Organizers hope for positive showing at Drag Bingo event for BASAC

“It’ll go to all programs,” she said of the fundraising.

“Our funding is substantially lower than the last few years just because certain grants no longer exist and also with not being allowed to deliver prevention education, I can’t apply for grants to do work that we can’t do.”

The evening will feature both Dijon and Stoney Mac and they’ll perform sets in between the bingo rounds.

Jensen said when he was first developing repertoire, his mother encouraged him to add music from Tina Turner to his set.

“She was like ‘Do Private Dancer’ so, I gave it a listen and my first listen to it, I was like ‘What are you doing to me mom, because this song is so slow.’” he said.

The performer, who also creates his own outfits, tried again from a different approach.

“I could work with this – put on a little sequined dress and then I basically become little disco-ball when the light hits just right.”

Along with the Queen of Rock n’ Roll, Jensen who, while in drag uses she/her pronouns also performs music from Whitney Huston and in his hometown crowd, brings out the Shania.

“That one usually gets a good crowd reaction because so many people just know the lyrics,” said Jensen.

Last year at a drag show fundraiser at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts, phone calls were placed by congregants of a North Battleford church before the event and later protests and counter-protests took place during the show.

Stewart said she hopes this time will be different.

“We have a community of 2SLGBTQ people and so they need to know that they are supported in their community,” she said.

“What I would say to those who maybe don’t understand or don’t like it, they don’t have to buy a ticket and go. It’s a private event but I would encourage them to do some education. There’s no place that you can have more fun than at a drag show to be honest, it’s art, it’s entertainment.”

The show itself is sold out and will take place on Fri., May. 17 at 8 p.m.

Performers encourage everyone to come dressed as their favourite fictional character and while BASAC isn’t putting on the fundraiser, they support the event and stand with the 2SLGBTQ community.

“I also would say that we work with hundreds of victims every year and none of them were assaulted at a drag show,” she said.

“That’s not who people should be worried about, the statistics show that you’re more at risk by someone that you know, members of the 2SLGBTQ community are actually at greater risk, they’re more vulnerable to be victims of sexual violence. So, the stuff that people put out there is just simply not true.”

Jensen said that before every show he tries to read Dijon’s audience and to help determine which songs are performed. Dijon will kick it up a notch with tricks and tempo if it’s a younger bar-style crowd. If it’s an older or mixed crowd, there’s a show for that too.

“Then I bring ‘Man, I feel like a Woman,’ or something to that calibre where it’s high energy but still a decent enough tempo,” he said.

Jensen explained that he isn’t expecting any negativity and performs to bring joy.

“Make people have a great time, feel welcomed, feel included,” he said.

Meanwhile, he says drag is about being “authentic” and most children look at them as Disney princesses.

“You [can] be whatever you want to be when you dress up in drag,” he said, noting it’s for everyone.

Meanwhile, “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is happening the day before.

“See if you can walk that mile in their shoes and if you can then maybe you’re destined to be onstage.

—

julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On X: jls194864

by Julia Lovett-Squires

Organizers hope for positive showing at Drag Bingo event for BASAC

What's Trending