Guelph drag queen sees all-ages shows targeted by social media campaigns | 24CA News
A Guelph drag queen says their exhibits are being focused by two Ontario-based social media campaigns, ensuing within the cancellation of 1 occasion and the performer feeling uneasy about an upcoming present.
Last month, Crystal Quartz had a drag brunch organized at Kelseys Original Roadhouse in Burlington. But following threats made to the restaurant, administration was pressured to cancel, the restaurant confirmed to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. Restaurant administration could not disclose details about these threats as a consequence of an ongoing police investigation.
Since then, a hyperlink to Quartz’s Dec. 11 all-ages brunch at a Boston Pizza in Hamilton was shared in a Facebook group, asking members to buy tickets to promote out the occasion in a bid to forestall “sick parents” from bringing their children.
These incidents come shortly after a mass taking pictures at a LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colo., that killed 5 individuals, and have left Quartz feeling unsafe.
The drag queen posted an impassioned video on social media concerning the anti-LGBTQ threats that they, and different performers and promoters, have obtained.
Guelph Police Services are investigating the alleged incidents Quartz introduced up within the video.
In the meantime, Quartz advised 24CA News they’re elevating funds for an ID scanner, self-defence lessons and stated that they are wanting into different safety choices.
“I want to get an ID scanner so that even if the people come in there, we know what their names are at least,” stated Quartz.
‘It was completely terrifying’
Hamilton drag performer, Hexe Noire, was additionally confronted throughout a drag storytime final month at a public library within the metropolis.
There had been individuals protesting the occasion, but in addition counter-protesters with a heavy police presence — one thing Noire hadn’t seen earlier than.
“This is the first time in my drag career that I’ve been affected directly by this,” Noire, a cis girl, advised 24CA News. “It was absolutely terrifying.”
Noire defined she obtained on-line threats as nicely.
“I’m a mother with four children who goes into the library dressed as a drag clown to teach children about diversity and that it’s ok to be different,” she stated.
“Had I had a program such as this for myself as a young queer child, I would have flourished and I don’t understand what the issue with reading books to children is.”
Quartz stated that this sort of harassment is new because the LGBTQ neighborhood turns into extra seen and extra mainstream.
“Before we were hiding who we were, right? So now we’re being seen more and these people just, they don’t want anything to do with that,” Quartz stated.
“And that’s fine. If you don’t like me, that’s cool. Just go on your merry way and I’ll go on mine, right?”
But this harassment is not simply geared toward drag queens, in keeping with Ok-W-based trans activist, Cait Glasson. The transgender neighborhood is being focused too.
“They’re definitely well and truly emboldened, the transphobic people,” stated Glasson. “They are very emboldened. I get threats on my Twitter with some regularity.”
“My personal belief is that the best way to fix it is education,” she stated, stressing that understanding concerning the trans neighborhood comes from realizing somebody who’s trans.
A examine finished of LGBTQ individuals in Waterloo area in 2018 discovered that 10 per cent of these surveyed have skilled violence as a consequence of their sexual orientation; 26 per cent confronted violence as a consequence of their gender id.
