Yea, nothing to see here
- Thread starter JohnHughsPartner
- Start date
You'd love it here in the People's Republic of Lulu Johnson County, Iowa and Iowa City...
I.C. PRIDE LAUNCHES
DOGGY DRAG SHOW
New fundraiser created after corporate sponsorships decline
ELIJAH DECIOUS | The Gazette
I OWA CITY — At Iowa’s newest drag pageant, contestants stomping the runway are a little less conventional than your typical queen.
Sporting wigs, tulle tutus and tricks that make the crowd go wild, some competitors strut their stuff to snatch the crown. But with twice the number of legs, exponentially more body hair and some questionable fashion choices, some contestants were “ruff ” around the edges.
The Doggy Drag Show, hosted by Iowa City Pride on April 30, is the latest way Iowa’s longest-running LGBTQ+ Pride celebration is keeping audiences on their toes.
SLAYING THE COMPETITION
On the grassy runway on Big Grove Brewery’s lawn, the Doggy Drag show has all the hallmarks of its human counterpart.
Gabby Cronbaugh kisses her Chihuahua, Legs Saint James, during the first Iowa City Pride Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. Gabby was among the 29 contestants at the fundraiser. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Jenny Barker gets a treat ready for mini-Goldendoodle Ozzy during the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Contestants have a drag name, feed off the crowd’s energy with each number and strut their stuff while collecting tips — opting for Milk Bones instead of the traditional dollar bills handed to performers.
As the crowd admires each contestant’s charm, host and emcee Dior Valentino announces key background details over the microphone.
Cher Some Kibble with Me, a Catahoula and Australian Shepherd mix sporting a full-length wig, loves hiking with his moms, chasing away the Amazon truck and trying to kiss people’s faces without being noticed.
His favorite food is a stick of butter — which tastes best when stolen off the counter.
Lewis, a Yorkiepoo from Utah, sports fairy wings and a tie as alter-ego Louise.
“I think he’s a Mormon — not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Dior quips ironically, repurposing the “Seinfeld” catchphrase disavowing homophobia.
Remington Garcia, modeling a fluorescent pink wig, is described as a “bossy lady queen” who “likes making friends, but is p i c k y .” Along with a scoring rubric, a panel of three judges are tasked with “American Idol”-style questions that introduce a new audience to the slang of drag and ballroom subcultures in the LGBTQ+ community.
“Did this dog serve face, or just treat seeking behavior?”
“Did this dog absolutely slay?”
“Did they bring charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, or just bark and vibes?”
Out of 29 contestants, one edged out the competition on a rubric of several categories spanning 50 possible points: Madame X-cess and her handler, Denise Carroll.
The 3-year-old Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, an American Kennel Club champion, was bred to hunt rabbits. But in this pageant, she slayed the competition to “Man I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain.
The winners earned a walking spot in the Iowa City Pride parade on June 20. There, it remains to be seen whether Madame X-cess can stay still long enough to wear her silk-tie crown.
AN INTRODUCTION TO DRAG
In recent years, more than 40 bills criminalizing or restricting drag performances have been introduced in state legislatures across the country. House Study Bill 158, introduced in the Iowa House last year, aimed to make it a Class D felony to take a minor to any type of performance where a performer “exhibits a gender identity that is different from the performer’s gender assigned at birth.”
Opponents criticized the bill, which ultimately failed, as something that would have banned minors from attending age-appropriate events like drag story hour at public libraries and even classic plays like Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
Organizers of the Doggy Drag Show aimed to offer the art form in a new light, defanged of the controversies that can be a barrier to building bridges in the culture wars.
“This was a great experience for people who maybe haven’t seen a drag show,” Carroll said. “You got to see the dogs perform and have fun, and that’s what it’s all about — drag is a blast.”
Organizer Lisa Skriver, an at-large member of Iowa City Pride’s board of directors, said the idea started as a way for supporters to safely show off their pups in the spring before hot weather poses a hazard for dogs walking the pavement in costumes.
At its debut in the yard of Big Grove Brewery, it doubled as an accessible event for children and adults alike.
