This being the week before NCOD, our campus B-GLAAD group (for which I am faculty advisor) sponsored a couple of (quite successful, as it turned out) events.
First was our annual Free Expression Tunnel painting event, which was used to advertise our other two main activities -- Judy Baca (which we co-sponsored with several other groups) and the B-GLAAD Drag Show.
Judy Baca is a lesbian, Chicana muralist who teaches in the UCLA system. She is known best for her work with delinquent children in L.A.; together she and dozens of youngsters painted the history of L.A. along a 1/2 mile segment of one of the canals. She is also the impetus (and a primary artist) behind the World Wall -- an ever-expanding traveling mural that is the collaboration of artists from around the world (we were supposed to have one of the panels from this mural for exhibition, but it the entire mural was damaged in a strong storm several weeks ago and is in restoration; we had a 1/2 size digital reproducation that was still impressive). This is the first time that B-GLAAD has ever co-sponsored a campus cultural event such as this one and it was very exciting. Baca gave a stimulating and thought-provoking 1-1/2 hour lecture and slide show to a packed house.
Tonight was the occasion of our 3rd, sort of biannual Drag Show. Our five queens put on a terrific show; scored some major tips and raised several hundred dollars for B-GLAAD. The show was attended by a diverse crowd; lots of family, but lots of friendly str8 folks as well. Barbara Daye, Dean of Students and Vice-Chancellor of something attended for the second show in a row. Lots of my students were there and I got a big cheer when I went on-stage after the show to say a few words. Beck happily photographed the entire event, both backstage and frontstage (she's a photographer for the paper, but was doing this shoot for herself). The editor of the student newspaper and two other photographers were there as well, so I hope to get some paper coverage next week.
MeanMary, Reporting from Boone.
