GCC Names Drag Show Judges

LGBTQ Scholarship Fundraiser on March 30, 2019

Batavia, NY (03/22/2019) — Earlier this month the SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Acceptance) Student Club at Genesee Community College announced it would host the its first-ever drag show, The Battle in Batavia, on Saturday, March 30, 2019 in the Batavia Campus's Stuart Steiner Theatre. Yesterday, one of the professional show participants, Cassanova Theking, was on campus to help to promote the show, and generate awareness of LGBTQ community as well as support GCC's new scholarship program.

As the inaugural drag show draws closer, contest judges have been named. Presiding over The Battle in Batavia will be:

• Gregory Hallock, Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council Executive Director
• Rachel Kropczynski, owner of Monroe's Boutique
• Dr. Thomas Priester, GCC Associate Vice President of Student Success
• Kristen Schuth, GCC Athletic Director
• Donna Rae Sutherland, GCC Associate Director of Marketing Communications
• A sixth Drag Show Contest judge is yet to be named

The first of its kind on the Batavia campus, the show will feature a drag queen and king competition where professional drag artists from Buffalo and Rochester will skirmish amongst amateur drag kings and queens from the campus community. Anyone interested in entering the fun-filled competition under the Amateur and GCC Alumni categories can easily sign up at http://signup.com/go/WMQEpto. There is no cost to enter.

All proceeds from the event will fund the College's first and only LGBTQ Scholarship which will provide financial assistance to eligible students facing emergency situations, or helping to offset financial hardships by covering the cost books, tuition, child care, or other obstacles to academic success. The scholarship will be available to students of the LBGTQ community at GCC facing such hardships and is the first of its kind.

The Battle in Batavia begins at 6 p.m. with a reception in the Lobby of the Stuart Steiner Theatre where attendees can meet some of the contestants already in character. Refreshments will be provided. At 7 p.m., the Battle begins! Each contestant will perform his or her piece to music of their choosing. There will be two acts, and during the intermission a question and answer session will allow the audience to interact with the stars of the show.

Purchasing advance tickets to the Inaugural SAGA Drag Show on March 30, 2019 is strongly advised! A single advance seat is just $5 in advance or $6 at the door, if any seats are still available. Discounted group rates are also available. A group of 10-19 people is just $40; and a group of 20 or more people is just $75. Tickets are available by calling (585) 345-6836; or emailing Kate Trombley, director of the TRIO Adult Educational Opportunity Center and advisor for GCC's Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) kbtrombley@genesee.edu; or by stopping by Office D208 at GCC's Batavia Campus. This show is recommended for mature audiences only as it may include strong language or sexual innuendo.

Those not interested in competing, or unable to attend - but would like to support the important cause can contribute as a sponsor or make a charitable donation. In addition, volunteers are being sought to work at the event and will receive free admission to the show. For further information contact Katherine Trombley, director of GCC's Adult Educational Opportunity Center at aeoc@genesee.edu or by calling (585) 343-0055 ext.6836.

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