By Ryan Signorino
Training Editor
St. Bonaventure’s LGBTQIA+ club hosted auditions for its upcoming performance, Spectrum Ball.
Spectrum is a club focused on safe discussions and activism for LGBTQIA+ members of the St. Bonaventure community. Spectrum Ball is a drag show performance in which students can showcase talents and experiment with gender roles, dressing up hyper-masculine or hyper-feminine, said sophomore professional and creative writing major Kaylyn Foody.
“The title ‘Ball’ harkens back to the early days of underground drag performance when events were called ‘balls’ or ‘eleganzas,’” Foody, the vice president of Spectrum, said. “The idea behind the Spectrum Ball is to allow students to freely express themselves in a fun environment and show off their talents to the campus community.”
Junior theater major Lizz Freeman, Spectrum president, said the goal of Spectrum Ball is to educate about the history of drag in a fun, interactive way.
“Drag, to many, means cross dressing. This is not the whole truth,” Freeman said. “Drag as a style is an exaggeration of either masculine, feminine or androgynous stereotypes through some kind of performance. The fancy costumes, accentuated makeup and over-exaggerated acting and performing all mix together to present the stereotypes of being masculine, feminine or androgynous to the audience.”
Sophomore business major Anna Giglio, Spectrum treasurer, said in addition to educating the campus about drag, Spectrum Ball aims to increase acceptance on campus.
“Spectrum wants to further foster love and representation of all identities throughout Bonaventure, and we hope that this event will spread this message by showcasing an important inclusive art form,” Giglio said.
The event has the opportunity to open students, faculty and staff to the world of drag and a chance for people to get to see another part of LGBTQIA+ culture, Foody said.
“We want to incorporate LGBT culture more into the campus, and we feel that this would be a great start to opening the door for questions and those who want to learn more,” Foody said. “We also hope that this helps put the name of Spectrum out on the campus radar a little bit more to help grow our club membership.”
Over the past year, Spectrum has been more active on campus, hosting numerous events such as Pride and Just Dance parties, which there will be more of this semester, Freeman and Foody said.
Since undergoing leadership changes last academic year, Giglio said the club has moved to become a more inclusive place on campus while continuing traditions like the Big Gay Door for National Coming Out Day.
Despite the changes, Freeman said they allow the club to refocus on its goal of increasing awareness on campus.
“We are putting together more and more activities and learning opportunities for all of St. Bonaventure while encouraging students and faculty to maintain an open mind about the way our world is becoming more open and accepting and the way the LGBTQIA+ dream of total acceptance maintains the core Franciscan values of love and respect for everyone,” Freeman said.
Spectrum Ball auditions were held on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Butler Gym. Freeman said the club may host more auditions next week. Spectrum Ball will be held on Friday, March 29 in the Garret Theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m.
signorra15@bonaventure.edu
