WSU’s LGBTQ+ Center celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday with two major events.
An audience gathered to listen to different guest speakers and view the historical timeline exhibit during a two-hour meeting in the Terrell Library.
In the evening, a drag show hosted by TabiKat Productions took place in the CUB Junior Ballroom which had a good turnout.
Drag queens and TabiKat co-founder, Kathy Sprague, spoke briefly about their personal histories with drag and queer culture, the challenges they have all faced, why they do what they do and touched upon struggles facing the queer community today. Some of the drag queens performing had previously done shows in the Palouse back in 1994, the year that the LGBTQ+ Center was founded.
Afterwards, the audience was treated to a showstopping performance from both drag queens and kings.
Josie Cohen-Rodriguez, LGBTQ+ student life and community coordinator at the center, introduced the event.
“I am so excited to have such amazing people here with us today to talk a little bit about what it means for 30 years for the LGBTQ+ center,” she said.
The event happened to land on TabiKat’s 30th anniversary and Sprague’s 60th birthday.
“My 30th birthday was our first drag show. So, this is the 30th anniversary of my 30th birthday party,” Sprague said.
Continuing the talk, the group spoke about the current political landscape and how that can affect queer people.
“We need to think very strategically over the next few years about how people in Pullman can support people in Idaho, especially our queer community, especially our immigrant community, right?” Miss Goldenrod said.
The audience gave finger snaps of agreement paired with cheers throughout this discussion.
The queens reminisced on the early days of their drag scene to lift the spirits once more before the show began,
“You hear of Shake n’ Go? THAT is what the ’90s was,” Miss Vicious said.
Once the audience was laughing and cheering, the show began. A wide variety of performances from both drag kings and queens took place as they danced along to hits such as “Lunch” by Billie Eilish, “Guess” by Charli XCX and “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher.
The night drew to a close with all of the performers taking the stage to bow and thank the audience.
