[hoosier]

Got this from Hermes. These people could be in real trouble if they dress up like a black girl or black boy, but dressing like opposite sex is cheered. PC oes wild.

Greeks to participate in campus drag show at Syracusse
By Liz Satenstein
Media Credit: Courtesy of Judy Mayka

Drag queens. Greek life. And fundraising for AIDS prevention.

To Judy Mayka, there's only one phrase that accurately captures all of the above: Totally fabulous.

"At first we didn't know what to call the show and we went through a list of names," said Mayka, a sophomore women's studies and political science major, who is organizing a Syracuse University drag show Feb. 27. "We decided on 'Totally Fabulous' because that is what it is going to be -- totally fabulous."

Mayka will showcase about a dozen students from SU and the State University of New York College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry at 8 p.m. in Goldstein Auditorium. Phi Kappa Psi and Alpha Xi Delta will both have at least one member moonlighting as a drag queen and king that night.

"We want to get as many groups on campus together," said Mayka, a Rochester native. "We're trying to break down the stereotypes of greek life as being homophobic and to break gender norms."

Plans for the show began when Mayka and friend Thomas Smalley, her hairdresser from home, decided to organize an AIDS awareness event. Smalley, a drag queen himself, is particularly active in advocacy groups, having organized several drag shows in the past to raise money for AIDS prevention. He will also appear in a VH1 "Dragumentary" to be aired in April.

Mayka approached Matt Ward, a junior interior design major and president of Pride Union. The two joined efforts and ideas and "Totally Fabulous" became reality. Pride Union is a student group for SU's gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgendered community.

Fraternity and sorority members are often perceived as intolerant of the GLBT community and involving them in the show will help greeks overcome that reputation, Mayka said.

"There are many stereotypes that exist now and notions about the AIDS/HIV virus itself that need to be broken," Mayka said.

The show's organizers intend to break these stereotypes and to also inform students about the resources available at SU, including free AIDS/HIV testing and counseling services in the event a student is infected.

"The show strikes a personal chord with many of the participants," Mayka said.

The drag contest took a greek twist when Mayka, a member of SU's AIDS Task Force, proposed the idea to Alpha Xi Delta's Erica Lazarow, also on the task force.

Lazarow said Alpha Xi Delta would be very responsive to the idea and would even participate. Phi Kappa Psi later joined in support.

Phi Kappa Psi's Brian Hickel, a sophomore chemical engineering major, volunteered to receive a full drag makeover during the show

"I'm going into it with an open mind," Hickel said. "But I'm a little worried about these rumors with what could happen to my leg hair."

What does Hickel's girlfriend have to say about the grooming? "She's supportive of the AIDS movement and she's really excited to watch," Hickel said.

Alpha Xi Delta's Allison Monti, a junior interior design major, will also don drag -- an act that may help end some of the stereotyping plaguing the greek community, Monti said.

For those who think dressing drag is out of the norm, Mayka doesn't hesitate to name renowned actors who have dressed in such during their careers including Tom Hanks in "Bosom Buddies" and Robin Willliams in "Mrs. Doubtfire."

Mayka said she hopes the event continues next year with even more greek involvement.

Tickets are available at the Schine Box Office. They cost $4 for SU students with identification, $6 for non-SU students and $7 over the phone. Proceeds will be donated to local and Rochester-based AIDS groups. Pride Union will also use the money to fund its Rainbow Banquet in April.