This Saturday, the UT Martin Allies organization on campus will be hosting its annual drag show, but with a special twist.
Not only will this year’s show feature some eye – catching drag kings and queens, this year there will also be LGBTQ+ art and shirts by the artist Ben Griffith.
Several UT Martin students will be featured in the drag show, and have prepared musical numbers or acts to strut their stuff to this Halloween night.
Doors for Eye Candy open at 6:45 p.m. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be treats provided. The queens are scheduled to make their way on stage at 7:30. The cost for general admission is $7 at the door, and the t-shirt prices will be given at the event. While any ticketholder is welcome in the doors, some viewer discretion is advised due to themes or lyrics that may not be appropriate for children.
A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to support The Trevor Project, the number one non – profit focused on suicide prevention in the teenage population of the LGBTQ+ community. The other profits made will go back into the Allies organization, and funding the drag show.
According to their student organizations webpage, “Allies is a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and straight organization that believes in the elimination of discrimination in all its forms.”
This group, founded in 1996, hopes to provide a clear support system for members of the group, and a stronger unity amongst the general public by improving understanding. They host a variety of activities throughout the year, and attended PRIDE in Memphis earlier this fall.
Active membership in the group requires a $10 fee, but any who have a genuine interest may attend meetings at Tuesday nights in the Sociology Building beside Humanities from 6 to 7 p.m. There is a rigid confidentiality agreement for all of these meetings to ensure the safety of all students. Another policy under the Allies belief statement is no assumption of sexual orientation or cultural background, making it inclusive for all.
