A shimmering black cloud dressed in devil horns clicked and clacked onto the stage of the Eynon Ballroom. 

Ophelia Bawdy, a Philly Drag Queen, was the one-woman powerhouse hosting the Office of Social Justice and Belonging (SJB)’s “Big Gay Drag Bingo Brunch” on Oct. 11. 

After Gourmet Dining provided brunch at 10 a.m., Bawdy welcomed all queer, closeted, and straight bingo enthusiasts a Happy National Coming Out Day.

“Whenever the time is right, make that choice for you,” said Bawdy. “But hey, if you’re feeling fierce and ready, maybe today is the day.”

Then it was time, with Dab King ink markers, the ballroom filled with approximately a hundred college students and they began scouring bingo cards for the numbers announced by Bawdy. 

Bawdy pulled ball after ball from the cage spinner, once saying “Speaking of sugar daddies, O 69.”  

Emmalee Holaday, assistant director, of gender and sexuality SJB, helped facilitate and organize this event. 

“We always try to have an event for National Coming Out Day,” said Holaday. “We wanted to change it up this year and make it a fun event.”

Holaday said National Coming Out Day is especially important at Rowan because it takes place during the Fall semester when incoming students need a sense of community the most– making a yearly brunch a signature event for her office. 

Throughout bingo, Bawdy told personal stories, gave dating advice, and served irreverent humor through lip sync mix-tracks. 

Her first number, she danced through the crowd to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” and an underlying narrative of young love and heartbreak emerged. 

Bawdy explained during one anecdote that she and her partner are soon-to-be husbands. She attributed finding a successful relationship to looking for love organically by meeting people face-to-face, and going out, and said she never used modern dating apps.

“Keeping a relationship alive is all about trust and honesty,” said Bawdy. “Speaking to each other and listening, if one fight happens don’t end the relationship immediately, talk through it.” 

Bawdy said she kissed a lot of frogs before she found her prince.

“Your exes, fuck them,” said Bawdy. “You’re with them for a reason, you learn something, then you move on.”

Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” then began playing. Bawdy, who was several outfit reveals into the morning, was now in a rainbow leotard with transgender-flag-colored shoulder pads, and began to ignite the stage once more. 

Until the track cut to a voice-over of someone breaking up with Bawdy. One attendee was designated as this ex, who then roleplayed with Bawdy. 

The message: “I’m breaking up with you for RuPaul.” 

Which then led to a minute of Bawdy heeling over the stage while hysterically crying, shaking her buttocks to the rhythm of her whaling, and throwing a heel-stomping tantrum. 

The audience watched with roaring laughs. 

After five games of bingo, five respective prizes were given, and the event ended in a raffle drawing. 

Isabella Kuszmaul, a freshman history major, won a sewing kit from a bingo victory. Kuszmaul said this was perfect for her, as she regularly sews, and even attached the custom red stars on the jeans she was wearing. 

Bawdy then went through the grief of this break-up and wrapped up her performance with “My Happy Ending” by Avril Lavigne, then “Good as Hell” by Lizzo, and ended on “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift.

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