OUT student union hosts IU's first drag king pageant Feb. 1 at McNutt

IU has a 15-year tradition of drag queen pageants. This year, however, a new tradition is starting. OUT, IU's student-run Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender student union is putting on the inaugural Hoosier Daddy Drag King Pageant, which will take place at 8 p.m. Feb. 1 in the McNutt Flame Room. \n"It's a way to celebrate male impersonation," said OUT member Kim Ruggles. \nUnlike the annual drag queen pageant Miss Gay IU in which men impersonate women, the women will be impersonating men. \nContestants will be judged in the categories of talent, costume and an onstage question. The talent category will be judged on how well the contestants perform as male impersonators. The costume category will take the place of the traditional evening gown competition and will be judged on how the competitors present themselves with makeup and hair. The final category will be judged by how well the contestants answer the question given to them.\nRuggles said OUT hopes to have five contestants competing in the pageant. Three contenders have been confirmed, but Ruggles still hopes that others will sign up. \n"The people competing have never done this before," Ruggles said, so inexperienced drag competitors are welcome. The only qualification to compete is being active in the GLBT community, though the applicants don't have to be members of OUT. \nWhile not many people have applied to be contestants, Ruggles said a large interest has been shown in attendance. \n"Most are just interested in seeing it, not being in it," Ruggles said. \nThough Miss Gay IU has been held for 15 years, a male impersonator pageant has not been because OUT didn't know if there would be enough interest. Once interest was shown, OUT saw it as a chance to get people excited about it. \nVanessa Vale and Della Licious, the reigning and former Miss Gay IU respectively, and an Indianapolis drag king group called the King of Clubs will also be performing. \nThough no admittance fee will be charged, donations will be accepted. Of the money raised, 75 percent will go to the Middle Way House and the remaining 25 percent will be used to fund the Miss Gay \nIU program. \nThe winner will receive free tickets to the Miss Gay IU pageant and be an escort for Vale and the future winner of the pageant. If you are interested in becoming a contestant, e-mail OUT@indiana.edu.