Drag U Downtown hosted Drag U Mania on Thursday, raising over $1,000 to better support the nonprofit partner organization, Drag University, which focuses on community-based outreach and programming not specific to the University.
In the past, Drag U Downtown events were hosted by the Residence Hall Association, but last year it became a registered organization with its own student team, Jackson Hamblin, student lead for the event and a senior studying nonprofit leadership and management, said.
He said students, alumni and community supporters have made efforts to create Drag University, which is aiming to eventually host the event outside of the University.
Meghan McDermott, executive director for the Drag University board and graduate support coordinator for the School of Technology for Public Health, said Drag University’s mission is to connect members of the LGBTQ+ community through the avenue of drag.
McDermott said Drag U Downtown will continue to be an organization led by students and that the nonprofit's goal is to be fully funded and be able to financially support Drag U Downtown without going through ASU.
She said the board plans on offering workshops for people to learn more about what goes into drag. Most importantly, she said, they want to continue to spread the message of queer joy.
"Joy is both a personal experience, but also a statement," McDermott said. "It is showing the world that we are here, that we are a community that experiences joy. Joy also builds on the resiliency of our community."
Hamblin said Drag U Mania, which was hosted at the Downtown Phoenix campus Sun Devil Fitness Complex, was a wrestling-themed drag show.
He said the theme's inspiration came from last year's event, which was postponed by ASU's Educational Outreach and Student Services.
READ MORE: Breaking: ASU, EOSS Postpone Drag U Downtown Events
Hamblin said it was important for him to honor the work that went into putting together last year's event and wanted students to see it come together.
He said they brought in guest performers and vendors who were originally set to participate in the year before to fulfill their goal of connecting students with queer resources, vendors and businesses.
"The best way to do that would be through the people serving at Drag U Downtown," Hamblin said. "We wanted to try to get an assortment of vendors, and some of these vendors we've actually been working with for a few years now."
Drag U Mania was one of the many events scheduled for Pride Week, Hamblin said, with events happening throughout the downtown campus.
He said that with the majority of Pride events being hosted on the Tempe campus, he wanted the event and Pride Week to offer representation for the LGBTQ+ community on the downtown campus.
"There is a space for them here on the downtown campus, even if they don't see it throughout the year," Hamblin said. "There are always students that they can connect with at these events, there are businesses that they can go to throughout the year, there are resources that they can get connected with, and that there's just always someone here for them at ASU."
Jesse Baltazar, president of the Queer Center, said they had a table at the event in support of Drag U Downtown because of the value it serves in uplifting the community.
He said the Queer Center is the first LGBTQ+ center in Phoenix in over 10 years, and they offer a variety of programs and resources for all of the queer community.
"We have queer students, so we need to cater to everyone and make everybody feel welcome," Baltazar said. "If we can provide resources and programs for them to thrive, then we've done our job."
Blake Masterson, a sophomore studying medical studies and an attendee at Drag U Mania, said he enjoyed being around a group of people in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
"I think (celebrating Pride is) really important because, especially with all of the hate and aggressive policies with the current administration, I think it's important to once again say LGBTQ people exist," Masterson said.
He added that queer events are an important part in reminding students that there are resources available and a community around them.
"Celebrating pride on campus is important because people are important," Masterson said. "This is why we have to celebrate. We have to say we are here, we exist and we want to be respected, because we're people."
Edited by Natalia Rodriguez, Henry Smardo, Emilio Alvarado and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at alillest@asu.edu and follow @allylillestol on X.
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Allison Lillestol is a reporter for the community and culture desk. She is in her 4th semester with the State Press. She also works for Arizona PBS.
