The 3rd Annual Big Gay Chili Cookoff

The 3rd annual Big Gay Chili took place in Thatcher Hall on Wednesday from 11-2, thrown by the National Organization for Women.

Admission was $5, which got attendees a sample cup, a drink, and access to sides ranging from corn chips, homemade sour cream, cheese, hot sauce, and cornbread. 

There were 7 chilis available to taste. Some of those options were white chicken, vegetarian, or beer chili. For a whole bowl, you had to pay an extra 3 dollars, which you could pay in cash or a mobile payment service. 

Ingredients were listed in front of each of the chili pots to warn people about potential dietary or allergen dangers. 

Different student organizations brought in their own recipes, but in the past, it was students who just wanted to contribute that brought chili’s in. 

Sarah Wilson, the founder of the event, said that the idea for the event started with a simple craving for chili, which turned into a fundraising event for the Women’s Center and the LGBTQIA club.

The event is always western themed, which was partly due to the culture around the cookoff, but also a way to bring it into modern day. 

“I feel like a lot of queer people, specifically those who grew up in Oklahoma, are a little bit burned by southern culture, so it’s fun to dress up like cowboys and sing country music.” 

 An addition to this year’s cookoff was also an effort to help the Central Pantry, the University of Central Oklahoma’s food closet. The effort was to help students facing food insecurity by asking attendees to bring a can of chili or another canned food. 

You could vote for your favorite chili by scanning a QR code and logging into ucore. The first-place prize was a gift basket with gift cards, snacks, and a Starbucks cup.