Shreveport Concludes Pride Month with Exuberant Fourth Annual Rainbow Rave

Shreveport’s night life lit up on Friday, June 28 for the fourth annual Rainbow Rave at Bear’s Bar & Grill. The event is hosted by the former Miss Louisiana USofA, ZaZa Gigante. The night featured queer trivia and a drag show, with music by DJ Lomax The Grey.

The performing drag queens were Southern States Bearded Queen, Sarah Tonin Katz; Louisiana America’s Queen Runner-Up, Su DeNim; Miss Shreveport America, Sarina Styles; Miss Gay Lone Star USofA Newcomer, Taylor Summers; Miss Southern Drag Network, Estara Knowles Katz; and the host themself, ZaZa Gigante.

Colton Johnson, owner and operator of Bear’s, met Gigante through frequent visits to the bar, where they approached him about hosting drag shows. “I’ve appreciated the artistry of it over the years and it was something that I thought we could do here successfully,” Johnson said. “I think over the past three years we’ve done a great job of it, and I think people enjoy them and we’re excited to have more.”

Gigante originally started a brunch for pride, but it became so packed that they couldn’t accommodate the crowd, so they transitioned it into a drag show. “I think it’s really important to have these events in places that aren’t specifically considered gay because your allies are the reason we are all safe and it’s so important to recognize allies, like Colton, who gave us this space to have fun and continuously gives us a safe space,” Gigante said.

This occasion brought people of all lifestyles together to celebrate their similarities rather than bringing attention to their differences. For Tonin Katz, pride is being able to confidently celebrate something that she grew up thinking was wrong. Raised in a religious household in the south, she had a lot of internalized homophobia and guilt. Now into her adult life, she no longer feels ashamed and instead feels proud of who she is.

DeNim’s drag journey began in 2019 and she received support from performing at establishments such as Bear’s, Central Station, Queerport, and ShrevePride. “Those organizations really fostered my growth as an artist and allowed me to share who I am with the crowd and to build that persona and that’s taken about five years,” DeNim said.

Styles has been doing drag for 18 years and has found a safe place at Rainbow Rave because it promotes awareness and understanding of drag. Summers has been doing drag for almost three years and believes in the importance of being visible and proud of who you are.

Knowles Katz enjoys being her authentic self in this environment and emphasizes the importance of showing people that drag is not sexualized but rather a learning experience. Each queen has a unique story and reason for participating in the event, but they all come together as a family to show their love for themselves, each other, and their community.

During their performances, the drag queens engaged with the crowd, bringing everyone together in a night of celebration. Attendees like Jonathan Hennigan and Parker Deaton expressed their joy in being part of such an inclusive and vibrant environment.

As Shreveport’s Pride Month came to a close with the Rainbow Rave, it was a night filled with love, acceptance, and celebration. The drag queens, performers, and attendees all came together to embrace diversity, spread awareness, and show pride in who they are. Events like these not only entertain but also educate and create a safe space for self-expression, unity, and acceptance.