Ball State community members gathered in the Korsgaard Dance Studio at Ball Gym for “Rainbow Night,” a performance-based event hosted by Alpha Psi Omega (APO). 

The event, which featured LGBTQ+ student performers, raised money for the Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights Aids national organization- which is also the charity for APO. The event was also partnered with Artists for Inclusivity. 

Griffin Grabowski, a fourth-year musical theater major, acted as the events coordinator and felt that having a space to be open was important for students and artists.

“Alongside the idea of it being a fundraiser, was the idea that it would be a celebration. A performance opportunity for people in the LGBTQ+ community who may not get a chance to do that sort of repertoire,” Grabowski said.

Lauren Henriques, a fourth-year musical theater major and president of APO partnered with Grabowski to help promote and put on the event. 

“Last year, Ball State was one of the top national collegiate donors to Broadway Cares Equity fights AIDS,” said. “Being able to do all of this volunteer work, it’s kind of like we’re the department morale. I just love APO.”

20 artists participated in the event, singing songs, performing spoken word and showcasing choreographed routines– many of which centered around their experience being members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Rylee-Michelle Droege, a second-year Musical Theatre Major who participated in the event said that performances like this are important because the representation of queer performers matters. 

“People were singing for their partners and to their partners,” Droege said. “This needs to be seen, this needs to be heard… we’re out here, we’re queer.”

There are upcoming events for LGBTQ+ artists in the works, including a Queer Spaces for Queer Faces event taking place at Cornerstone Center for the Arts March 16. 

Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea and Olivia Ground at olivia.ground@bsu.edu or on X @liv_ground_25.

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