By The Crow’s Nest Staff
Gazing at an electrified crowd of students immersed in blue light, surrounded by seashells and ocean-themed decor, sophomore digital communications major Robert Kordon was struck with one thought.
“Quite frankly,” he told the crowd. “This place, currently speaking, it’s about as straight as Elton John.”
This was the point.
At the Art of Expression, hosted by the Multicultural Programming Board (MPB) on Nov. 13, the LGBTQ+ community was celebrated and given a platform.
Reflecting the name, the under-the-sea themed event was a celebration of expression — featuring a student-made zine and performances from students and Tampa Bay-based drag queens.
Kordon also helped MPB commemorate, co-hosting the program with queen Niomi Onassis Long Knight.
The event is an annual affair for the St. Petersburg campus – for the last 15 years, it was known as “The Drag Show.” This year is the first as The Art of Expression.
Camryn Trapasso, a junior marketing major and student assistant with MPB, said that she was happy with the turnout.
“I think that we were working really hard to get such a huge turnout,” she told The Crow’s Nest. “I’m really proud of the team, and I really couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Amid attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and local LGBTQ+-centered organizations and events, students were worried that the event would be discontinued.
However, MPB ensured that the event could go on.
“I think having a safe space for all our LGBTQ people right now is just so, so important,” Trapasso said. “I really want to emphasize that, like we have in the years prior, and I want people to know that this event is a safe space for everyone.”
To keep the event in circulation, additional regulations were implemented last year, including the 18 + age restriction and limitations on student conduct during performances — even causing several student performers to drop out of the event.
Of this year’s student performers, one did a drag performance.
Gyro Hulsmann is a freshman digital communication and multimedia journalism major who practices drag in their free time and was pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to do so at USF.
“It’s nice to have a community of people to share [drag] with, and also to have that ability to share it,” Hulsmann said. “I’m really glad that we have this, and I was not expecting us to have anything like this. So I’m really glad, and I’m really glad that it was open to students as well.”
Just as in previous years, the event also included performances from local drag queens like Veronica Fox, Autumn Vee and Knight herself.
Fox, who performed at last year’s event, stated that she agreed to come back to USF St. Petersburg because she aspires to be a leader and role model for LGBTQ+ students.
“I did not get to have drag in college, so saying yes to all of you was the easiest decision I’ve ever made,” she told the crowd.
Though spirits were high for this year’s Art of Expression, concerns about the current political atmosphere still lingered in the back of everyone’s minds.
Knight made it a point to highlight the violence and discrimination that have long plagued the transgender community.
“I need you guys to support your trans people more than ever,” she said.
This statement brought the central theme of the event forward: Uplifting LGBTQ+ voices and identities and giving students a safe place to express themselves.
“I just don’t think there is a better opportunity for people to have such a good time, especially in, like, the climate of the world,” Kordon told The Crow’s Nest. “I think that it’s so important to give people — students — not only the ability to witness the beauty of queer art, but also to be able to participate in it.”
