A group of Lloydminster’s local drag performers has taken the next step to become a community support group.
Slay the Night, which has gained a following in Lloydminster with their drag shows and performances, recently received word they received Alberta non-profit status.
This will allow them to access non-profit arts grants and other sponsorships for their projects. They will also be able to provide financial or backing support to groups they sponsor both in Lloydminster and across Canada.
Secretary-Treasurer of Slay the Night Ltd. Jenson Brown says by getting this status, it allows them to set long term goals to create projects and expand in the coming years.
“We’ve got a lot of projects in the next five, ten years, that we want to be doing. Community-based projects, projects working with youth, as well as with adult individuals and minority groups, and other community-building projects that we can’t afford out of our own pockets.”
Slay the Night is now taking steps to become a community and arts support group not only in our City but across the nation.
One of the ways they’ve done this is by becoming the Canadian chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour, an international organization that sees drag performers provide literary and creative programming to young people, while also working to inspire them to love themselves, celebrate diversity in their communities and stand up for what they believe in and each other. As part of this organization, Slay the Night could provide this programming to locations all over Canada.
Brown explains that while supporting the LGBTQ+ community is part of drag art and their vision as well, the main goal as a support group for people to live authentically, kids or adults.
He adds that they’ve already seen this through initiatives through the brainchild of their youngest member, who is working to create Slay The Night Kids.Â
“She had to come to us about half a year ago and said to us that she really wanted to create a safe space for all kids to be able to live an authentic life and be creative through whatever way that creativity speaks to them. [If] you have an eight-year-old coming to you and telling you that sort of huge want for the world, you’re not going to be turning that down.”
The group will also be forming partnerships with several organizations and businesses, such as the LGBTQ+ Society of Lloydminster, Lloydminster Sexual Assualt Services, OutSaskatoon and the MacEwan University Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity to promote advocacy and build events.
Slay the Night is holding a virtual celebration on May 8th to look back on their history and where they’re going in the future.