Drag shows are a safe space for Triston Jefferson.
Wearing a black-and-white scarf with a simple gray shirt and khaki shorts, the UF business administration junior said he has been to multiple drag events, many of which have been at UF. The 20-year-old, who grew up in Gainesville, danced with about 20 others, doing the “Cha Cha Slide” and other dances, at Pride Student Union’s Drag Ball on Tuesday night.
The ball’s theme, the Roaring ’20s, was chosen in relation to Pride History Week’s theme, The Next Generation, said Erick Fortiz, the internal vice president of PSU. The 1920s sparked a new era of culture.
“It’s our time to face our new issues,” he said.
For the event, held in the Rion Ballroom at the Reitz Union, five white tables were decorated with white tablecloths marked with red polka dots and zebra-striped patterns, with vases holding black and red flowers in the center of each.
Attendees mingled at the tables while Hayley Kiyoko’s “Girls Like Girls” and other pop songs played over the speakers. Some helped themselves to food provided by PSU, including chicken wings, salad, spaghetti, garlic bread and brownies.
Thomas Cusato, a 23-year-old UF business management senior, said he attended the event to be more involved in the gay community.
“Drag shows make me feel confident, like I can do anything,” he said.
During the event, Fortiz addressed the crowd, telling them the organization was going to approach the event as a “kiki type of social,” meaning the ball would be a get-together among friends. Later, as he sat with friends, he set off a rainbow confetti blaster.
For about three hours, guests could dance on or in front of a small black platform. Fortiz said he wanted to “switch it up this year” and made it so that there were on-the-spot performances, as opposed to the planned ones they’ve had in the past.
He said his end goal was to make the event and all others as inclusive as possible.
At about 7:30 p.m., PSU president Carolyna Guillen opened the floor up with a “Cha Cha Slide,” which she and seven others participated in.
Fortiz said this year the event was a way to wrap up the serious tone of previous events like the Pride History Week activities, which ended Tuesday.
“Some of the issues we face aren’t lighthearted,” Fortiz said. “This kind of event lightens up the mood for our community to engage in some of these social spaces, to let them know there is this beacon of hope.”
Modeling a Kardashian-inspired outfit, Triston Jefferson, a 20-year-old business administration junior, struts onstage in the Reitz Union Rion Ballroom during PSU’s Drag Ball on Tuesday night.
