Arlo Farr-Weinfeld, a senior at Deering, draws on a beard as she transforms into her drag persona "Vincent Van Hoe" before the second annual Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) drag show.
Alex Fitzgerald (in doorway) checks on the progress in the makeshift makeup room off of the auditorium at Deering High School. Fitzgerald, a senior at Deering, was the lead in organizing the second annual Gender Sexuality Alliance drag show.
Senior Grace Connolly paints her principal Gregg Palmers' nails. This year the schools new principal, Palmer, performed in the show, which raises money for the high school's GSA.
Ansell Hague, a professional drag performer, made a special guest appearance as "Delilah N'Chains" in Deering's GSA drag show. During the performance Hague told the audience that a high school drag show was inconceivable when they were in school in the mid-2000s and then applauded the students for their hard work and bravery.
Left, senior Izzy Smith, and, at right, Arlo Farr-Weinfeld, put makeup on senior Ell Jolley helping transform them into their drag persona "Gaybraham".
Brianna McCann, a Deering senior, waits in the auditorium for the drag dress rehearsal to start.
Deering High School principal Gregg Palmer gets his makeup done by a student before he made his drag debut in the Gender Sexuality Alliance's second annual drag show. "This is all about them," Palmer said. "They are brave and they encourage the rest of us to be brave."
Senior Grace Connolly does her makeup to transform into her drag persona Bologna Ros. Connolly said that it is the first time she has been in drag outside of her house and that it "feels really powerful."
Alex Fitzgerald, center, takes a break with some fellow performers before they do a dress rehearsal of the drag show.
Charlie Scalia-Bruce checks his makeup in the mirror. Scalia-Bruce performed as his drag persona "Glitz ChaCha" in the drag show.
Senior Grace Connolly waits for her cue to start her performance to Shania Twain's, "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" as her drag persona "Bologna Ros". Connolly said that it is the first time she has been in drag outside of her house and that she became interested in it after learning about queer history and the gay liberation movement. "Freshman year here, this would not have been a thing," Connolly said. She credits students like Alex Fitzgerald and Izzy Smith with helping to lead the charge and said that she believes that the administration has started to listen to the voices of marginalized students more.
Deering High School Principal Gregg Palmer, center, dances on stage after performing his drag piece during the Deering High School Gender Sexuality Alliance's second annual drag show. "This is all about them," Palmer said. "They are brave and they encourage the rest of us to be brave."
Senior Arlo Farr-Weinfeld performs as her drag persona Vincent Van Hoe during a dress rehearsal of the Deering High School Gender Sexuality Alliance's second annual drag show.
Seniors Brianna McCann as "Charity", right, and Grace Connolly as "Bologna Rosé" perform together to the song "Primadonna" in front of a crowd of about 150 in Deering High School GSA's second annual drag show.
Students and Principal Gregg Palmer, third from left, take a bow after their performance in a drag show at Deering High School.
Alex Fitzgerald, a senior at Deering High School, takes a bow after performing in his last GSA drag show before graduating in June. Fitzgerald was the major force behind organizing the show and has advocated for LGTBQI students his entire high school career. Fitzgerald hopes that the drag show will continue after he is gone. "I already know people who say they are performing next year," Fitzgerald said. "It is just up to them to make sure it happens."
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