By Thomas Kedzierski

May 1, 2019

Drag Queens, Kings, and spectators alike descended upon GCCs Stuart Steiner Theatre, the evening of March 30^th, for the inaugural Drag Show: The Battle in Batavia. The event sponsored by GCC’s Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Student Club, as a fundraiser for the first LGBT scholarship at the College.

The two-hour event was filled with multiple vivacious performances from the likes of Jayme Coxx, Christian Gaye, and Winter K. Storm of Buffalo, along with Aziza Bijou, Destiny Spice, and Cassanova Theking of Rochester, in addition to GCC amateurs.

The show followed a Buffalo vs Rochester format, with each queen and king performing two songs throughout the night. Spectators were encouraged to interact and tip. Winter K Storm darted, split, danced, and gyrated on stage as if she was born in heels. Her friendly competitor, Aziza Bijou took the stage with such ferocity that she spilled out into the audience.

After the first heat of delicate displays of dance from all of the queens and kings and a short intermission, Destiny Spice and Jayme Coxx took time for photos with fans and a Question and Answer session. Spice and Coxx are veterans of the Western New York Drag Scene with 18 and 16 years of performing. “I started on a dare and loved it,” said Coxx, “I like to say I got bit by the Drag bug.”

Towering in height, in heels, make up, and dresses, the two queens explained how they differ in and out of Drag, “Surprisingly, I’m actually super introverted,” said Spice. “Then people ask me to come to a show, and I’m a super extrovert.”

Drag allows the performers to create a character with a whole new personality, “I was a really shy person when I found this way to escape from the real world,” said Coxx, “Drag is something you create, and everything I learn gets added to the pile of Jayme Coxx,”

The queens explained the significance of the Drag Show as a fundraiser in Genesee County. “This event shows the College is cultural and diverse,” said Spice. Area residents agreed, “I haven’t had the opportunity to go to a drag show otherwise,” said Justin Wanke. “It was fun to watch.”

The show was a fundraiser to support GCC’s first and only LGBT scholarship; all proceeds from the event funded the scholarship. “A lot of LGBT youth get kicked out of the house and don’t have money for school,” said Spice. Coxx agreed: “LGBT people deserve an education too.”