Written by: Isaiah Smart

Hair will flow and hands will clap as the Gay Straight Alliance at VSU brings Drag Delight to campus next Thursday.

Every year, GSA puts on Drag Delight, a drag show, to raise funds and awareness for World AIDS Day. The event grows every year and brings in not only students and staff but community members as well.

Drag Delight 2013 will feature nine performances of drag queens and kings, a variety of sweepstakes, special recognitions and food during intermission.

Brandon Williams and Jason Sininger created the event nine years ago. Williams, who also goes by Deanna Dagger, has been the host for the past eight years and will return as this year’s host alongside Raquel Payne.

“I love being able to give back not only to the LGBT community but to everyone by entertaining,” Williams said. “AIDS is a disease that affects everyone.  To be able to bring awareness about HIV/AIDS is a gift in itself.”

Drag Delight has raised over $8,000 in the past; this year’s executive board aims to raise $2,000.

“We are looking most forward to the moment at the end of the night when we count up all of our donations and proceeds to announce how much we’ve earned,” Kris Duncan, GSA treasurer, said.

 This year’s proceeds will be donated to the Names Project – an AIDS Memorial Quilt Foundation based in Florida.

 Planning for Drag Delight 2013 has been underway since last year. While planning, the organization paid attention to every detail to ensure that participants and attendees have an enjoyable experience.

 General admission tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. VIP tickets are $10 in advance and $20 at the door but are limited in quantity. A VIP ticket includes a raffle ticket, a signed poster from the performers, early access to food during intermission, photos with the performers and priority seating.

 Drag Delight will be held in all three of the Student Union Ballrooms. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. It is suggested that attendants arrive as early as possible.

 For more information, contact Megan Pugh, GSA president, at mlpugh@valdosta.edu or Kirsty Douglas, GSA vice president, at kgdouglas@valdosta.edu.