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Good News: You’re Paying for a Drag Show!

Northern Michigan University is using taxpayer funds to put up a drag show to prepare for Pride Month

By Anna Hoffman · May 27, 2025

Marquette’s Northern Michigan University is hosting a “Drag Cabaret” the weekend of May 29 to “get us ready for Pride Month.” The organizers think it’s “family-friendly.”

Oh, and you are paying for it.

While the general admission price is $20, it’s only $12 for “youth,” and NMU students pay a reduced fee of $5.

screenshot of NMU site for drag cabaret

The featured queens are director Joey Black, a Milwaukee native and former Miss Gay Wisconsin; the “high octane diva” Mercedes Benzova; Miss Rainbow Pride 2018 Shelby Cummins; Wisconsin Drag award winner Loretta Lovelee; Taysha Montenegro, Miss Gay Capital City 2025; and Wisconsin Pride 2025 winner “Venezia.”

According to a Freedom of Information Act request to Northern Michigan University, the estimated cost of the event is $8,436.10.

NMU Drag Queen ResponseDownload

Drag Cabaret comes after Northern Michigan University hosted the 28th Annual Drag Show in February “for all ages” in partnership with Northern’s Queers and Allies.

If you’re looking for family friendly fun in U.P., skip the Cabaret and go take your kids camping.

Anna Hoffman is an Ann Arbor mom of three. You can follow her on X and Instagram @shoesonplease.

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