Campus News

Drag queens electrify SU for LGBTQ+ History Month

Drag queens electrify SU for LGBTQ+ History Month

The sixth annual Potash Keynote series brought RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Jackie Cox and local queens Twigs Von’Du and Aria Vee to Syracuse.

Jackie Cox, Twigs Von'Du, Aria Vee and members of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center pose for group photo.
Emily Stewart / LGBTQ+ Resource Center Director
Jackie Cox, Twigs Von’Du, Aria Vee and members of the LGBTQ+ Resource Center pose for a group photo at the 6th annual LGBTQ+ History Month Potash Keynote.

From drag queens doing death drops and lip syncs to a thoughtful Q&A session, the 6th Annual Potash Keynote was serving LGBTQ+ History Month realness. 

Schine Underground was the home of thunderous applause and energetic finger-snapping all night as students welcomed “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Jackie Cox and local queens Twigs Von’Du and Aria Vee.

The Friday night spectacle began with an energetic introduction for Jackie Cox, who placed fifth in the twelfth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She came onstage lip-syncing to a couple of songs from the show’s production, including her season’s single, “I’m That Bitch.”

Regarding her time on the hit drag competition show, Cox recalled seeing her season come out during the pandemic. “Choosy moms that choose Jackie,” Cox said, referencing many fans who watched the show with their families and moms who chose Jackie Cox as their favorite queen. 

Cox’s set was followed by performances from Twigs Von’ Du and Aria Vee. Each drag queen sent the crowd into frenzies, with Twigs Von’Du igniting roars for each of her splits and death drops, and Aria Vee for her lip-syncing glamor. 

Aria Vee dazzles an enchanted crowd during her lip sync set in Schine Underground.
Alejandro Rosales
Aria Vee dazzles an enchanted crowd during her lip sync set in Schine Underground.

Students Tommy DaSilva and Tati Nelums hosted the event, helping bring some laughs and audience interaction between performances.

“I hope they play ‘HOT TO GO!’” DaSilva quipped to a resounding pop from the audience, who were all too eager to join in lip-syncing, dancing and spelling out “H-O-T-T-O-G-O” to Aria Vee’s Chappell Roan set. 

Beyond the electrifying entertainment, the second half of the event included a Q&A portion that touched on LGBTQ+ History Month and the politics of drag and queer activism, including the importance of voting. 

“Drag is a performance; it’s an art form and all art forms should have a seat at the table,” Cox said. 

When discussions went into drag bans and recent political efforts to threaten LGBTQ+ rights, the panelist drag queens talked about the importance of using drag as a voice for activism and protecting the community.

“Drag in itself is resistance. We’re resisting against this heteronormative structure we were raised to believe in,” Cox said. “When the apocalypse comes, there’s going to be cockroaches and drag queens.”

The night’s festivities and Q&A are all part of an annual tradition honoring the contributions of Jordan Potash, who the keynote series is named after. Potash, a Syracuse alumnus, drafted the original proposal to establish the LGBTQ+ Resource Center at the university. 

“These events are important both in and outside of LGBTQ+ History Month because creating an environment where queer students feel supported, empowered and connected is important in all college universities, especially at SU,” DaSilva said.

The night was capped with a final performance from Cox, who, joined by Twigs Von’Du and Aria Vee, invited everyone to be a “Dancing Queen” with her while lip-syncing to the ABBA classic.

The Potash Keynote is part of a series of events throughout October to celebrate the month, culminating with a  HalloQueen Ball closer to Halloweeen. The night’s festivities will be sure to continue the energy well into and beyond the ball.