Luís Escobar, staff writer

Coming Out Week is an important reminder for queer people to be proud of who they are. Walking into the Sateren Auditorium on the closing night of Coming Out Week was awe-inspiring. Seeing every performer be their authentic self and become vulnerable yet thrilled on the stage was an incredible experience. From students who were expressing themselves through art to drag performers who ate that stage up!

From Oct. 10 to Oct 14, Coming Out Week has been filled with pride thanks to Augsburg’s own Queer Pride Alliance (QPA)! Ending the week on a night filled with queer talent was perfect. The Sateren Auditorium was beautiful, with rainbow lights on the stage setting the mood for fun and comforting vibes. Even before the performance started, everyone was just happy to be surrounded by other queer people, being able to be themselves wholeheartedly. 

The performances began with an original song by senior Jack Jenson with an original song about being trans and dealing with constant reminders that the world is not always welcoming for us. The audience immediately began cheering in support. A passive visitor stated “It was nice hearing someone just be honest, like really share their thoughts.” Two more student performances occurred: a duo who had performed covers of “Been a Son” and “Polly” by Nirvana. Student performances ended with Maggie Venhuizen, a second year student who stirred up the stage with her music performance on her guitar, performing guitar covers of Alice Cooper and other metal artists. Shredding the guitar, the energy spiked in the audience.

After intermission, the drag queen guest performers took the stage. Aranya made their way onto the stage with a mix of Lady Gaga songs, getting the audience cheering almost immediately. Their outfit matched their performance, nothing shy of provocative and flashy. It is almost impossible to find words for their performance, and it was clear the audience was in love with everyone’s performances. Bettybang capitalized on the excitement from Aranya, taking every chance to be close with the audience, photobombing to their delight, dancing and managing to do flips in four-inch heels. Cia Vanity was the last of the three performers, performing all across the stage and auditorium to match the energy, and lip synching to hit Latinx songs. 

As a queer person that often presents androgynous or feminine, it was inspiring to see drag queens perform, being confident in themselves and their identity. Two of the performers, Cia Vanity and Aryana, also identified as Latinx, and it is not often that I find other open queer Latinx people. Sharing that space and that moment with each of the performers, being able to support them, was something that will stay with me forever. 

“Being my first drag show, it was really nice to be surrounded by other queer people. It felt like a safe space. I’d love to go back and see another [drag show], I’m excited to see what else QPA brings for other pride events,” shared J’Mariyoun Jordan. Other students shared the same sentiment, many coming from backgrounds where their exposure to other queer people is limited. We hope QPA is able to continue making events to bring the queer community together.