Spectrum members will sing, dance and dress in drag Saturday to raise money for the West Alabama AIDS Outreach in their annual charity drag show.
The Rest is Drag show started three years ago, when Spectrum members were trying to think of a fun way to raise money for WAAO.
“It was a big hit. We enjoy doing it,” Alex Hollinghead, Spectrum’s outreach chair, said. “We try to get Spectrum members to participate, even if they’ve never done drag before. We also have someone doing comedy, [and] somebody is going to be singing. It’s just anything entertaining that our members want to do. But we do encourage them to do drag.”
WAAO, a not-for-profit organization, provides services for those affected by HIV and AIDS, in addition to educating the community about the condition.
Though Hollinghead said the majority of West Alabama residents who utilize WAAO’s services are not part of the LGBTQ community, it is still a charity near to Spectrum’s heart. The Rest is Drag is Spectrum’s biggest fundraiser, but the group tries to raise funds for WAAO periodically.
“This is our biggest fundraiser that we do. They’re losing a lot of funding this year,” Hollinghead said. “We always try to give to them everywhere. A lot of members of our community are HIV patients. And there is a lot of stigma about HIV [and] AIDS, which is relevant to the LGBTQ community.”
Saturday’s show will take place at 8 p.m. in the Ferguson Center Theater. Hollinghead estimates it will last an hour and a half. Admission is $5 at the door.
Icon Bar has partnered with Spectrum to host an after party following the show and will donate cover proceeds from all those who present a show ticket upon entry.
“This is a really fun opportunity to broaden your horizons and see something you may have never seen before,” Hollinghead said. “You get to help an organization that’s addressing one of the major health crises in the U.S. and have a good time at the same time.”
If you go
What: The Rest in Drag show
Where: Ferguson Center Theater
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Cost: $5