“I hear a lot that people associate Pride events solely with drag, (and) that it’s prohibitive for a lot of people who don’t go to bars,” she said. “This is a PG-rated event. … There’s nudity from the dogs, if they want.”
Host Dior Valentino, the drag titleholder of Miss Iowa City 2025 who’s known as Azariah Rivera out of drag, was drawn to the event as something new and fresh with the style of pageantry — a predominant format for drag competitions.
“I think it will shed light on some positive aspects of drag, which is the entertainment value of it,” Rivera said. “Drag is a form of expression, it’s a form of art, and it’s going to be the same thing with the dogs.”
The draw for humans, she believes, is a way to express that through their furry family members with costumes, fur dye and wigs.
“Maybe it will open people’s eyes to see it’s not what they think (drag) is,” Rivera said. “It’s time, in 2026, to open people’s eyes to what’s different, and not keep people boxed into what they may or may not think it is.”
REBUILDING FUNDING
The free event benefited Iowa City Pride through the sale of Milk Bone treats to “tip” performers, raffle tickets, and vendors hawking dog-oriented merchandise on the sidelines.
“We’ve been putting on this festival since the year 1970,” said Andy Owens, president of Iowa City Pride. “It has always been free, and our hope is that it will forever remain free.”
But keeping it that way has become more of a challenge in recent years.
Last year, organizers of Pride events across the country saw a sudden retreat of support from corporate sponsors as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts came under fire. Several of the country’s largest LGBTQ Pride celebrations lost major sponsors amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.
Some organizers reported promised funds were scaled back. Others said longtime corporate partners have abandoned them altogether — even after decades of support.
Corey Jacobson, president of CR Pride in Cedar Rapids, told The Gazette last year that a dip in sponsorships was recovered through individual donations. At that time, 60 percent of its budget came from corporate sponsorships.
Iowa City Pride’s annual June festival, which Skriver said attracts more than 15,000 attendees every year, costs about $60,000 to host.
“In order to put on our show and keep events free, we’re going to do more events like this,” she said. “Hopefully, the public see it’s fun, that it’s a form of expression.”
Elijah Decious covers food and features on a variety of topics for The Gazette. He can be reached at [email protected] or (319) 398-8340.
Spectators watch the first Iowa City Pride Doggy Drag show from lawn chairs at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Mistie Melver carries her mini Dachshund, Rainbow Sass, during the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Dior Valentino, the emcee at Iowa City Pride’s first Doggy Drag Show, gets ready to announce the next contestant at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City onThursday, April 30, 2026. When not in drag,Valentino — the Miss Iowa City 2025 drag title holder — is known as Azariah Rivera. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Japanese Chin Daryl, performing in drag as Gimme S’more, participates in the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Use the QR code to watch video from the Doggy Drag Show held by Iowa City Pride at Big Grove BreweryinIowa City on April 30, 2026.
The draw for humans, she believes, is a way to express that through their furry family members with costumes, fur dye and wigs.
“Maybe it will open people’s eyes to see it’s not what they think (drag) is,” Rivera said. “It’s time, in 2026, to open people’s eyes to what’s different, and not keep people boxed into what they may or may not think it is.”
REBUILDING FUNDING
The free event benefited Iowa City Pride through the sale of Milk Bone treats to “tip” performers, raffle tickets, and vendors hawking dog-oriented merchandise on the sidelines.
“We’ve been putting on this festival since the year 1970,” said Andy Owens, president of Iowa City Pride. “It has always been free, and our hope is that it will forever remain free.”
But keeping it that way has become more of a challenge in recent years.
Last year, organizers of Pride events across the country saw a sudden retreat of support from corporate sponsors as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts came under fire. Several of the country’s largest LGBTQ Pride celebrations lost major sponsors amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.
Some organizers reported promised funds were scaled back. Others said longtime corporate partners have abandoned them altogether — even after decades of support.
Corey Jacobson, president of CR Pride in Cedar Rapids, told The Gazette last year that a dip in sponsorships was recovered through individual donations. At that time, 60 percent of its budget came from corporate sponsorships.
Iowa City Pride’s annual June festival, which Skriver said attracts more than 15,000 attendees every year, costs about $60,000 to host.
