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LGBTQ+ Western works to advance the holistic thriving of diverse LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff at Western Washington University by collaboratively engaging the university community with transformational knowledge, resources, advocacy and celebration.
Updates
January 2025: Generations of Drag

Description
LGBTQ+ Western is hosting an Intergenerational Drag Show in collaboration with Bellingham Queer Collective and Bellingham/Whatcom PFLAG. We will have student and community performers who 18+ who will perform throughout the night. Catering will be from New Mexico Tamale Company. No This is a private, non-ticketed event. alcohol will be served or permitted. Tips for performers are encouraged but not required. Since this is a drag show, there may be some sexually explicit content or song lyrics. Earplugs will be provided. Please email questions and accommodation requests to lgbtq@wwu.edu
Details
Wednesday, January 29th 2025
5-8pm Mt Baker Theatre
104 N Commercial St, Bellingham, WA 98225
AA/EO. Accessibility Statement: This event is intended for all participants, including those with visible or non-apparent disabilities. For disability accommodation(s) (such as ASL interpretation, etc.) please contact the Centers, lgbtq@wwu.edu. Advance notice is appreciated and sometimes necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.
The LGBTQ+ Intern Job is now open! We are accepting applications for Work Study students and for students seeking an internship for academic credit.
Drag Show Coordinator: Open for work study and non-work study students. App closes Nov 22nd AT NOON.
Email cover letter and resume to lgbtq@wwu.edu
Each spring, LGBTQ+ Western hosts the annual drag show in April.
Under supervision of the Program Manager for LGBTQ+ Western and The Centers for Student Access, Community, and Intercultural Engagement and in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Director and other LGBTQ+ Western student staff, the Drag Show Coordinator(s) help plan and facilitate the annual drag show. Western Washington University has been operating the annual drag show for over 30 years and is the longest running university drag show in Washington. The drag show coordinator (or co-coordinators) primary tasks include:
Planning and implementing the theme and logistical details of the annual show
Coordinating drag show auditions
Coordinate drag workshops (such as make up, sewing, lip synchronization, etc.)
Organizing rehearsals
Supporting the performers
Be the public department contact for the drag show
Collaborate with the rest of LGBTQ+ Western and campus and community partners for event planning, marketing, budgeting, sponsorship, and other details
Attend and co-facilitate drag show planning meetings with the Program Manager for LGBTQ+ Western and The Centers
Hold office hours in the LGBTQ+ Western office/LGBTQ+ lounge and virtually to connect with performers and stage crew
The coordinator(s) are not the sole people running the drag show and will need to work with other staff to make the event happen. Professional staff, peers, volunteer, and performer feedback must be assessed and utilized while coordinating the show.
Learn more about LGBTQ+ Western at https://lgbtq.wwu.edu/.
Educational Benefits:
Students employed in this position will develop the following skills and knowledge:
Skills planning learning outcomes; synthesizing and determining effective methods for content delivery
Facilitation and leadership development skills
Event organization and logistics
Knowledge and skills regarding the practice of student affairs and intersectional LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity work
Professional and effective communication skills
Students studying Performing Arts, Communication, Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies, or other related areas are encouraged to apply. This position is open for both work study and non-work study students
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
Demonstrated interest in advancing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people of diverse racial and ethnic identities, nationalities, abilities, and economic backgrounds.
Experience with drag shows or related performing arts
Strong public communication skills, including the ability to facilitate small and large groups and communicate effectively with people with various levels of familiarity with LGBTQ+ topics.
Strong time management skills and ability to work collaboratively
Strong professional judgment.
Ability to attend the Drag Show rehearsal on Friday April 4 from 5pm-10pm and the Annual Drag Show on Friday April 11 from 6:30pm-9:30pm
Pay: $19.00 an hour. Approximately two to six hours per week with increased hours leading up to the show in April and some hours after the show. Not to exceed the maximum student hours across all campus jobs of 19 hours per week.
More about the Office of LGBTQ+ Western
Founded in August 2018, LGBTQ+ Western works to advance the holistic thriving of diverse LGBTQ+ students, faculty, and staff by collaboratively engaging the Western community with transformational knowledge, resources, advocacy, and celebration. LGBTQ+ Western is committed to learning about and celebrating sexual orientation and gender identity diversity as they intersect with race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, religion, and other aspects of identity and experience.
To apply, please submit:
(1) a cover letter not to exceed one page describing your interest in and qualifications for the position and
(2) a current resume
In your application materials, please be specific about how you meet the job qualifications.
Need help with a cover letter or resume? The Career Services site can be a helpful tool!
Email application materials or questions to LGBTQ@wwu.edu. The application deadline is November 22 by 12pm (noon) which is when application review begins.
We recommend using the Career Services Center for application material support.
LGBTQ+ Western, through the Sustainability, Equity, and Justice Fund grant and work study, will be hiring up to two Generations of Pride Coordinators. This student position will work with the LGBTQ+ Western team, Bellingham Queer Collective, and PFLAG Bellingham/Whatcom to support the monthly LGBTQ+ community gatherings.
Any student can apply, including incoming new and transfer students! Applications are due Sunday, Sept 8th at 11:59pm. More information about the role can be found here.
The Pride Celebration 2024 video is ready for viewing! Thank you University Marketing and Communications for your excellent filming and editing, and the Disability Access Center for the captioning.
The Lavender Graduation piece was not filmed to respect the privacy of our graduates.
The Pride Celebration and Lavender Graduation we hosted on May 31st was an amazing success! Thank you for joining us in celebrating our graduates. Photos will be added to the site soon.

