In what other space can you see Princess Bubblegum and Swiper, from “Dora the Explorer” whisper in the back of a “Coraline” viewing, or do a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” themed escape room hosted by Twilight Sparkle, then at the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center’s annual Queer-O-Ween.
Tucked away above the McDonald’s on Green Street, the event brought together dozens of students seeking an inclusive Halloween party from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday. The free event was open to all students 17 years and older and had movie viewing, snacks and games, crafts and an escape room.
For Priscilla Martinez, a program designer for the GSRC, the event’s importance lies in the adoption of Halloween as a day of queer celebration.
“Halloween is kind of gay Christmas,” Martinez said. “Costumes are about being able to dress however you want, so it’s one of the only days that allows a judgment-free zone. So it’s become very dear to us.”
Queer-O-Ween, created by Martinez when she was an undergraduate student at the University, has become an annual event attracting students campus-wide to have a fun night where they can be themselves.
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“It’s about having a space where queer people can belong and feel safe in a world that’s really, really against them,” said Sora Dix, junior in Engineering. “It’s quintessential, and that’s the reason I like coming here.”
Dix was eager to show off their costume for the costume contest that kicked off at 8 p.m. After being Luca from the Pixar film last year, Dix was excited to be one of the studio’s other new characters and found the space to show that costume off at the center.
“This year I went with a costume idea that I had last year, which is Anxiety,” Dix said. “So I am really looking forward to ways I could show off my costume, and I’m pretty happy it’s happening tonight.”
For Queer-O-Ween, the students transformed the center into a “RuPaul’s Drag Race Werk Room”-themed escape room. Clad in a Twilight Sparkle costume, Emma Jaros, junior in LAS and education and training intern at the GSRC, takes on the job of creating and hosting it.
“I get really anal about escape rooms, so it’s fun to be running one behind the scenes,” Jaros said. “I get to give a little speech and welcome everybody in, and it’s really fun.”
Besides the Halloween festivities, the center provides a haven to students year-round, including a variety of social programs like lunch talks, ally training and social gatherings like Queer-O-Ween. The center even has a closet of clothes for students needing affirming attire to take for free.
The next event hosted by the GSRC is “Quench: Transgender Migrants Social Movements.” The event will feature a guest speaker and free food from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday.
“We offer this space year-round, not just on fun nights where everyone dresses up and eats a bunch of sweets,” Jaros said.
