Monday, April 17. 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 5
Drag queens dazzle Union crowd
performer Iman Mykats strikes a muscular pose during Friday's Brown Bag Lunch Drag event. Hundreds of students took a break in their day to enjoy the show. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN
Nine performers take center stage at 7th annual show
Special to the Kansan
By Kimberly Thompson Special to the Kenyan
Iman Mykals peeled off his sweaty, black leather leotard, carefully removing the duct tape that had been holding his stomach in place, and he stripped down to nothing but a pair of bright orange briefs.
"Priscilla's is the only place to get hooker shoes," he said.
In the make-shift dressing area at the Governor's Room in the Kansas Union, he spoke nonchalantly about his high-heeled, leopard skin boots.
Mykals, a four-year drag queen from Topeka, had just ended his performance at Friday's seventh annual Queers and Allies Brown Bag Lunch Drag Show.
More than 500 students, faculty and Lawrence residents gathered for an hour and a half in front of the Kansas Union to watch a drag show featuring nine professional and amateur drag queens.
For a Janesville, Wis., senior going by the stage name of Katrina Rose, the drag show was his first performance. Wearing a short, velvet "Monica Lewinsky" dress he wore for Halloween and high-heeled, black velvet shoes, he strung through the crowd singing and dancing to the song "Candy" by pop-artist Mandy Moore.
"I was just shaking," he said. "But the crowd greeted me with a warm welcome."
Rose, who was involved in drama and theater in high school, decided last Monday to participate in the show as a favor to Queers and Allies events co-coordinator Jennifer Parson.
Parson said that although some performers were KU students, she found most of the drag queens at Missie B's and Club Cabaret, both Kansas City, Mo., nightclubs featuring drag performances.
Parson hired the drag queens, but she did n't pay them. Instead, they worked the crowd for tips.
Although Fred Phelps, Topela minister and a protester of the drag show in previous years, didn't appear, there were about 10 people spreading his anti-gay messages.
Standing Together Against Negative Displays, an organization opposed to dis
plays of hate on campus, had its first counter-demonstration to combat the protesters' efforts. About 20 members held retaliation signs proclaiming "Respect not hate" and worked at a table with anti-hate pamphlets and a large white paper to sign in peaceful protest.
Corrine Hickman, director of Standing Together Against Negative Displays and
Wichita senior, said she was pleased with the turnout.
"I think everyone got the message," she said. "I think it made a difference."
After Mykals performed his last number, he spoke to the audience.
"I can't catch my breath," he said. "It's my first time here. I will definitely be back next year."
Gays can find place in greek system
Pride Parade meets protests, support
Continued from page 1A
The protesters paralleled the parade on the west sidewalk and were trailed by a police officer. Some of the signs they carried read, "Gay Hawk," and "Fags Die, God Laughs." The pride marchers ignored the protesters, but people walking on the sidewalk told them that they should be more open-minded or get lost.
Both suggestions were ignored.
After the parade, the marchers gathered at South Park for soft drinks, cookies and brownies.
Jennifer Parson, co-organizer of Pride Week and Marietta, Ohio, senior, said the parade had a message.
"It's a message of pride and community support," she said.
The parade was the final event of a week of programs spons-
sored by Queers and Allies. Events included comedian Julie Goldman Monday, a party at Tremors Night Club Wednesday and a drag show and speaker Shane Windmeyer on Friday.
Having the parade go off without a hitch just made Pride Week all the better for Matt Goodman, Dallas sophomore.
"It's been great all week," he said. "Nothing's happened — it's just been great."
Alix McKenna, Lawrence resident and Maxipad with Wings' owner, moved to Lawrence from Manhattan about four years ago. This was her first parade. McKenna said that the parade was a great way to meet people and that she enjoyed the support from the people downtown. "People that would never
"People that would never know us were cheering for us," McKenna said.
By Kimberly Thompson Special to the Kansas
When Shane Windmeyer was choosing a fraternity in 1992, the first function he attended was a Super Bowl party where men were sitting together ringing cowbells and eating chili.
He didn't know anything about football, and he didn't know that in a year he would be explaining to his friends that he was gay. He just wanted to fit in and be accepted.