LGBTQ+ Western was awarded a $36,000 grant for Generations of Pride from the Sustainability, Equity, and Justice Fund (SEJF)
The grant will be used over the course of the 2024-2025 academic year to provide food for the Generations of Pride event, transportation for students to the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, supplies, a dedicated website, and the creation of a Generations of Pride Coordinator role.
I'd like to thank Kate McLean, Kaleb Starling, and Sof Trujillo for helping me create the grant proposal and present it to the committee.
We are excited to see how Generations of Pride will grow with this new grant!
-JoeHahn, LGBTQ+ Director
LGBTQ+ Western will be part of the Pride IN Bellingham festivities again this summer on July 7th. Join us in the parade or visit our booth at the festival.
Parade will start around 11am, while the parade time is set from 11-2pm, we were done around 12:30 last year.
In The News
Intergenerational drag show to celebrate solidarity and ‘mutual learning’
LGBTQ+ Western's Generations of Pride was highlighted by Cascadia Daily News. Includes quotes from JoeHahn, LGBTQ+ Director; Ayanna Phillips, Program Manager for LGBTQ+ Western and The Centers for Student Access, Community, and Interculutral Engagement; Sage Valentine, a Western alum (and former LGBTQ+ Western Drag Show Coordinator!), and Betty Desire, local legend and editor of The Betty Pages.
“It’s really important, especially as a younger queer person, to stay connected to queer elders and to celebrate them … especially in this current political climate,” said Sage Valentine, a local drag queen and one of the event’s co-hosts.

Upcoming Events




Our Services
LGBTQ+ Western provides support for all students, faculty, and staff at Western Washington University and its satellite campuses. We are engaged with various Whatcom County area programs, services, and non-profits. Each year we are seeing more LGBTQ+ students sharing their proud identities and navigating their college experiences. Explore our website to learn more. Here are some of our primary services:
- Peer Support & Mentorship
- Affinity Centered Programs
- Gender Affirming Care & Legal Name Change Support
- Consultation
- Generations of Pride
- Prospective Students and their Communities Support
- Alumni support
- LGBTQ+ Clubs Advising (Queer Guild Council)
- Lavender Graduation
- Trainings & Workshops
- Events like the Annual Drag Show, Queerientation, etc.
- Engagement with local Pride and other events
While our services center current students, we are a lifelong resource. If you graduate from Western and still need support such as discussing coming out to your supervisor, transitioning later in life, moving to a less LGBTQ+ friendly community, etc. we are here for you!
Please send any questions to lgbtq@wwu.edu. We try to respond within 48 business hours. We may have slower responses during our busy seasons such as Gaypril and the Pride Celebration.
New Affinity Programs
We are always exploring new affinity spaces for people within the LGBTQ+ community. Some ideas for affinity spaces may work better as an AS Club like the Lavender Menaces, T.A.G. Team, etc. We are always open for suggestions, email lgbtq@wwu.edu if you would like to see another affinity program.
Affinity Centered Program Winter Dates
Affinity Program | Meeting Frequency | Dates | Times | Locations |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black LGBTQ+ Thriving Collective | Hiatus—Event Focused with BSC | |||
Love Constellations | 1st and 3rd Thursdays | Jan 16th Feb 6th Feb 20th March 6th TBD | 3-4:30pm | Viking Union 740 |
Over the Rainbow | Once a Month Differing Dates | Jan 22nd Feb 12th | 4pm-6pm | Miller Hall 139 |
Rainbow Roots | Once a Month | Wed Feb 5th Wed Mar 5th | 5-6pm | MCC Kitchen |
Queer & Trans People of Color | Twice a Month 2nd & 4th Thursdays | Jan 9th Jan 23rd Feb 13th Feb 27th Mar 6th | 4-5pm | Viking Union 740 |
Queer Men's Gatherings | Every Other Wednesday | Jan 15th Jan 29th Feb 12th Feb 26th | 3-4pm | Viking Union 740 |
Trans Tea | Twice a Month 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | Jan 7th Jan 21st Feb 4th Feb 18th VU 462 Mar 4th | 4-5pm | VU 735 |