Cross-dress Day
Cross-dress Day, known as Drag Day or Gender Bender Day, depending on site (and, in fact, not known as "Cross-dress Day" at any site), is a set day that occurs once per session on which it is traditional for students (and sometimes RAs) to cross-dress. It occurs on different days at different sites, and is often associated with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Normally, students exchange clothes with a friend of the opposite gender, although some bring their own clothing.
Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, there is general not a great deal of parental complaint about this tradition. Recently, however, some sites have been trying to put an end to Cross-dress Day, usually resulting in protests.
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Lancaster
At Lancaster, Cross-dress Day is always on Second Saturday. The term "Drag Day" (or any other term) is rare at Lancaster; Second Saturday is prevalent. Second Saturday is also Rocky Horror Picture Show Night, when nomores act out "The Time Warp" and "Sweet Transvestite."
Pictures
LAN.05.1: Drew-Brian as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Eric
Crossdressers at LAN.06.2 (l-r: Lowell, Kib, Colin, Vin)
Carlisle
At Carlisle, Cross-dress Day is referred to as Drag Day, and occurs on Second Tuesday.
Generally, Drag Day is the most-participated in day of all dress-up or theme days. Often, the night before, during Meet Market, a guy and a girl exchange clothing. The next day, they put on the clothing of the opposite sex and strut their stuff while some of the ballerinas accidentally flirt with the convincingly cross-dressed girls. They have also been known to take pictures secretly. Although the boys are allowed to don bras, they are not allowed to stuff. A common misstep is wearing only a tight girls' t-shirt and jeans; instead of looking like a girl, you look like a gay man. The boys usually shed their drag apparel by activities.
Origins of Drag Day
The origins of Drag Day actually have nothing to do with Sound of America; in fact, there were several years where Drag Day and SoA overlapped. In 97.2, Pierre(?), for one reason or another, dressed up as a girl. The administration promptly cracked down, forcing him to change, on the grounds that they had heard angry complaints from parents via the Baltimore office about cross-dressing at CTY. Although it was not known at the time, this was actually an excuse fabricated by the Dean of Residential Life.
After this incident, a mass protest was held by the students (protesting during a dance is actually now against the rules) (see Hall of Fame:CAR). In subsequent years, the theme spread, and Drag Day was born. During the few years when their time on campus overlapped, the Washington Redskins found Drag Day particularly amusing.
Saratoga Springs (Skidmore)
At Skidmore, Cross-dress day is referred to as Drag Day/Gender Bender Day, and occurs on Second Wednesday.
Due to the camp sharing it's cafeteria with a ballet camp and summer college students, the Rinas and Rinos and college students all are greatly amused during Drag Day.
Los Angeles (LMU)
Cross-dress day is called Drag Day or Drag Wednesday at LMU. It occurs on the second Wednesday. Boys often swap clothes with girls during Social Time the night before. As other summer camps are usually going on at the time, students at the site have the pleasure of telling the Kobe kids or other sports camps the various reasons why they've decided to cross dress. Many girl CTYers are approached by Kobe campers asking "Is that person standing next to you a boy or a girl, the one in the dress?"
In 11.1, Drag Day occurred on the last day of the Korean Church Convention. The Koreans were dazzled by the sight of LMU-ers in their full glory. Many guys had painted their nails and decided to wear revealing clothing, like off-shoulder tops, halter-neck dresses and short skirts, complete with hair accessories and make-up. Unlike at other sites, some RAs' acknowledged this event and one brave RA even used this event as a discussion during that night's hall meeting, promoting awareness and tolerance.
Loudonville (Siena)
At Siena, Cross-Dress day is separated into two distinct events: Fairy Princess Day and Macho Man Day. The first occurs on Second Tuesday, and is when guys cross dress, while the second is on Second Wendsday, for girls.
During 08.1, Siena College held its orientation at the beginning of July, resulting in large groups of Christian college freshmen being present for Fairy Princess Day. Needless to say, the cross-dressing teenagers attracted significant notice, mostly in the form of mostly blank, slightly horrified stares.