“In order to put on our show and keep events free, we’re going to do more events like this,” she said. “Hopefully, the public see it’s fun, that it’s a form of expression.”
Elijah Decious covers food and features on a variety of topics for The Gazette. He can be reached at [email protected] or (319) 398-8340.
Spectators watch the first Iowa City Pride Doggy Drag show from lawn chairs at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Mistie Melver carries her mini Dachshund, Rainbow Sass, during the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Dior Valentino, the emcee at Iowa City Pride’s first Doggy Drag Show, gets ready to announce the next contestant at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City onThursday, April 30, 2026. When not in drag,Valentino — the Miss Iowa City 2025 drag title holder — is known as Azariah Rivera. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Japanese Chin Daryl, performing in drag as Gimme S’more, participates in the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Use the QR code to watch video from the Doggy Drag Show held by Iowa City Pride at Big Grove BreweryinIowa City on April 30, 2026.
All of this is too much text, but we are deeply immersed in the LGBTQ community and have been forever. Love all of this though!“I think it will shed light on some positive aspects of drag, which is the entertainment value of it,” Rivera said. “Drag is a form of expression, it’s a form of art, and it’s going to be the same thing with the dogs.”
The draw for humans, she believes, is a way to express that through their furry family members with costumes, fur dye and wigs.
“Maybe it will open people’s eyes to see it’s not what they think (drag) is,” Rivera said. “It’s time, in 2026, to open people’s eyes to what’s different, and not keep people boxed into what they may or may not think it is.”
REBUILDING FUNDING
The free event benefited Iowa City Pride through the sale of Milk Bone treats to “tip” performers, raffle tickets, and vendors hawking dog-oriented merchandise on the sidelines.
“We’ve been putting on this festival since the year 1970,” said Andy Owens, president of Iowa City Pride. “It has always been free, and our hope is that it will forever remain free.”
But keeping it that way has become more of a challenge in recent years.
Last year, organizers of Pride events across the country saw a sudden retreat of support from corporate sponsors as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts came under fire. Several of the country’s largest LGBTQ Pride celebrations lost major sponsors amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.
Some organizers reported promised funds were scaled back. Others said longtime corporate partners have abandoned them altogether — even after decades of support.
Corey Jacobson, president of CR Pride in Cedar Rapids, told The Gazette last year that a dip in sponsorships was recovered through individual donations. At that time, 60 percent of its budget came from corporate sponsorships.
Iowa City Pride’s annual June festival, which Skriver said attracts more than 15,000 attendees every year, costs about $60,000 to host.
“In order to put on our show and keep events free, we’re going to do more events like this,” she said. “Hopefully, the public see it’s fun, that it’s a form of expression.”
Elijah Decious covers food and features on a variety of topics for The Gazette. He can be reached at [email protected] or (319) 398-8340.
Spectators watch the first Iowa City Pride Doggy Drag show from lawn chairs at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Mistie Melver carries her mini Dachshund, Rainbow Sass, during the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Dior Valentino, the emcee at Iowa City Pride’s first Doggy Drag Show, gets ready to announce the next contestant at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City onThursday, April 30, 2026. When not in drag,Valentino — the Miss Iowa City 2025 drag title holder — is known as Azariah Rivera. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Japanese Chin Daryl, performing in drag as Gimme S’more, participates in the Doggy Drag Show at Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City on Thursday, April 30, 2026. AMIR PRELLBERG/FOR THE GAZETTE
Use the QR code to watch video from the Doggy Drag Show held by Iowa City Pride at Big Grove BreweryinIowa City on April 30, 2026.
Bear, please just come out. Then maybe all of your gay related posts will cease.
JinxyPat got used to it at a very tender age. He had to. He had no choice. His rearing was very literal, and very hands on. He now finds himself scouring the Dark Web for gay and trans porn photos. The poor twink.
Bear, please just come out. Then maybe all of your gay related posts will cease.
...says the guy who is constantly scouring the Web for gay, trans, and drag photos. You now have a fellow traveler in Scrubby. Hopefully, Scrubby is a "pitcher." If so, you and he will be a great fit, so to speak.