BATHURST'S strong case as a culturally-inclusive community is set to receive another welcome boost when the city hosts the second ever Australia's Got Drag competition next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Australia's Got Drag has been locked in for Panthers Bathurst on Saturday, February 6, 2021 after its successful inaugural staging at Port Macquarie last year.
The Bathurst event will be hosted by prominent local drag queen entertainer Betty Confetti [Jonathan Hosking], who finished second at the Port Macquarie event.
IN OTHER NEWS AROUND BATHURST:
Ms Confetti said the Australia's Got Drag competition will be a landmark event for the Bathurst community.
"It's going to be here, it's going to be queer, it's going to be so much fun," she said.
"When the organisers first proposed it, I was immediately surprised and excited at the prospect it could actually happen, and here we are."
Ms Confetti said attendees can expect an evening of drag queen splendour, with a series of categorised routines to show off the talents of each respective queen.
"There will be four rounds, including runway, a lip sync routine, a comedy skit and a talent round, where each contestant has free rein to display a particular skill," she said.
"A number of queens have already started to apply, which is super exciting."
The announcement complements Bathurst's growing appreciation for the LGBTQIA+ community, with the Oxford Hotel's Venom Pride Nights, Keystone's 2020 Mardi Gras Party and Sir Elton John's landmark Bathurst gig noteworthy examples.
Prominent local LGBTQIA+ identity Andy Wheeler said the securing of the event, where he'll serve as a guest judge, is another fine example of Bathurst's growing acceptance of the queer community.
"A drag competition in Bathurst is fabulous; we have the Supercars each year, and now we have Australia's Got Drag, which may or may not have something to do with cars," Mr Wheeler said.
"It's going to be huge for Bathurst, and I doubt there'll be a single cosmetic place that won't be raided over that weekend."
With Sir Elton John's concert a noticeable highlight in what has been a predominantly difficult year for Bathurst, Mr Wheeler hopes the drag competition will bring some much needed colour and excitement to a community starved of entertainment.
"We want to give the community something amusing and positive after the tumultuous torrent of 2020," he said.
"Sir Elton's gig was a standout event, and this will certainly be another one."