Southeast PRIDE group to host 'Hallowqueen' drag show

For two years, Southeast Missouri State University's student organization PRIDE, formerly known as the Gay Straight Alliance, has hosted a drag show. This year's theme is Halloween.

Eric Mahnken, PRIDE's president, said this year's show will be Halloween-themed. The show will be at 7 p.m. today in the University Center Ballroom.

"I imagine some of the kings and queens are gonna go a little bit over the top and run with the Halloween theme," Mahnken said.

Anjuli Symone, known as Nyrobie Price on stage, is a student at Southeast and will be performing in this year's drag show. Symone said Halloween is year-round for most performers.

"The fact that it's actually a Halloween performance means that we're going to take it even more than what we usually do on the daily," Symone said. "I think it'll be exciting."

At this year's show, attendees can expect to see returning performers, such as Butterscotch, who will be the emcee for the night.

Symone has been doing drag for almost a year, and she started doing drag because of her love of performing.

"I needed to do something that would allow me to have control artistically completely, and in drag, I could do that," Symone said.

Symone said she is using drag as a steppingstone for her to venture into burlesque. Burlesque is a variety show involving elements of striptease.

The officers of PRIDE will choose the kings and queens. Participants will come from the area, as well as from St. Louis and Carbondale, Illinois.

Lauran Belling, PRIDE's public relations chairwoman, said it is important for PRIDE to have the drag show each year.

"I think overall it breaks gender stereotypes," Belling said. "It kind of brings attention to that for people that are a little unfamiliar with the LGBT community."

Many people hold misconceptions about drag. Symone said she wants people to understand the difference between drag and wanting to be something you're not.

"A lot of people think men in dresses mean they want to be women, when a lot of those men are very, very proud to be gay or straight," Symone said. "It's an art form; it's just performing."

Although the drag show is free, PRIDE will accept donations for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is an organization created to give back and spread the Christmas spirit to those in need worldwide. The organization fills shoe boxes with various small items.

"We're wanting to hopefully encourage people to just bring small objects like toothpaste, toothbrushes and washcloths, maybe little old toys, socks, things that we can put in boxes and get shipped all over," Mahnken said. "It doesn't have to do with the LGBT community; we just wanted to help give back as a whole."

Pertinent address:

1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.