Just in time for the beginning of Pride Month, Safe Haven is putting together a drag show for all students and staff. The show will be on May 31, taking place in the Building 6 auditorium. The venue will open to the public at 4:00 p.m., with the show starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and all are welcome to attend, however those under 16 years of age will have to be accompanied by an adult. 

The show will feature Caliente XL, a local drag group, as the main performers in addition to local resources, communities and Chemeketa clubs that will be tabling at the event. Some of these include Planned Parenthood, Cherry City Roller Derby, PFLAG, Oregon Safe Schools and Salem Capital Pride. Additionally, Safe Haven’s book club, The Reading Rainbows, and the Chemeketa English Club will be there to represent the college and discuss queer literature. 

While some people question the importance and relevance of drag shows, Julisa Rios Chavez, Safe Haven’s coordinator assistant, says that drag “gives the wonderful opportunity of expression, it gives that safe place for the community away…from the discrimination and harassment. The importance of having that community moves people forward. Isolation is dangerous and within this community we have each other and the safety to express ourselves.” 

Drag has a rich history. Tate Jackson, Safe Haven’s LGBTQ coordinator, mentions that many are fed the same image when it comes to drag, but that it’s actually rooted in so much more. “Most people when they hear ‘drag,’ they assume that it’s a gay man dressing as a woman,” says Jackson, “But there are drag kings, drag queens—anybody can do drag. It’s been based in the exaggeration of gender in a way that’s humorous and pokes fun at social norms.” 

“LGBTQ communities are underserved, underrepresented and are really thought of as the last thing,” says Rios Chavez, “So we really want to send a message of inclusion and ensure that our community is seen.”