Thousands Attend UW-Milwaukee Drag Show

Over 3,000 people and students packed the Milwaukee Theatre to see Drag Queens and Kings perform lip-syncing pieces of performance that included, lights, music, glamorous costumes and sometimes even choreography.

The event was held by UWM and the LGBT Resource Center. The Drag Show has been a famous event for over 15 years. The show continually ranks as one of the top drag performances in the Midwest. A Drag Queen/King is an individual performing as the opposite gender. Each organization will also have their own performers performing a special act raising money for their charities.

More than $1,700 was made through donations and performance tips that will be split and donated to Project Q, a youth program at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, and Pathfinders Milwaukee, an organization helping LGBT homeless youth. Mike Sportiello, UWM Student Association President, spoke after the opening performance that included the LGBT Resource Center Staff.

“Let us all be proud of who we are. Let’s go,” said Sportiello. The crowd cheered and the show began.

The show consisted of many performers using pop music, dancing, especially “voguing,” a dance form that incorporates the stylized poses of fashion models along with elements borrowed from mime, gymnastics, and martial arts.

Vivian Storm hosted the night, sharing much admiration towards the cause and charities supporting the LGBT community. She provided many in-between sets of comedy and performances alongside Co-Host Lady J.

The event showcases a feature of displaying live tweets throughout the night. Using the hashtag #UWMDragShow many student and attendees would provide a short commentary of how each performance went. The focus of the live tweets moved onto the ASL interpreters. Many expressed their amazement of how sassy and entertaining it was to see them interpreting the songs.

Tweets kept making the same remarks stating “The ASL interpreters are stealing the show,” and “The sign language lady is giving me life.” Many tried to get various hashtags trending to show support for the interpreter’s involvement in the show.

At a certain point in the show, Vivian Storm brought two high school students on stage to speak on behalf of an event called ‘Pride Camp.’ UWM Pride Discovery Camp helps LGBT+ high school students embrace their identities and participate in community building, activism, self-expression, and embrace their connections in the LGBT+ Community.

One of the high school students spoke out to those who contemplate going to Pride Camp. “Regardless of where you are in life, there is nothing like connecting with people,” she said.

“Come. You won’t regret it.”