On the 10th floor of the Robert W. Woodruff Library, large metal elevator doors open to reveal a portal to the past, a key to understanding the present and an invaluable resource for navigating the future: the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library. Though the Rose Library often houses dedicated researchers, interested Atlanta natives and tired students, on Oct. 9 the library invited a different group inside its stunning walls — five drag queens from metro Atlanta.
Welcoming the fourth annual “The Rose Library Drag Show,” Randy Gue reflected on the library’s LGBTQ+ collection. In his curation practice, Gue — who took on the position of assistant director of collection development and curator of political, cultural and social movements four years ago — prioritizes community and connection.
“Rose Library has been collecting LGBTQ collections since 2005, and so in January 2020, we decided to have a drag show,” Gue said. “We wanted to have it up here in the library and so we brought five entertainers from metro Atlanta to come and just have fun and celebrate our collection.”
Besides commemorating LGBTQ+ history, Gue hoped this event exposed students to new facets of the Rose Library and potentially inspired new donors to come forward.
“One of the things that we believe at the Rose Library, especially with programming, is that we need to be engaged with the communities that we collect,” Gue said. “We also believe in participatory events, events that make you say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know libraries did that.’”
Emory community members are not alone if they did not know that metro Atlanta drag queens temporarily transform the Rose Library’s Teaching and Learning Studio into a nightclub for one night every October. Erin Makhanian (28C) and Anna Jennings (28C) arrived on the 10th floor with minutes to spare, not knowing what to expect from the night ahead.
“We just found out about it because we were at an art history event in the Carlos Museum and someone just said there’s gonna be a drag show in the library at seven, and we’re like, ‘That sounds really fun,’ so we just showed up,” Jennings said.
Along with Makhanian and Jennings, over 70 students, faculty and Atlanta natives flooded the studio at 7 p.m. to watch the show. Clad in everyday clothes and rainbow-beaded necklaces and armed with complementary plastic hand clappers, the audience waited patiently for the show to begin.
At 7:10 p.m., Gue delivered a brief address to the crowd, discussing the importance of the Rose Library’s LGBTQ+ collections and drumming up excitement for the performances.
“Our mission here at the Rose Library is to acquire, preserve, arrange, describe and most importantly, provide public access to materials of lasting historical value,” Gue said. “We believe that our LGBTQ collections have lasting historical value.”
Gue soon relinquished the floor to the MC of the night, Lorelei, a former Emory employee and spunky drag queen. Before the show, Lorelei discussed her long-time role in the annual Rose Library Drag Show and her integral involvement in inviting and selecting its performers.
“Everybody’s a different type of entertainer,” Lorelei said. “Everybody has a different niche they do, so you're gonna see a little bit of everything. You’ll see some campy stuff. You’ll see some middle-road stuff. You’ll see some glamor stuff.”
Just as Lorelei warned, each of the five performers — including the MC herself — expressed different types of fun, flirtation and freedom. Lorelei readied the audience with an energetic performance to “Getting Married Today” by Stephen Sondheim (1978) in a full wedding gown, veil and sparkly white heels. Your Aunt Roz followed with a live performance of “Get the Party Started” by P!nk (2001).
The third performer, Tatianna Dejour, stunned the crowd with an ornate rainbow dress and wig. In true “Hunger Games” (2012) Panem fashion, this queen did not come to play. Eileen Slightly, the fourth act of the night, strode in smoothly on a wheelchair, lip-syncing to “How Will I Know” (1985) by Whitney Houston in a luscious pink wig. Lastly, Jessica Raye, the Miss Gay United States Icon 2024, sashayed into the studio to perform “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey (1981) in a black sparkly jumpsuit.
Each drag queen performed twice, donning new outfits and captivating the audience with charisma, confidence and class. These performances were fun and flirty but completely PG — being in a library, after all. The drag queens interacted with the spectators in various ways: sometimes sitting beside them in a lull of the song, or even throwing a bouquet and a wink their way.
Following the show, many in attendance stuck around to chat, laugh and take pictures with the queens. As Emma Farrer (28C) waited in line for a photo-op, she said that “it was amazing” but wished the show had a stage.
Although the peculiar setting for the show left some audience members wanting more, the Rose Library did not intend for the show to be a flawless, all-encompassing night of drag — instead, the event was an educational experience that celebrates the bountiful history of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community.
“I hope that they come away with the understanding that the Rose Library’s LGBTQ collections are important to Emory and that we are a resource for them and the community,” Gue said. “ I hope they see libraries in a different light, and I hope they have fun.”
