IUPUI hosted their first Drag Bingo night Oct. 14, and it started with a bang. The event was a massive success with so many students that they had to move to a bigger room to accommodate the line out the door.
IUPUI’s Multicultural center, Health and Wellness Promotions and the LGBTQ+ Center hosted the event. In addition to bingo, there were prizes as well as food provided. Local Indianapolis drag queen Ana Crusis was the caller for the night.
Drag Bingo was a lot more popular than anyone was expecting. In fact, there were so many people that there were many duplicates on board and an overwhelming number of winners. They eventually figured out a system that worked, but watching all the people race to the prize table was absolutely hilarious. The people running this event did a great job. I was impressed that they handled everything so well and were able to keep the night going even after the massive influx of people.
Throughout the night students who attended were also able to take photos with Crusis. This wasn’t a prize or anything like that, but having the opportunity to meet, not less take a photo with, a drag queen is something I think a lot of people in the queer community could only dream about. I know I was super excited about it and dressed up specifically for that reason.
One of my favorite parts of the night was later on when there were only 2 prizes left and 5 people who had bingoes. To remedy this, Crusis held a twerk competition. The energy of the contestants and overwhelming confidence was amazing. The throwdown to Lizzo’s About Damn Time, was a highlight of the night and, honestly, of my school year thus far.
I hope they hold more events like this because it is a great way to get people together in a welcoming environment. It was also later in the night, so it didn’t conflict with classes making it a great way for students to relax after a busy week of classes, work or whatever else they had going on.
Drag Bingo night allowed for people from all across campus to show up to an event in support of the LGBTQ+ community. The idea of one event bringing so many people together to support and celebrate queer identities feels very progressive and reflects the inclusivity of the community being developed here at IUPUI.
Overall, I loved the event. I felt like it was a great way to bring people together in a fun and unique way. If there is a next time I will definitely be attending.
For those who did not end up being able to attend, I would recommend events like this in the future to any and all students who want to have a fun game night with friends. It is also a great opportunity to meet and speak with people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Being able to network in this way can be a very valuable resource for those looking to learn more about the queer experience.
Students looking for updates about events like this, check out IUPUI Multicultural Center’s Instagram @mciupui and their Twitter @MCiupui.
Abigail Godsen (she/her) is a freshman majoring in Communication Studies. She is a campus reporter for The Campus Citizen.
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