chance to win the grand prize, a Nintendo Switch. The drag performers offered pictures at the end of the show to close the night.
Future events coming up hosted by the Pride Club are a ceremony for Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 19th, the Second Chance Prom in the spring, and the Lavender Ceremony, a special graduation ceremony for those in the LGBTQ+ community and
allies.
The Pride Club holds their meetings every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Student Leadership
Center. They encourage all those who are interested in the club or want to help with future events to attend the meetings.
