The NMSU campus lit up with pride, music, and Halloween spirit on Oct. 30 at the Corbett Outdoor Stage. Students, alumni, and community members gathered in excitement for the annual OUTober XI: Halloween Drag Show on International Mall hosted by the LGBT+ Programs.
Emceed by drag queens Mae Dove Stardust and Ryan Rox, with special featured performer Akasha B. Couture, the annual event highlighted student expression through music, drag, and performance. Interim director of LGBT+ Programs, Day Romero, received credit from the hosts as the “True light” of the NMSU LGBTQ community.
The drag show opened with a performance by the emcees as they performed songs, “Defying Gravity” and “What Is This Feeling?” from the Wicked soundtrack. Rox emphasized how working with co-host Dove Stardust has been extra rewarding and a bonding experience.
“This is my second time being invited to co-host with Mae, and it’s always such a fun experience that I never say no,” Rox said. “It’s really given us an excuse to spend time together during rehearsals and catch up.”
Immediately following the opening number, New Mexico’s only mixed-voice LGBTQ+ choir, Singing Out Las Cruces, took the stage. Their set included a protest anthem titled “Star” featuring the powerful repeated line, “We’re here. We aren’t quiet. Get used to it.” The performance served as a tribute to LGBTQ+ resistance throughout history.
Following the choir show, performer Akasha B. Couture opened the show with the first official solo appearance, an energetic number that perfectly started off the night. While performing her first number, she moved through the audience and captured everyone with her confidence. Featured in many drag events and shows, Akasha described the experience as powerful and inspiring.
“I want people to know that it’s okay to be who you are, whenever and whatever you are, because you are all important,” Akasha said.
Another one of the night’s standout moments came from an NMSU performer who became the first student in OUTober history to perform an original song on stage.
Other performances included drag, dance, and live vocals set to “Judas” by Lady Gaga, “Clown” by Emeli Sandé, and selections from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. These performances included amazing wardrobes and dancing, where performers interacted with the crowd and brought the stage to life with their energy and creativity.
Throughout the night, performers and attendees emphasized how events like OUTober create space for authenticity and visibility in times when it is important to be heard and seen.
“This is one of my favorite events I’ve ever attended,” first-time attendee Angie Taylor said. “And the fact that it’s on campus really shines a light on how far we’ve come as a community to be seen, heard, and accepted.”
For over a decade, the OUTober drag event has been coordinated by the NMSU LGBT+ Program. They collaborate with student organizations, alumni, and community partners to make the event possible.
The goal extends beyond entertainment. The organization intentionally designed the show to be free, accessible, and substance-free to ensure that every student, regardless of age or financial status, can participate.
For many students, the event serves as a space where queerness can be openly celebrated on campus rather than hidden or minimized. This celebration is a reminder that LGBTQ+ students play a vital role within the campus community.
Rox emphasized how the event holds emotional weight given the political climate. Recently, new efforts by conservative groups have challenged certain LGBTQ+ rights. Various states were attempting to overturn the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. The celebration at the OUTober drag show highlighted how important it is for queer people to get out and be seen. For Rox and others, drag is more than performance, it’s an act of visibility in a time when equality feels uncertain.
“With increasing political pressure on LGBTQIA+ people, events like OUTober are a meaningful source of relief,” Rox said. “It’s about reminding folks they’re not alone and they’re loved.”
Jacob Mara, another student who came to support friends and classmates, echoed that impact
“The LGBTQ community has really made me feel comfortable in expressing myself to the degree that I could even come out here and support everyone here,” Mara said. “We’ve all really come a long way, and it’s something to be proud of.”
