Cancer is a Drag: the annual lip-sync battle
Fairmont State University’s fourth annual “Cancer is a Drag” hit the stage on April 4, 2019. The fundraising lip-sync battle, presented by the Masquers, was adopted from London, England. Admission was free and all donations were given to the American Cancer Society.
After each act, the audience was encouraged to vote by donation. One audience member, Jenson James stated, “I had a blast, I was blown away.” This year’s top four acts were Lizzy Hale, Helen Wheels & Iva Harden, Peter Gene and the Iconic Queens. Much of the audience used the flashlights on their cell phones to signal their enthusiasm for Lizzy Hale’s performance of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Bailey Kershner and Juliana Spradling of the Iconic Queens shared some advice for future volunteers with Spradling stating, “We feed off the audience” and Kershner stating, “You come up with an idea, you develop a routine and you just go out and own it.”
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This year’s special guest was Miss Pride West Virginia, Sadae Spears. She delighted the crowd with two professional performances. According to Dannie Stiles, “Being Miss Pride West Virginia has been a lot of fun, a lot of stress, but much more fun than anything, it’s pretty much a second full-time job on top of a full-time job.”
Dannie Stiles came from a conservative family that for ten years, refused to accept his sexuality. After embracing his truth and rising above the hate and shame others have cast on him, he gained support through strong friendships and became the first gay man to marry his partner in Upshur County, West Virginia. With this experience, Spears advises LGBTQ youth to “Find your tribe… find the people that make you the best you and that is your family.”
