The Friday night bar scene is not an image often associated with charity — then again, men in heels isn’t either.
On Friday, the Ohio University Little Monsters will host its second annual “Don’t Be a Drag, Just Be a Queen” Drag Show for charity at The Union, 18 W. Union St.
Little Monsters is a charity organization at Ohio University that brings together fans of Lady Gaga’s music, video, philanthropy work and more. Its motto — “70 percent charity, 30 percent glamour” — explains how the group operates its events and fundraisers.
The idea was to form a club dedicated to what Lady Gaga stands for, specifically her message of equality for all people, said executive board member R.J. Spencer, a sophomore studying finance and marketing.
“We try to make it clear that you don’t have to fit under a certain label. You just have to be a person who’s open and, even if you are a person who has different kinds of ideals, be open to the idea of expanding your horizons,” Spencer said.
Spencer said he plans to include firework breasts in his costume if he can solve some technical difficulties, he said.
“Lady Gaga says she considers herself to be bisexual — and she’s very outspoken about it — but she doesn’t identify as solely an (LGBT) individual; she identifies as a person who supports equality for all people,” Spencer said.
And it is that foundation to which the club stays true. Rather than identifying as an LGBT group, it is an ally group, one where all people of all sexual orientations are welcome.
Tess Stevens, a freshman studying theater performance, identifies herself as an ally and will recreate Lady Gaga’s “You and I” performance in which Gaga performed as Joe Calderone at the MTV Video Music Awards.
“Drag shows are fun. It doesn’t matter who you are,” Stevens said.
Gaga’s “Born This Way” was produced about the time that the group decided to host its own charity drag show last year, and the song quickly became the theme. It was a huge success, garnering more than $1,100, even after paying The Union and helping ALLY pay for its Queer Prom, Spencer said.
This year’s proceeds will be split between Stand Up to Cancer, The Batten Disease Support and Research Association based in Cleveland, and Equality Ohio.
gm220908@ohiou.edu
