MENASHA, Wis. (WFRV) Despite controversy, a dozen drag queens walked the runway at a UW Fox Valley event Thursday night. The performance was sold out, thanks in part to Seattle sex columnist Dan Savage. The man who created the It Gets Better campaign purchased the tickets to give away for free, after a pro-family group complained the show promoted a "homosexual agenda."
Wisconsin Family Action, based out of Madison, issued a statement to Local 5, saying quote: "This is certainly not the type of educational experience most Wisconsin citizens expect to take place on the campuses of our public universities."
UW Fox Valley officials say student fees paid for the show and argue events like this are part of the college experience. They say it's important to give students the opportunity to see different points of view. Director of University Relations, Dave Hager, says, "Shakespeare had men dressed as women 100s of years ago. 'Some Like it Hot' from the 1960s had men dressed as women to escape the Chicago mob."
Students we spoke with seemed indifferent about the event. We're told a small protest involving six people took place about 15 minutes before the show began.
Heading the event was Shangela Laquifa Wadley (born D. J. Pierce), who has appeared on reality shows like "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "Dance Moms." He also acted in hit CBS programs like "2 Broke Girls" and "The Mentalist" and most recently on an episode of FOX's "Glee."
Local 5's Bret Lemoine will have a full report tonight at ten.
