Police in Vancouver, Washington, are investigating an incident of vandalism in the early morning hours of March 11 at a brewery that hosts drag queen brunches.
Vandals smashed three windows and two doors at the Heathen Brewing Feral Public House. Shattered glass covered the sidewalk when staff arrived to work.
The downtown pub was slated to host an all-ages benefit event on March 26 featuring performances by local drag queens. Vancouver Police Department spokesperson Kim Kapp told The Columbian newspaper that no motive had been determined, but there is reason to believe the drag brunch may have served as such.
Since announcing the drag brunch, Heathen Brewing has been inundated with threatening phone calls and emails, Executive Chef Michael Garofalo told Portland's NBC affiliate's KGW News.
"Grow up. This is totally unreasonable action, whether for vandalism or whatever your cause," Garofalo told the TV station.
Shortly after the vandalism, a GoFundMe was created to help the business with repair costs. As of Monday night, it had raised $8,677 from 233 donors.
Despite the property damage, the show must go on. Organized by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Raintree Empire, the "Spring Fling Drag Brunch" is now a ticketed event, with proceeds going to Reign 48 charities.
Part of a trend
Across the country, events featuring drag queens have become targets of right-wing extremists, who argue that such entertainment violates obscenity laws and should be restricted to adults.
In Tennessee, legislators recently passed a bill that bans shows that have male and female impersonators from public spaces. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has launched investigations and revoked liquor licenses of businesses involved in drag shows.
"We're still baffled by it," said Chef Rocco Carulli, whose Miami restaurant R House was the target of a DeSantis probe into drag brunches. "We just don't understand why, and sometimes I think the people that are fighting against it don't even know why. Maybe they have something made up in their head, but they've never been to it, so they have no idea."
"Drag is inherently sexual"
Following the vandalism at Heathen Brewing, owner Sunny Parsons posted on Facebook that the upcoming drag brunch will require attendees to be 18 years and older.
"This change is for the safety of the participants, employees, and attendees," Parsons wrote.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, right-wing accounts celebrated the change of course. Gays Against Groomers Washington applauded the decision and issued the following statement:
"Gays Against Groomers does not condone violence or destructive behavior. Mature communication is the most effective way to make a change. Thank you, Heathen Brewing, for listening and updating your drag brunch to 18+."
Parsons said past drag brunches at the pub were monitored by staff and did not have inappropriate acts.
"Just know that I believe that we all have the right to be who we are without being judged," Parsons wrote.
"We have no issue with drag as long as it's for adults," said Gays Against Groomers Washington chapter leader Alex Chrostowski in a video posted to the group's various social media accounts. "That being said, I'd like to reiterate our stance on drag shows: no matter if a drag show is 'tame' or not, whether the drag queens are behaving in a sexual manner or not, drag is inherently sexual, and it is inherently adult entertainment, so our stance is that any drag performance, no matter how tame, is not for children."
The SGN contacted the Vancouver Police Department and office of Mayor Pro Tem Ty Stober for comment, but as of press time, our calls had not been returned.
Vancouver (the fourth largest city in Washington state, behind Seattle, Spokane, and Tacoma, population just under 200,000) received a score of 74 out of 100 on the 2022 municipality equality index conducted by the Human Rights Campaign. According to the HRC index, the Vancouver Police Department reported hate crime statistics to the FBI but does not have an LGBTQ+ liaison or task force.