Drag queens take the stage

Drag rocked the IU Auditorium Friday night as the 10th annual Miss Gay IU pageant performed on the Auditorium's stage for the first time. \nA contestant who wanted to be identified only as "Staci Stevens" was crowned Miss Gay IU 2001 after three and a half hours of competition.\nContestants competed in several categories, including interviews, talent and evening wear. \nOUT President Jason Jones, a senior, said he thought this year's show was the most successful in history.\n"We had so many people come up to us afterward and tell us how much fun it was," he said. "Even the Auditorium staff came up to us afterward and said, 'You're going to have to have it here next year.' We had so much fun."\nStevens, who competed in last year's pageant in Alumni Hall, said the atmosphere in the Auditorium was important to this year's competition. \n"It was a blast," Stevens said. "It seemed more professional."\nContestants and performers interacted with the audience, Stevens said, and audience members could go up to the stage and tip performers.\nMiss Gay IU is OUT's largest fund raiser of the year, and audience members paid $5 to attend.\nJones said this year was especially successful.\n"We're well on our way to funding next year," Jones said.\nThe pageant received support from campus groups, including Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Support Services; nine residence halls; Residence Halls Association; the Asian American Association; Panhellenic Association; Latinos Unidos and Golden Key National Honor Society.\nFirst runner-up was a student who wanted to be identified only as "Sugarbear Blackmon." A first-time competitor, Blackmon said his main objective was to just to go out and have fun.\n"It was very exciting and overwhelming," Blackmon said. "Interacting with the audience was just lovely. I just hope the contestants and the audience had as much fun as I did"