After denouncing Proposition 8 at the fourth annual Q Pageant Friday night, Mike DiGregorio was crowned Mr. Queer Penn State, beating five other competitors.
Wearing knee-high golden boots, DiGregorio (sophomore-hotel, restaurant and institutional management) sang lines from "My Country 'Tis of Thee," then sat on a cake to represent sitting on Proposition 8.
"It's like saying, 'Kiss our ass,' " he said.
The pageant -- featuring both male and female contestants -- was held in the Paul Robeson Cultural Center's Heritage Hall and concluded Pride Week. A crowd of more than 100 people howled approvingly throughout the event. Composed of three parts, it featured a "dress to impress" section, a talent show and an onstage interview.
Former titleholder Allison Jones co-hosted the pageant. In the guise of a character named Elektra, she encouraged contestants to strut their stuff in the first part of the event.
"If you're a woman and like to wear a dress, wear it and work it," Jones (sophomore-nursing) said. "If you're a man and like to wear a suit, you can work it as long as it suits you."
During the talent show, contestants sang and shook their bodies to popular songs such as "Closer" and "Diva." They frequently walked offstage into the crowd during their performances to pull risqué dance moves with audience members, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Afterward, contestants pulled questions from a hat, including "If you could be a fruit, what would you be?" and "What would be your presidential slogan?"
The event was sponsored by Undertones, an organization supporting students of color in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, allies and queer (LGBTAQ) community.
Quay Anthony, president of Undertones, said the crowd was "much bigger" than last year's.
"It shows more visibility of the LGBTA community," Anthony (sophomore-women's studies and health development and family sciences) said.
Jones was also pleased with the turnout and said the winner's address of Proposition 8 reflects the state of the LGBTA community's struggle for equality.
"He probably wasn't the most popular, but he had a message that needed to be heard, inside and outside of the community," she said. "As much as Pride Week was a celebration, he still made sure he delivered his message."
DiGregorio said it was an honor to be crowned Mr. Queer Penn State.
"It's just another outlet, having the limelight for a just a few seconds," he said. "It's like living out a fantasy for a whole year."
After the pageant, winners are permitted to claim whatever title they want. DiGregorio opted for Mr. Queer Penn State instead of Mr. Gay Penn State because it's more "gender neutral," he said.
