“Time For Change” raises money for aids service organization

As Miss Gay Bloomington Sugar Blackmon strutted in her elaborate fake eyelashes, silky black hair, knee-high black leather boots and diamond “bling” to the front of the stage at the Willkie Auditorium on Sunday, the audience erupted into cheers. She touched her body seductively, gyrated her hips, slithering down to the floor as audience members placed bills upon bills in her hands.

If the audience members were lucky, Blackmon gave them a kiss on the cheek or a personalized dance. Blackmon was one of many drag entertainers to perform for “A Time For Change,” a drag benefit concert for the Red Ribbon Outreach Alliance, an HIV/AIDS service organization partner.

Founder of RROA Vicci Laine, also the emcee for the performance, said she founded the organization to raise money for local HIV and AIDS organizations. She said she had a number of the goals for the performance.

“I want the money to stay in the community,” Laine said. “One of the biggest goals is to get people stirred up and thinking about HIV and inspired to get involved in fundraising.”

Laine said RROA will donate all the profits from the show to the local organization Positive Link. Senior Daniel Adelman, a Willkie floor president who helped organize the show, said this year’s performance raised $431 without additional proceeds from the silent auction at the show.

Different drag entertainers performed for the capacity audience, including Brooklyn Starr, Miss Gay Muncie; Chanel Cartier, the reigning Miss Gay IU; Marissa Nichole, Miss Gay IU 1995; and Courtney Anderson, Miss Gay Indiana.

All performers lip-synced to various songs, wore elaborate costumes such as a multi-colored feather dress, a peach-colored tassel clad leotard, leather boots, belts, stilettos and plenty of diamonds. They all collected cash tips during their recitals.
The drag queens not only sang, but also danced. Many of them interacted with the crowd, walking through the aisles and dancing with audience members. Performer Tiffany Alexander fell into the splits and the audience erupted into cheers. Anderson did her fare share of high kicks and even cartwheels, later popping her bottom on an audience member.

Halfway through the performances, Laine asked everyone in the audience who was planning to have sex at some point in their lives to stand up. She said half of all new HIV cases in the U.S. are in people less than the age of 25.

After reading other statistics, Laine began a lip-syncing contest, and several audience members went on stage to battle through dancing and singing. The contest was based on the volume of screaming from the audience and a male winner was chosen.

While the night was full of entertainment and outrageousness, audience member Nick Fitzer said the performance more importantly raised awareness about AIDS.

“It’s an epidemic,” Fitzer said. “It brings it to the forefront and makes it more acceptable.”

Another audience member, senior Chelsey Durnell, said she often tries to attend benefits such as “A Time For Change.”

“It’s a good time,” Durnell said. “Especially because it’s for a good cause that benefits the community, the performers have good spirits.”