Drag Meets Awareness
A Night to Remember: First of its Kind!
On December 1, 2024, Mist LGBTQ Foundation, in collaboration with Queertainment Private Limited, hosted a dazzling Drag Bollywood Night at C-Dock Restaurant and Lounge, Pune. This event wasn’t just a vibrant celebration of self-expression but also a powerful initiative to promote HIV awareness, testing, and prevention among the LGBTQ+ community.
Sponsored By: PEPFAR, USAID funded EpiC
Media Partner: Grindr
Testing Partner: Project Accelerate
Objective:
The Drag Bollywood Night was designed to blend entertainment with impactful public health messaging. Targeted at the LGBTQ+ youth, the event aimed to break the stigma surrounding HIV, encourage testing, and create a safe and supportive environment.
Participants eagerly waiting for the performances to begin
Key Highlights:
Performances That Shined Bright: Legendary drag queens, including Legendary Karma, Morgana Silom, Lady Bai, and Beyonce The Drag Queen, delivered captivating Bollywood-inspired acts. Alongside entertaining, they also engaged the audience in discussions about HIV prevention, timely testing, and living positively.
HIV Testing Booths: A dedicated booth offered free HIV testing, with 13 individuals utilizing the service on-site.
Educational Outreach: Informative flyers and resources on HIV prevention and PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) were distributed, with special segments to address questions from the audience.
Community Impact: The event drew approximately 170 attendees, exceeding expectations. 70 individuals completed their HIV testing at their own comfortable time driven by event promotions. 6 participants expressed interest in starting PrEP, showcasing growing awareness about HIV prevention.
Incentivized Testing: Waived entry fees encouraged individuals to undergo HIV testing during the event.
Popular Drag Queen Legendary Karma performing at the World AIDS Day 2024 Event in Pune. Image © Mist LGBTQ Foundation (Joseph Monis)
Achievements:
A 176% increase in impact compared to traditional marketing strategies.
4 famous Drag Queens Morgana Silom, Legendary Karma, Lady Bai and Beyonce The Drag Queen performing at the World AIDS Day 2024 Event in Pune. Image © Mist LGBTQ Foundation (Joseph Monis)
Looking Ahead:
The Drag Bollywood Night set a new benchmark for innovative outreach campaigns. It showcased the power of creativity in breaking stigma, fostering awareness, and encouraging proactive health measures. By combining entertainment with education, Mist LGBTQ Foundation has created a model that can inspire similar initiatives across the country.
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