On the evening of Feb. 11, Breckenridge Brewery hosted an adult-only Valentine-themed drag show, which was hosted by local drag queen Krisa Gonna-L’Whor, bringing fun, flair and love to the event. She started the night off on the right note: “My name is Krisa Gonna, hold for applause!”
The brewery was packed with people from all walks of life. A glance around the room showed college students, couples, friends and everyone in between. No children were present, as the show was advertised for those aged 18 and up.
Breckenridge Brewery took the time to make sure the space was ready for the performers. The room was set up with several high tops arranged to form a large aisle in the center, acting as the stage throughout the entire night for the performers.
The first performer to walk the stage was Axel Lexa, whose first performance hyped the crowd up with fast music, impressively flexible dance moves and an iconic outfit made of caution tape.
“It goes without saying that joy is resistance. Queer joy, Black joy, Latin American joy — it’s all resistance.” -Krisa Gonna, Valentines Drag Bingo host
During the show, Krisa Gonna encouraged people to cheer for their sexuality, showing the diversity in the crowd, all together in a room full of strangers that were soon to become friends.
Before introducing the third performer, Krisa Gonna laid down some ground rules: keep the aisle clear, tip your performers and, most importantly, practice consent. Her way of informing and reminding people about consent was through music that explicitly stated whether or not to touch someone. These songs included Meghan Trainor’s “NO” and “Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
“It’s OK to tell people about consent, but I feel like … if there’s a storyline to it, they will remember,” Krisa Gonna said.
The third performer was Zimmorah Mei, who impressed the crowd with her dance moves. Her outfits throughout the performance were glittering and eye-catching, pulling all of the visual attention to her.
“A lot of my performances are based on celebrating a trans body,” Zimmorah Mei said.
The celebration was evident in her performance. She was happy to be there, confident while showing off her body and ecstatic to share the news of her scheduled top surgery.
This event was more than just about having fun. Of course, the performers want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves, but the show took place right in the middle of Black History Month, so the performers especially celebrated the Black drag community.
“Krisa, she knew the assignment,” said Axel Lexa, one of the event’s performers. “She said, ‘This is Black History Month. We want Black entertainers.'”
Zimmorah Mei and Axel Lexa are Black performers. Krisa Gonna is an immigrant from Brazil. All three of them are part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I think that was really the purpose, to just bring the community into a space to have fun,” Zimmorah Mei said. “The world’s really dark right now, so a little bit of light really goes a long way.”
That light was felt in Breckenridge Brewery, through the joy that emanated from the performances and the crowd celebration that took place during them.
“It goes without saying that joy is resistance,” Krisa Gonna said. “Queer joy, Black joy, Latin American joy — it’s all resistance.”
The event brought together people that otherwise might of never met, reminding everyone in the audience that they have a community.
“I want (the audience) to remember that it’s important to not isolate yourself and to stay engaged,” Krisa Gonna said.
This show was a celebration. A celebration of queer people, Black people and Latin American people. In the middle of Black History Month and right before Valentine’s Day, Krisa Gonna, Axel Lexa and Zimmorah Mei reminded attendees of the event that they are not alone.
Reach Audrey Weishaar at entertainment@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
