Contestants ready to strut to support HIV awareness in Hoosier Daddy 2010

IU alumna Shannon Cameron had an immense fear of being on stage.

But under her drag name, Cameron Taylor, she went on stage and was crowned Hoosier Daddy 2009.

She was the only contestant.

“I was nervous,” Cameron said. “I did not get over it. It makes me nervous every time. At the same time, it was for a good cause, and I was willing to do it.”

Cameron said her participation in Hoosier Daddy was her first crossover to the drag realm, and it was a unique experience. During her reign, she participated in the gay pride parade and did a fundraiser for an HIV organization. Although she didn’t do as many projects and service as she would have liked to, she is ready to pass on the crown.

“It was different looking back at the pictures and seeing me as male,” Cameron said. “They’re looking mainly for somebody who is involved in the community and looked the part of a male, having good performance abilities and then, with the question-and-answer, somebody who is articulate and well-spoken.”

Senior Joshua Sutton, President of OUT GLBT Student Union said this year’s Hoosier Daddy 2010 competition, which kicks off tonight at the Willkie Auditorium, might be more intense than last year’s. There were at least four applicants as of Tuesday.

He said the contest will allow the female and transsexual community to perform drag and the art of drag male impersonations.

“The objective of it is to harbor one night where these entertainers come and perform something you wouldn’t see on a traditional stage,” Sutton said. “Drag form is a very important label to the GLBT community, and its imagery plays a big role in the grand scheme of things.”

Although the performance is free, donations will be accepted and half of the proceeds will benefit Positive Link, a local AIDS/HIV service organization.

Sutton said while drag queens are more popular, the concept of the drag king is still suffering in terms of popularity exposure. He said females have yet to grasp the concept that they can embrace and empower the opposite sex.

He said the point system within the competition is very basic; it consists of a talent portion and a question-and-answer portion. Both categories will be evaluated by six different judges this year; including Richard Cranium, Mister USofA M.I. (Male Illustionist); Vanessa Vale, Miss Gay IU 2006, who created the idea of Hoosier Daddy; and Vicki St. James, Miss Gay IU Emeritus.

Sutton added that additional entertainment for the evening will include Ginger Ale, Miss Gay Indiana All American Goddess and Hoosier Daddy 2008 and 2010 judge Duke McAllister.

The drag competition has more than a performance aspect to it, Cameron said.

“It’s a lot more work than it looks,” she said. “I thought I was going to get up there and dress up like a boy. Just trying to take on a whole new persona, you can look like the opposite gender, but you must put together the complete package to entertain the crowd and hold interest for a period of time without being sloppy.”