It was a great way to kick off Pride Week in Yorkton as the YXC Drag Collective stopped by Yorkton to host a pair of shows over the weekend.
The shows, held outside the Kinsmen Area, featured numerous Drag Queens and Drag Kings doing what they do best. Perform.
Jory McKay, who performs as Sad Sally during the show, is the treasurer for the group and talked about why they decided to bring their performance to Yorkton.
“We were looking across the province that had shows before, and we looked at a lot of them, and a lot didn’t really have a lot of LGBTQ2+ content,” he said. “Yorkton had a pride a couple of times but never had a really big drag show, and we thought its time to change that. We decided right away to put them on our first stop list. There are so many people in this community that are LGBTQ2+ and want entertainment tailored towards them, and to be able to provide them with entertainment that was our main goal, and to be able to accomplish that was exciting.”
McKay and the rest of the Drag Collective have been on a provincial tour, something McKay said has been incredible so far as they have had only one show that hasn’t been sold out.
“We have been raising money. Fifty per cent of the ticket sales are going towards local LGBTQ2+chairty, or if they don’t have a local charity or GSA, it will be given to another group closer to them.”
So far the group has been able to raise over $8,000.
Margo Allaire, chair of Yorkton Pride, said that YXE Drag Collective approached them.
“We were contacted by them in the spring, and they kind of had a vision that included bringing this type of show to pride around the province,” she said. “A lot of smaller prides, like ours, can’t afford to put on this type of show, and they are raising money for charity, and they are helping to strengthen the queer community across Saskatchewan.”
Allaire said it was just a great way for people to have fun.
“There are lots of people in Yorkton that have never been to a drag show before. It’s not just for members of the queer community, but it’s a great chance for folks to get out and have some fun and maybe see something new.
Allaire added that they would be ending Pride Week with a parade on Saturday and then Pride in the Park on Sunday in City Centre Park.
