On Halloween night, The Lyric Oxford opened its doors to host the annual Code Pink: Fang Banger event. With drag performances, costume contests and a packed dance floor, the sold-out event brought together members of the Oxford community for a night of creativity, self-expression and celebration.
Behind the elaborate costumes and carefully curated performances, hours of preparation go into making Code Pink an experience in which attendees can not only have a great time but also feel safe and welcome.
Drag performers spend hours selecting music, creating mixes, planning choreography and putting together costumes that bring their personas to life. Many performances draw inspiration from pop culture, movies and music, transforming familiar media into their own interpretations.
Justin Tyler, also known as Fendi La Femme in drag, has been involved with Code Pink for seven years. Originally from the Oxford area, Tyler serves as the show’s director and host, overseeing entertainment bookings and helping bring each event together.
“I started in March of 2019 with my first Code Pink,” Tyler said. “As their show director and host, I’m the one responsible for booking all the entertainment and everything.”
This year marked 10 years of Code Pink and the sixth Fang Banger celebration. This school year, the organization is working to reintroduce its entertainment lineup by highlighting performers from beyond the Oxford area and bringing different styles of drag to the stage.
Tyler also said the organization takes proactive steps to ensure that everyone feels comfortable.
“Code Pink is a very warm and amazing and accepting place for everyone,” Tyler said. “We want everyone to know that if they ever feel some kind of way, or somebody’s making them uncomfortable, that they can always find me or a security guard, and we will do our best to handle the situation.”
For Tyler, the event’s emphasis on inclusion is deeply personal. Growing up in Potts Camp, Miss., a small town outside of Oxford, he said he often felt isolated as an openly gay student.
“There was no queer representation. There was no inclusion. It was quite literally me against the world,” Tyler said.
Finding Code Pink gave him an opportunity to connect with others who shared similar experiences. Today, he sees that same sense of belonging reflected in the messages the organization receives from young people attending their first events.
“People really enjoy this event,” Tyler said, “It really does amazing things within the community.”
That sense of community extends beyond the people organizing the event and onto the performers themselves.
Miguel Angel, a senior psychology major from Walls, Miss., performs under the stage name Angel Bebe. This year marked his second year performing with Code Pink.
For his Fang Banger performance, Angel drew inspiration from the movie “Obsession,” using the film as the foundation for his character and costume. He said preparing for a performance is often a collaborative process; he relies on his “drag family” for help with costumes, music mixes and choreography.
“I have (drag) sisters that specialize in different things, like making mixes, making costumes and choreography,” Angel said. “I have a team to help me, but it’s more of a family.”
Although members of his drag family live across the country, Angel said they remain an important support system throughout the creative process.
“(My drag sisters) live in different parts of the country, but when I contact them, they pick up the phone,” Angel said. “The costume you’re going to see is going to be made by this drag queen that opened up for Chappell Roan — her name is Dainty, she’s from Oklahoma.”
The range of performers at Code Pink is what brings people in. From old-school drag to newer styles, the variety of performers allows audiences to experience different interpretations of drag and artistic expression throughout the night.
“There’s a variety of girls — it’s a variety show,” Angel said. “You’re going to get a lot of everything.”
For Angel, performing in Oxford also provides an opportunity to connect with a community that can sometimes feel difficult to find.
“Especially down (in Oxford), it gets lonely and boring,” Angel said. “What this means to me, it’s like I have Oxford in the palm of my hand for five minutes.”
While the performances are a major part of the celebration, Angel said some of his favorite moments take place before he even steps onto the stage. Getting ready, doing makeup and seeing the creativity of the other performers and attendees are all part of what makes the experience special.
“I love it when everyone comes in and plays along with the performers,” Angel said. “Everybody’s in costume, everybody’s weirdos.”
Both performers emphasized that Fang Banger is more than a Halloween party. It is an opportunity for people to express themselves freely, find community and celebrate differences in an environment where they feel accepted.
Tyler hopes attendees leave with an understanding that inclusion should extend beyond events like Code Pink and become part of everyday life.
“Inclusion really comes down to being active and involved at your polls, using your voice and making sure that whatever your political views are, your voice is heard,” Tyler said. “On a day-to-day basis, queer people’s safety and their literal lives are at stake.”
The hours of preparation behind Code Pink ultimately do more than create a successful show. From the performers creating their looks to the organizers ensuring a safe environment, every detail contributes to an experience centered on community.
“There’s so much more meaning behind something like Code Pink than just what a lot of people see as a fun night out,” Tyler said.
