Drag Queen Hosts "After Dark" Bingo

Nightlife in New Orleans can be a harsh mistress. Colorful saloons draw of-age college students like moths to light, but too many evenings carousing in bars can take their toll. It is the mission of Tulane After Dark to provide engaging activities for students looking for alternative ways to spend the evening hours — such as Drag Queen Bingo.

And the operative word is "alternative." Blanche Debris, a professional female impersonator, provided the fun on Thursday (Jan. 28) as the host of Drag Queen Bingo in the Lavin-Bernick Center's Qatar Ballroom.

Debris, a regular attraction of the Tulane After Dark program, dressed as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees—but with a platinum blonde wig and short gold skirt. She called out bingo numbers while admonishing students about the importance of safe sexual practices.

"The program gives us an opportunity to provide innovative health education, without doing preachy lectures," said Scott Tims, director of wellness and health promotion at the Student Health Center.

The students, mostly first- and second-year students by a show of hands, ate potato chips and erupted in frequent laughter. A few lucky ones got to call out "Bingo!" before the night was through.

"It's nice for our students who choose not to drink to have campus activities they can attend that are a lot of fun," Tims said.

Attendance at monthly bingo nights ranges from 150 to 200 students on average, Tims said.

Drag Queen Bingo is a joint effort of Wellness and Health Promotion at the Student Health Center, Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Wellness Services.

Brandon Meginley is a senior majoring in journalism at Tulane University.