Tonight, Oct. 7, National Coming Out Week was kicked off by the university’s second annual drag show. A crowd of students, faculty and staff gathered at the steps of the Temple Performing Arts Center before the performance.

The show took months of thorough preparation, organizers said, by a team consisting of members of the Queer Student Union, Residential Life and the Wellness Resource Center. The show was marketed mainly through Twitter, which is how one freshman said she discovered it.

“I saw it on Twitter and though there’s not a lot of schools that would have a drag show,” freshman Juanita Cortes said. “It’s a unique thing I might not get to experience otherwise.”

The show featured a number of performers, including some Temple students. Perhaps the most popular act of the night was Latina Montgomery, a professional drag queen and artist who has performed all over the country.

Latina danced to a soulful song in a blue shimmering floor-length dress. She maneuvered through the audience, generating enthusiastic response.

Each performer offered a different act. Some consisted of drag queens dancing to pop songs, while some featured drag kings chair-dancing or acting out popular skits.

The show was well-received by the attendees who came out for the first event of NCOW. Organizers said they are excited about the success of the show’s atmosphere, intended to be fun and relaxed.

“We’ve already started planning for next year,” organizer and President of Queer Student Union Michael Kovich said. “We want students to enjoy the show and feel comfortable. We’re letting the university know we’re here and together.”