Baltimore
During 07.1, Drag Day was virtually nonexistent. Only five or six kids participated (one of them on the wrong day). Baltimore had its very first Drag Day during 08.1. It was impromptu and organized wholly by the students because JHU administration wanted nothing to do with it and with RAs being forbidden from cross-dressing. But in the end, Drag Day came through and many students participated in this spectacular event. Fake 'marriages' happened throughout the day and many hearts were broken as "boys" dumped "girls" and other confusions happened. 08.2 also held a smaller Drag Day. In 09.1, Drag Day was pointedly held on Second Wednesday, although RAs were still forbidden to "encourage OR discourage it". This came through although only about 1 in every 10 kids dragged. Paul's hall was forbidden from participating "because it might be insulting" although most other halls were not expressly forbidden. Many sights including too-tight skirts could be seen. In 10.2 however, Drag Day was a huge hit, it occurred on the second Wednesday and many minidresses, miniskirts, girls so G they were almost H, and hot "gurlz" could be seen. The RA's were strictly prohibited to encourage OR discourage it, again. During 11.1, Drag Day was held on the second Monday. Students spread the word almost a week in advance, and the exchange of clothing happened up until that Monday. RA's pretended not to know about the event, and neither endorsed nor discouraged it, again. Boys were seen in skirts and dresses, some in heels and a bra, though the exchange of underclothes has been forbidden in the past years. Many more girls participated than boys and some were mistaken for actual boys (which they were delighted about). This was the birthday of "swag walks" and "bro food". Drag Day in 11.2 occurred on the second Tuesday. RAs' again pretended to know nothing about it, whereas the instructional staff did say some things about it, especially the LAWP class, as they were about the discuss gay rights. There was a lot more participation this year, compared to 10.2. We did freak a couple lax bros' out with the sight of nevermore Jaime in a halter-neck, Mexican dress, nevermore Kyle in jeggings and tight T-shirt, and the jaw-dropping looks created by many other courageous men.
Easton
At Easton, Cross-dress Day is on the last Wednesday.
Notable Cross-dress Days
easton 08.1 a couple of the girls and boys halls had their own unoffical cross dress day on the second weds instead of the last.
08.2 On this cross-dress day, legendary Easton CAAmpers Brian Herrera, Haydn Dufrene, and Octavio Roscioli were reprimanded for their dress. Haydn Dufrene, and Octavio Roscioli were forced to change into normal male's attire because they were "disrespecting Lafayette property". Apparently, sexually pleasing a Lafayette golfcart (while nevermore girls Nadya Spice and Steph Dunn take advantage of the photo-op) is inappropriate, and results in the removal of the privilege to dress like the opposite gender. Brian Herrera, however, was punished for being just too sexy. Apparently, his outfit was too revealing. He was forced to change just like Haydn and Octavio. Brian, in fact, did not comply. He instead wore his cross-dress day clothes underneath men's clothing and took off the cover-up during Rob Lovering's most amazing Bioethics class. BIOETHICS ''B.A.M.Fs''
09.2 Cross-dress has been cancelled, being replaced with a "T-Shirt Signing Wednesday." Cross-Day day was apparently "offensive", because apparently there were cross-dressers on campus. Though some returning students dressed up for these days, many people did not, and just wore their CTY shirts instead. However, two Easton CAAmpers who truly understand the meaning behind these "spirit days," Carolyn Byington, and Leila Kurman decided to rebel against the cancellation of cross-dress day. They both wore dresses and drew crosses on their left hands. Also, male camper Nikhil Varma dressed up in a dress for much of the day. The administration had no problem with their choice of how to celebrate this day! Easton CAAmpers of the future are encouraged to explore new and exciting ways to participate in SPIRIT WEEK!
10.2 Cross Dress day is still not allowed, however no-mores and nevermores Sam Lawyer, Tony Satryan, Nikhil Varma, and a few others still dressed up for this event. During mid-morning after breakfast, they were escorted out of the quad by SRA's Kelly and Seth, with everyone clapping and applausing them for this event. They were not punished, but they had to change. Though it was more common than the previous year and still not permitted, we still encourage students to keep the original traditions going.
