USG's third annual Queer Excellence Night

Queer Excellence Night returns to the Ohio Union this Friday at 7 PM, capping off the university's annual Queer Week. It's the third year the night has run, and it's moved into the Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom to make room for the crowd they're expecting. The evening is built around drag performances and free food, and it's free to attend.

The night was started by the Undergraduate Student Government's Justice and Equity Committee with the goal of making a real impact around campus. It's grown with every edition: the first one filled every seat, the following year added 50 more, and this year it's moved into the ballroom to keep up with the numbers. Student committee members Marin Funderburg and Ethan Lucas say the night is meant to celebrate queer identities and foster support.

As for the performers, the drag queens they book often return to play at colleges because they enjoy the younger queer crowd. That's a good thing to keep in mind if you're heading in with a group—the whole night is geared toward that community. It's the final stop of Queer Week, so it's as much a send-off for the week's other events as it is a party in its own right.

It all goes down Friday at 7 PM in the Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom at the Ohio Union in Columbus. Entry is free.