ISSG Drag Ball and Drag Performance Workshop

The Institute for the Study of Sexuality and Gender presents our first
ISSG Drag Ball
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2025, 6pm-8pm
Teatro, Italian Academy
Hosted by Junior Mintt with sounds by DJ Kneaku

Featuring music by DJ Kneaku and hosted by the one and only Junior Mintt, join us for an evening of looks, performances, and community!

Junior Mintt is out to show how Mintty the world can be with a little kindness, empathy and a strong Black, Trans, Queer perspective. She is the creator of Mintty Makeup which and has been featured in Vogue Beauty, The CUT, thrillist, ID, and Gayletter for the work she does on stage and in our community.She is a co-host of the Brooklyn Liberation March. No matter what classroom, set, club or runway you experience Junior Mintt, you will leave feeling motivated and embraced. You can find her on Instagram and venmo @juniormintt

DJ Kneaku (Formerly known as DJ Sp3cial K ) (they/them) is a filmmaker, theatermaker, and dj! Born in Broward County FL and based in Brooklyn, NY- they have an expansive background in film production and live performance as they hold a  Bachelor’s degree in Digital Media & Video Production and Theatre Arts, and enjoy utilizing a  multidisciplinary approach to their work.  DJ Kneaku currently hosts a seasonal show called Black & Mild, on the international platform, Oroko Radio, based in Accra, Ghana.  DJ Kneaku plays and curates at various venues in NYC spotlighting Black Queer talents in nightlife through drag and dance music. 

A mixed bag that never misses. They have a passion for bringing events to life and capturing moments through digital media, be it sound or light. A storyteller of many mediums they love to expand the familiar with the unknown and are inspired by the fables and intimate truths of black queer culture. Expect to hear various club textures from Miami bass to jersey club to ballroom. Born by Jamaicans and raised in South Florida they are heavily influenced by sounds of the diaspora and can never leave the Caribbean out the mix.  Kneaku dreams of irresistible rhythms and infectious melodies that bring our bodies to life!

Students of Columbia, Barnard, TC, UTS, and the greater NYC area are invited to perform or simply cheer the performers on. There will be food, judges, and trophies for the most fabulous! Alumni, Staff, and Faculty are invited to volunteer or attend as space allows. 

The categories are:

Queer Trailblazer: Icons of the past and present come alive. Herstorical/historical figures and conthemporary queers.

Queer Liberation Faceoff: The forces of good and evil collide on one stage. Winning hero and villain will face-off for a final showdown

- Heroes: Free us all with your look! Brave, superhero vibes.

- Villains: Devious, haunting, and maniacal looks. Plan to steal the show. 

Supernatural Body: Bewitching, magical, fantastical, and simply out of this world. Show us your creature features. Are you human, are you machine, or are you a legend from fairy tales and dreams? 

Campus Crush: The whole campus has a crush on this stylish, brilliant scholar. Bring your fiercest A+ student realness! Whether it's the star athlete, the conscious rebel, the quirky art major, the book worm, the class clown or the mysterious philosophy student, own it and serve it up hot. Top of their class, serving confidence and edge.

Best Dance Performance: Choreography, freestyle, or movement-based drag bringing the energy!

Lip Sync Extravaganza: Perform an iconic lip sync. Could be dramatic, emotional, or hilarious.

Dorm Room Couture: Runway! Serve a runway moment using DIY fashion, dorm inspiration, and pure imagination.

SEE THE INTEREST FORM TO RSVP
 

New to drag and want some tips??
Drag Performance Workshop
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 6PM - 8PM
754 Schermerhorn Extension

Join us for a Drag Performance Workshop ahead of the event, featuring Theydy Bedbug and Issa Big Dragon! This workshop will be a place to hone your emerging drag persona and practice working the runway. We will touch on the history of drag culture as a catalyst for social change and explore the tools of movement, facial expressions, and costumes in expressive exercises and performance games. Bring your costumes and charisma!  

Whether it's your first time in drag or you just want to meet some fellow queens/kings before the big night, all are welcome!

Theydy Bedbug (they/them) is a drag creature, teacher, writer, and the dad joke of Brooklyn drag. A bug about town, they’ve been profiled by THEM, The NY Times, and Rolling Stone. They have performed and produced in venues such as The Signature Theatre, Lehman College, SVA, Barnard College, Triskelion Arts, Gibney Dance, The Knockdown Center, The Stone Church, The Kraine Theater, House of Yes, BAX, The Stonewall Inn, The Brick, The Flea, The Tank, Pioneer Works, Google NY, FIT, VICE Headquarters, UCB, BAM Fisher, The Hangar Theater, Chelsea Music Hall, National Sawdust, Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore, JACK among countless other venues in New York and beyond. Their performances combine campy drag, compelling characters, and narrative poetry to reclaim their body, queer audiences, and reckon with belonging. They believe that access to spaces of genderful play in performance and creation is a step toward collective liberation.

Issa Big Dragon (they/them) is a Dominican-American multi-hyphenate artist, dancer, curator, educator, and drag performer based in New York City. The creator and one half of The Dragon Sisters, the three-time Glam Award-winning nightlife duo and holders of the Guinness World Record for Most Attended Drag Brunch in partnership with Mugler H&M . Known for their electric stage presence and dynamic artistry, Issa has appeared in HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness and performed in the internationally renowned production of Sleep No More. Their work has been featured in Billboard, Vogue, LadyGunn Magazine, and on the iconic PAPER Magazine cover with Madonna. As a performer and host, Issa has headlined events at NYC Pride Fest, Ladyland, Bushwig, the Brooklyn Museum, Lincoln Center, and House of Yes. Across all stages, Issa’s work centers queer joy, radical imagination, and celebrating community. Whether in a theater, on screen, or in a club, Issa brings a bold and bright spirit to every space they enter.

USE THE INTEREST FORM TO SIGN UP TO PERFORM AND/OR RSVP TO ATTEND EITHER EVENT
 

ACCESSIBILITY:

The organizers of this event are committed to accessibility and inclusivity. If you require disability accommodations, please contact [email protected] by Monday, Sep 15. A map of campus accessibility can be found at https://visit.columbia.edu/content/maps-and-directions-update.

QUESTIONS? email [email protected] 

Organized by the Institute for the Study of Sexuality and Gender 

Cosponsored by the The Radio in the Orchard Initiative, Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Division of Humanities, the Department of History, and the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy at Columbia University.