The Wreckroom drag club was rooting itself in the LGBT community in Oklahoma City in new, weekly showcases of local artists since its reopening July 21.

The Wreckroom recently lowered the age restriction to allow 15 year olds to watch the performances to better immerse the club into the community. The club was closed for over a year due to financial reasons and lack of attendance to shows, but is now open to the public once again.

The performances were solely local drag queens that showcased makeup talent, outfit choice and lip sync skills. The performances were an escape to Jonathan Cleveland-Hindman, a 25-year-old drag queen known as Jexa Ren’ae Van de Kamp.

“Drag is all about expressing myself,” said Cleveland-Hindman, host and performer at The Wreckroom. “It was a way of escaping reality, and just stepping into a different life for a second.”

At 14 years old, Cleveland-Hindman began his drag career after performing in an amateur night showcase at The Wreckroom. The one performance turned in to 11 years on stage and counting. He said the club had a significant impact in his life from the relationships he built, as well as finding comfort in his drag.

“[The Wreckroom] has given me connections of people that now I consider my family,” said Cleveland-Hindman. “I feel like The Wreckroom is a place that needs to stick around.”

The Wreckroom continues to build a foundation in the LGBT community and will continue holding shows every Friday thru Sunday.