Becoming Austin Nation: From Crack to PhD - A Drag Queen’s Story

👤 Presented by: Dr. Austin Nation, PhD, RN, PHN, Associate Professor, CSUF School of Nursing

🏳️‍🌈 Target Audience: Gay Black and Latino men, and the broader LGBTQ+ community and allies

**WARNING: Mature audiences only. Contains themes of substance use, sexuality and abuse.

This FREE community event that brings the critically acclaimed solo performance *Becoming Austin Nation* to Long Beach. Through live theater and drag artistry, this powerful solo performance chronicles Dr. Austin Nation’s journey from addiction to academic and personal triumph. Blending storytelling, healing, and public health, this community-centered event is both entertaining and transformative.

• Raise awareness of HIV, addiction, and stigma through live performance

• Engage communities of color in culturally affirming spaces

• Promote free, on-site HIV testing in partnership with local providers

• Foster healing, empowerment, and LGBTQ+ visibility

Research Information:  HSR-25-26-145

Participants will be asked to complete brief, anonymous pre- and post-event surveys (3–5 minutes each) and may volunteer for an optional 15–20-minute follow-up interview.

Eligibility: Adults aged 18 or older attending the event. Participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous.

For questions about the study, contact: 

Dr. Austin Nation** | anation@fullerton.edu | (657) 278-5570