STORY BY JASON GREEN, STAFF WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN COSSIO
The Pride Center at Cypress College conducted a Drag and Makeup Workshop featuring drag queen, Dorian Fox, on Nov. 9.
The workshop’s purpose was to teach participants how to apply makeup and lasted from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There were mirrors placed on tables to create stations for participants to work at.
Students were asked to bring their own makeup for the workshop, but some makeup was provided by the Pride Center staff, which was sponsored by a drag queen-owned makeup company, KimChi Chic Beauty.
To start the workshop, Pride Center staff, Jonathan Cossio and Terra Acevedo along with the featured drag queen, Dorian Fox, gave a presentation about drag and its history.
Then, they gave an explanation and guide on makeup. They also answered questions from participants such as how to find shoes that fit and where to find cheap makeup. Participants who struggled with applying makeup received assistance from the staff.
Dorian Fox expressed that drag has “no ties to sexuality at all,” and went on to say that there is a misconception about who can be part of drag. She expanded on how many people assume that drag, gender, and sexuality all meet at some point, but they don’t.
In light of recent legislation that would ban drag queens from performing publicly, Fox gave a solution to fight misconceptions, which was “being able to have conversations with people.”
“My only objective in drag is to spread joy, to spread light, to make people feel more comfortable being themselves,” she continued.
To combat the notion that children are unsafe in the presence of drag queens, Fox explained that these opinions are fueled by hatred and that there are drag spaces for children and for adults.
Fox admired the Pride Center when asked about basic tips for using makeup, and said, “I think it’s great that you know, at the school, you get to have this community and the center, and you get to do makeup, and I think it’s the best way to do it.”
“I’ve been meaning to get into drag myself,” said first-year mortuary science major Thistle Buell, who attended the workshop.”It’s awesome to see a live drag queen.”
Jocelyn Anaya, a third-year communication studies major said she appreciated the makeup tips during the workshop because she doesn’t “use makeup often”.
The Pride Center plans to do a drag show which would include student participants.