What started as a residence hall event March 30 turned into a packed night of bingo, music, and performances at the U-Club. Hosted by drag performers Jackie Knoph and Electrik Bill, with performances from Lotta Kakes and Angel Kakes, drag queen bingo brought in around 70 people, far more than organizers expected.
The event was put together by hall council members, including Sommer Fisher, a senior in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. “We wanted to do something unique in terms of a hall council event,” Fisher said. “We’ve seen drag bingo on campus before, but never hosted by a residence hall, so we were excited to host it this spring.”
Fisher said the goal was simple: Get people involved. “Our goal was to get residents involved. That’s always our goal with hall council events,” she said. “In this case, we were super excited to get the community involved as well. The more the merrier.” That goal ended up going further than expected. “We were really only expecting about 20 people to show,” Fisher said. “So having 70 people show up was amazing.”
Throughout the night, the queens kept the crowd engaged, mixing in performances between rounds of bingo. Jackie Knoph and Electrik Bill led the event, while Lotta Kakes and Angel Kakes brought high energy performances that had the crowd reacting the whole time. For Fisher, the event was also about building connections beyond just the residence halls. “It adds a sense of community, not only between residents, but across all of Pitt State,” she said. “It also allows us to support an organization in our community like Pittsburg Pride.”
Tess Hargrove, a graphic communications major, said she came for both the performances and the atmosphere. “Supporting the art of drag is important to me, and I’m a big sucker for bingo,” Hargrove said. “Events like this show how inclusive Pitt State is and that anyone is welcome here,” she said. “The atmosphere is electric and full of energy.”
For Yun Wei Lin, an exchange student from Taiwan, the event was something completely new. “In Taiwan, we have drag shows in bars, but never on campus,” Lin said. “School events are usually more serious, so this is bold and exciting. It’s a brand-new experience for me.” Lin said the energy of the night stood out the most. “I was shocked by the energy,” she said. “It feels like one big party.”
She also said the experience gave her a better understanding of life in the U.S. “Being here lets me see the diversity of American culture firsthand,” Lin said. “It’s inspiring to feel the support for the LGBTQ+ community.”
While the event ran smoothly, Fisher said there were still a few challenges along the way. “The biggest challenge was making sure we had performers available,” she said. “Everything else went very smoothly, and I am insanely proud of my team.”
Fisher also addressed some of the reactions surrounding the event, including people taking down flyers beforehand. “If you don’t want to go to a drag show, don’t go,” she said. “Don’t take down our flyers. It’s not hurting anyone.”
At the end of the night, Fisher said she hoped people left with a different perspective. “Drag adds so much to our community,” she said. “It’s fun, it’s a great show, and the performers are wonderful people. At the end of the day, people deserve joy however they find it.”