With each step down the runway, every word spoken within a poem and each thread sewn onto a piece of clothing at the Queer AF: Art + Fashion Show, Josh Croke hopes the influence from third annual event reverberates throughout the city of Worcester.
“It’s part of our mission-based work to change the dialogue on how people are perceived in society and how they’re treated,” Croke said. “We ask people to come together to claim parts of their identity or labels that describe parts of who they are.”
Croke is the President and co-founder of Love Your Labels, which hosts the fashion show. While it’s promoted as a fashion show, Croke says the event goes beyond fashion.
On stage, performances will include drag, spoken word and burlesque. Offstage, a pop up clothing boutique will allow people to support local designers.
“It’s going not to be a night to be missed in Worcester,” Croke said.
Last year’s event at Bull Mansion generated an audience of about 250. That number more than doubled the 2018’s show which brought about 100 people to Electric Haze.
This year’s show will be at the AC Marriott on Front Street in Worcester on April 18. The larger venue is in anticipation of the largest crowd yet, which is expected to eclipse 300.
When including about 50 to 75 performers and crew, the event could approach 400 people.
To generate that size of the crowd, Love Your Labels dived into the Internet to find performers. Croke said online applications were accepted from people who wanted to be a part of the show. Each application included a short video of the person explaining why they wanted to perform at Queer AF: Art + Fashion Show presented by HIV Advocates, an initiative of Health Care Advocates International.
“It’s been incredible,” Croke said. “We get new submissions every week from people sharing their experiences.”
Croke has yet to announce an official lineup this year. Last year, local and national names captured the spotlight.
Joslyn Fox, a former contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race, performed during the event, as well as musician Giuliano D'Orazio and drag performers from Providence's Trailer Park Girls and the Worcester City Sirens.
Even without an official announcement, Croke said Love Your Labels has sold about 50 tickets. Last year’s show sold out four weeks before the show. Croke expects a similar result this year.
“They’re moving pretty fast so we’re encouraging people to trust the lineup that we’re going to be putting out there and buy tickets because they move pretty quickly,” Croke said.
The Queer AF Fashion Show has two tiers of tickets. Seats by the runway cost $45. General admission tickets cost $25. The evening in Worcester represents an important night in terms of fundraising for Love Your Labels.
For Croke, the influence of the fashion show goes beyond finances, though.
“It’s focused on celebrating diverse bodies and different lived experiences,” Croke said. “Love Your Labels’ vision as a nonprofit organization in the city is to eliminate bias stigma and shame in the world.”
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