Drag show at public HS football game features students, teachers: 'Be OK with being your authentic self ... speaking your truth, living your truth'

A Vermont public high school held a "drag ball" during halftime of the school's homecoming football game as students and teachers took turns parading in dresses, wigs, and makeup before a decidedly rainbow-hued crowd last Friday, the Associated Press reported.

What are the details?

"Things went amazing," Ezra Totten — student leader of the Gender Sexuality Alliance at Burlington High School — told the AP in regard to the drag show that also included participants from South Burlington High School. "The stands were completely packed. ... It was just so heartwarming to see."

Image source: YouTube screenshot

About 30 students and faculty members dressed as drag queens and kings — or a combination of the two — sashayed in front of the crowd, which started to chant, "Drag Ball!" the outlet said.

'Speaking your truth, living your truth'

Athletic Director Quaron Pinckney suggested the show be held at homecoming, the AP said.

"Be OK with being your authentic self ... speaking your truth, living your truth," he said of the meaning behind the event, according to NBC News.

Pinckney added that "we have a diverse community ... in thoughts and action as well ... and this is just one step ..." the network said.

The AP noted that Pinckney is black and that Burlington High gave him the space to "uplift my voice" so he could "uplift the voices of another marginalized group and share a space in the athletics realm that doesn't normally get shared."

Andrew LeValley — an English teacher and alliance adviser at the school — came up with the idea for the drag show, the outlet added.

"We had some people that are pretty involved in theater come in and talk about how you put on a persona," LeValley explained to the AP, adding that he dressed in a Shakespearean burgundy gown and a wig for the event.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

"I was just really hoping to give our students — who are both out and the students that were in the stands who are not out — a moment to shine and feel loved, and know that there is a place for them in public schools," he added to the outlet.

Principal Lauren McBride told the AP she heard a dad talking during the game to his two sons who didn't know the drag ball would be the halftime show — and that he explained to them what dressing in drag means, "and it was like, 'This is really cool.'"

Vermont High School Students, Faculty Dress In Drag For Homecoming Football Gameyoutu.be