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.
Contents
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." In 2012.1, "Sweet Transvestite" was replaced by "Over at the Frankenstein Place". 2012.2 acted out "Science Fiction/Double Feature" in place of "Sweet Transvestite." In 2013.1 and 2014.1, the second song was "Hot Patootie-Bless My Soul".
Pictures
LAN.05.1: Drew-Brian as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Eric (link 404)
Crossdressers at LAN.06.2 (l-r: Lowell, Kib, Colin, Vin) (link 404)
ANDREY (link 404)
Nico Vallone in a queen of hearts dress made out of cards at LAN 14.1
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. As Yours Truly, dressed in very convincing clothing, has conversed with said ballerinas, they are not warned or told anything by ballerinas from previous renditions or the staff. Instead, they see us and basically think that we are in a gay rights parade and enjoy it that way. 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, with many wearing signs throughout the day that said 'I AM NOT OFFENDED'. 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. As Saratoga is known for its extremely intense Tradition Days, the majority of the campus participates in Drag Day. People can be seen exchanging clothing two days before Drag Day, and Quad time during the night before Drag Day is often filled with people running back to their dorms and back to the Quad for last minute clothing exchanges. 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 and occasionally horrified when they realize that the person they're flirting with isn't actually a boy/girl during Drag Day.
During 13.1, SRA Kenny acknowledged Drag Day the preceding Tuesday after a movie. His announcement "Tomorrow is Drag Day." to the camp was met with appluase and cheering from the students. He used the moment to remind campers that all round curves must be covered, whether it be booty or breast. The RA's also were told to remind "gurlz" and girls to dress "appropriately", though it that can somewhat ironic considering a teenage boy wearing yoga pants, a V-neck and cardigan along with lipstick and mascara is probably not appropriate in most social situations. Acoording to the Dining Hall staff of 13.1, their favorite tradition day is Dray Day and find it to be completely hillarious and occasionally ask each other whether a patron is male or female. One cook that worked at The Diner said this CTYer's hot pink nails were "lovely" and "expertly done". One female janitor also taught the proper way to sit while wearing a dress and how to cross one's leg or ankles to prevent any "goods" from being accidently revealed.
As of 15.1, what used to be known as "Drag Day" is now "Wacky Wednesday" due to the transphobic implications of drag shows. It still consists of exchanging clothes with the opposite gender, only now it is regarded as a more inclusive term to genderqueer people, and those who don't fit within the gender binary.
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 and Haydn Dufrene were reprimanded for their dress. Haydn Dufrene was 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, some returning female CAAmpers, such as Carolyn Byington and Leila Kurman, still decided to celebrate cross-dress day by wearing dresses and drawing crosses on their 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.
