As a pastor’s kid, I’ve attended countless traditional Christmas Eve services over the years. But when I went to the first-ever A Drag Christmas Spectacular in Fort Collins last year, I felt a sense of joy that I hadn’t necessarily felt in years when it comes to church services. It was a celebration of the season that was vibrant and inclusive and that my queer self needed.
A Drag Christmas Spectacular is written and directed by Krisa Gonna and co-created by Rev. Sean Neil-Barron. This Christmas service shares the story of Christmas Eve but with a twist. This is where magical queers slay their way to Bethlehem. The show included Colorado’s top drag and queer talent in a 90-minute whirlwind of theater, drag, humor, heart, and glitter. The show was welcoming to everyone—whether religious, non-religious, those who have been hurt by the church, queer individuals, or allies. This year included a PG version as well as two sixteen and up shows.
The shows were out of this world. There was dancing, poetry readings, singing testimonies, and we even got to hear from three dads who work with PFLAG on what gifts their transgender kids have given them. The shows were definitely something to remember.
Krisa ended the show with a powerful statement: “Every child, born into this radiant universe, deserves to be welcomed with a love unbounded, a care unconditional, and a commitment to their freedom to be their truest, realist, rawest, most un-contained selves. This is a call to celebrate, not suppress. To embrace the vibrant rainbow spectrum of their identities, their desires, their loves. Shattering rigid norms to embrace a rebellion of self-expression, built on bedrock of boundless and unapologetic love. For those, young or old, who have been denied this freedom and still battle for self-acceptance and love, we must be stars for each other, sentinels of community, commitment, care, and joy. Committed to guiding each other home. And leaving no one behind.”
A portion of ticket sales went towards Rainbow Villages, which is a program that offers three months of free housing, essential life support, and a welcoming community in Northern Colorado. To donate to Rainbow Villages visit the Foothills Unitarian website. For Krisa’s show dates, appearances and special event schedule, visit her Instagram page.
