Dance, drag, diversity at ASUMH in gay rights event

Dance, drag and diversity: It's all coming to Mountain Home — believed for the first time ever — this weekend.

The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), a student organization of Arkansas State University Mountain Home, is hosting what it calls the First Annual Diversity Ball at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on Saturday.

The event is open to the community — no matter sexual orientation. The ASUMH group says it's focusing on "bringing together LGBTQ youth and straight allies to help eliminate homophobia on campus and in the community."

The hope is to raise awareness about the group itself, but also share one thing: Be aware of bullying. It's out there, and it's real to members of the gay community, even locally. The Diversity Ball coincides with LGBT pride month, an annual anti-discrimination effort made official last year with a proclamation from President Obama.

"Words hurt, and people are hurt by them, whether you think they are or not," said Emily Dillner, GSA vice president. "It's real and we want people to maybe think twice about what they say or about how they are towards people."

Dillner, a lesbian living in rural Baxter County, says the organization aims to create a friendly, respectable environment, "free of homophobic, sexual, verbal and physical harassment."

"It's to raise awareness and just give people who may normally keep to themselves, or who are not open about their relationship, maybe give them a time where they can come and have a good time with their partner, dance with them," Dillner said during a recent GSA meeting.

The Diversity Ball will be held for one night only, but its message is one GSA hopes will go beyond a single day. For people in the community, like Dillner, the ultimate goal is to feel comfortable and let others know the Twin Lakes Area can be a safe place for people of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

"Any people who are considering coming to this area, or maybe not considering, they might now because they see that they're accepting of people (in the Twin Lakes Area)," Dillner said. " 'Maybe I should go there, go to that school or live in that area.' "

The GSA will provide food, music for dancing and entertainment for those in attendance Saturday night. The entertainment will include a professional DJ and five drag performers. The female impersonators include: Holly Haliwell, Riley James, Butterscotch, Sasha Moore and Faim Lee Jewls.

Their performances will be based on life experiences and promote anti-bullying. The drag performers come to Mountain Home from the St. Louis and Carbondale, Ill., areas. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

"People are excited, I think," Dillner said. "Lots of people say, 'I haven't seen a drag show' or they've seen one and they think that they're really awesome."

GSA has received support within the community through private donations, which help fund event costs. Additionally, the student group has received permission from ASUMH administration to utilize The Sheid on campus.

Dr. Robin Myers, university chancellor, says ASUMH supports the positive message of the Diversity Ball.

"Their goal is to sponsor understanding and awareness, and they came to us several weeks ago and said they wanted to have a red-carpet event," Myers said. "It's meant to be an event that's all-inclusive, for everyone, and they just wanted to have an opportunity for people to get together, have understanding and share their experiences.

"We want to support them, and they're a student group and have the opportunity to use the facility to conduct their business. It'll be a positive event for everyone."

ASUMH students, such as Sarah Reynolds, also will speak during the event. Reynolds serves as an officer for GSA.

"It's going to be very meaningful, and I know that there are several of us who are going to go up and we have some things to say, too," Reynolds said. "I think it's to say, 'We're here.'

"We're not going to hide, we don't have any reason to. We're not here to hurt anyone. We're just different, so let's all be nice to each other."

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at The Sheid, and tickets are on sale for $25 per person and $40 per couple. Formal wear is encouraged. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. To order tickets, email asumh.diversity.ball@gmail.com.

Ticket sales from the event go toward several national and international anti-bullying campaigns, including the Trevor Project and the NO H8 Foundation, according to a press release from GSA.

For more information, visit the GSA Facebook page, facebook.com/gsa.at.asumh.