"I in many ways I joined because I wanted to be straight," he told an audience of 50 Friday night. "I didn't know I was gay. The last thing I wanted was to be gay."
Windmeyer, author of Out on Fraternity Row, joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity as a sophomore at Emporia State University. His speech about what it was like to be gay in the greek system was part of Gav Pride Week activities.
Windmeyer recently conducted a study that found about 10 percent of fraternity and sorority members were gay.
"Those who show the most intense homophobia have the most problems with their sexuality."
Shane Windmeyer
"If you have 30 or 40 members, three or four of them are gay," he said. "There are gay members in your house."
He said American culture used homophobia to enforce sex roles.
"Those who show the most intense homophobia have the most problems with their sexuality," he said.
There have been some extreme cases of homophobia in Greek communities, Windmeyer said. At the University of Florida, some drunken new members covered one of their half-naked fraternity brothers in anti-gay writings and drawings. They hung him by his ankles from a tree in front of a sorority
house and left him overnight.
"Why does this happen?" Windmeyer asked. "Intense homophobia is important to recognize."
Kelly Jo Karnes, assistant director of greek programs, went to Emporia State with Windmeyer and has kept in contact with him.
When Karnes heard he was coming to speak at the University, she took the topic to an Interfraternity Council meeting and asked the men if they would be interested. The men were uncomfortable and chuckled about it, she said.
She explained to them that this was a mature topic but was disappointed with the low greek turnout at the speech.
"This is a topic that's not nearly discussed as much as it should be," she said. "It's a tough topic."
Windmeyer said he was a supporter of the college greek system but was worried about how the greek community treated the gay community.
"We need to send messages to our greek systems," he said. "I'm just waiting for something to happen."
--it just doesn't get much better than this
All Shows Only 2+ Purchase Tickets at the SUA Box Office Level 4, KS Union
W Hollywood Theaters
Princess Mononoke "PG-13"
Wed., Fri, & Sat. @ 7 & 9:30 p.m.
SOUTHWIND 12
3431 IOWA
832 0880
BARGAIN MATINEES (INDICATED BY ())
STADIUM SEATING • ALL DIGITAL
General Chaos: Uncensored "NR"
Tues. & Thurs.
7 & 8 9:30 p.m.
Fritz the Cat "NC-17" Fri. & Sat. @ Midnight
STUDENT UNION ADVITATION
SUAK
UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA
SUA FILMS
- NOV · PASSEI · SUPERAVERS
SHORTTIES FOR TODAY ONLY
864-3477 * 864-SHOW
www.ukans.edu/sue
1 The Skulls *I* (1:30) 4,15; 7,15; 9,55
2 The Road To El Dorado *II* (1:40) 4,50; 7,50; 9,45
3 American Beauty *III* (1:25) 4,20; 7,20; 9,45
4 Return to Me *IV* (1:50) 4,40; 7,10; 9,45
5 Rules of Engagement *V* (1:45) 4,35; 7,20; 10,50
6 Keeping the Faith *VI* (1:45) 4,35; 7,20; 10,50
7 The Money Is *VII* (1:55) 4,25; 7,25; 9,50
8 20 Days *VIII* (1:55) 4,25; 7,25; 9,50
9 Where the Money Is *IX* (1:55) 4,50; 7,40; 9,50
10 Ready To Rumble *X* (1:35) 4,10; 7,30; 9,55
11 The Road To El Dorado *XI* (1:20) 4,30; 7,30; 9,55
also... rules of Engagement *XII* (1:40) (4,30); 8,45; 9,35
12 Ern Brockovich *XIII* (1:40) 4,30; 7,30; 10,10
1 Here On Earth *sup.* (1:50 4:30 7:10 9:40)
2 Cider House Rules *sup.* (1:45 4:35 7:00 9:30)
3 Romeo Must Die *sup.* (1:45 4:35 7:00 9:30)
4 Final Destination *sup.* (1:55 4:45 7:05 9:35)
5 American Psycho* (2:00 4:40 7:10 9:40)
6 Black And White* (2:00 4:40 7:15 9:45)
Lutaria-Bodywork Institute
841-1657, 1103 Mass. St.
The University Daily Kansan
in Student Clinic
Sat & Sun Daily
PLAZA 6
www.ukans.edu/~lied
AT THE BOTTLENECK