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Matt Heistand Arizona Daily Wildcat "Ms. Victoria Dupruis" performs on the Mall yesterday as part of Gay Awareness Week activities. This event was the first of several scheduled for the Mall this week.

"I know I look good," Simone called out to the hundreds of onlookers. "This ain't no padding."

Kenneth Blake, the reigning Ms. Gay Tucson, took the stage after Simone.

"Him, her, we're all the same," he said preening as eyes turned to his pale, long legs, bared in a French-cut leotard.

The Associated Students Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Association yesterday celebrated Gay Awareness Week by hosting a drag show on the Mall - and students used to listening to doomsday preachers and gospel singers weren't quite sure what to make of it.

"They got me fooled for awhile," said Tom Gerhardt, a business and marketing sophomore.

"I think the guy with the red dress and white boots was better looking than I am," said undeclared freshman Lizette Acosta. "I think he had a good body."

The performers drew the audience into the show with hugs, coos and flesh.

"We're trying to get the audience to have as much fun as possible," said "Truly Fabu," the reigning Ms. Gay Western States.

Backstage, however, the professional performers said there was a serious message behind the fun.

"Gay Awareness Week is a really big event," Fabu said. "As performers, we're showing solidarity by showing our presence on campus and the diversity."

"We are the gay symbols of excellence," Blake said.

"We're all very proud," Fabu said, his eyes intent beneath liner and powder.

The drag show, which intended to showcase pride during gay awareness week, is the first of several events scheduled this week on the Mall, said Heidi VanBorkulo, director of BGALA.

In years past, the drag show has been held in The Cellar, a small venue in the Memorial Student Union's basement.

"We chose to have the drag show out on the Mall because there's some misconceptions about what it means to be a drag queen," VanBorkulo said. "We're very proud and very excited and we want people to see the excitement and what good entertainers these people are."

Not everyone agreed shifting the drag show to the Mall was the right move.

"I have gay friends and I'm totally for letting them do what they want to, but I don't think it is right - not here anyway," said Suzanne Ferwerda, an education junior.

"It's nauseating," said undeclared freshman Ryan Gibney. "It promotes awareness, but it promotes it in a negative way. It's like a freak show almost."

Others rallied around the performers and appreciated their efforts.

"I think it's really cool. They need to be more out in the open - it's about time," said Erin Wright, a psychology sophomore.

"It does show they are human and have talents too," said Danielle Corbett, a music performance and molecular and cellular biology senior.

Other events are planned for the rest of Gay Awareness Week.

Today at noon, BGALA will host a speaker panel on the Mall, and tonight at 7 p.m. in the Student Union's Arizona Ballroom, former major league baseball umpire Dave Pallone will speak about the challenges he faced being gay in professional sports.

UA poet Judith McDaniel will also give a lecture entitled "Why Bother Coming Out" Thursday at noon on the Mall.