Kansas State University uses student tuition to fund the Annual K-State Drag Show. In spring of 2026, conservative student leaders, including KSU Young Americans for Freedom challenged the funding decision to ensure university accountability alongside state legislators.
For 22 years, the Annual K-State Drag Show received funding from the mandatory Student Activity Fee allocated through the Student Governing Association. In 2026, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance student organization was asking $10,000 from the SGA for the drag show.
On March 5, 2026, in the SGA senate session, conservative student senators opposed funding the drag show. They argued that it did not meet the requirements, which are that student-funded events must provide educational value and address issues relevant to student groups.
The conservative minority in the student senate prevailed as the motion to fund the Drag Show failed to get a majority of the required 25 votes.
Despite the student government’s initial vote, university faculty halted the legislative process and instructed student senators to hold a second vote, according to multiple senators.
The senators said faculty members argued that a revote was necessary to avoid potential backlash or negative repercussions for the university.
In response, KSU’s YAF chapter along with other student organizations mobilized to challenge the university’s actions. After meeting with student senators, the group was able to bring the situation to the attention of two state representatives of Kansas; Megan Steele and Brad Starnes.
“At K-State, we conservatives are all on the same team. We couldn’t allow this outrage to go unanswered,” said a member of KSU YAF. “Our school using student money to fund sexual fetish parties under the guise of ‘education’ is frankly insulting, to say nothing of their attempt to override SGA.”
After several weeks of meeting with university administrators, Steele and Starnes forced the school to fund the event privately instead of using student money.
“University administration must be accountable because students, faculty, and taxpayers deserve leadership that is transparent, responsible, and focused on results,” said Steele, “No administrative official has the right to tell students what the intent of their vote is.”
As of June 2026, the issue is ongoing as KSU YAF pushes to make sure that the university does what they agreed to do by permanently halting student funding to the drag show.
