Drag Queen Livid After His Occasion For Kids Canceled

[ad_1] A drag queen is livid over a children-focused charity pulling the plug on a drag occasion for teenagers and adults as a consequence of neighborhood backlash.

The Baby Advocacy Heart of Better Rochester — a tax-exempt nonprofit primarily based in upstate New York — introduced on Thursday that it was canceling an all-ages “drag bingo” fundraiser set for August 17.

Drag queen Ed Popil, whose stage title is “Mrs. Kasha Davis,” was set to co-host the occasion, and says the cancellation is about giving into “hate.”

Popil mentioned the charity’s CEO, Mary Whittier, let him know concerning the cancellation on a cellphone name.

“I mentioned on that decision, effectively, then we’re letting hate win,” he instructed 13 WHAM Information. “As a result of just about every day, sadly, as a drag artist, as a performer, particularly once I do story hour, and most lately I used to be at a Pleasure pageant, and I introduced the youngsters up and we’re dancing, after which once you take a look at the feedback, the hateful, detrimental, indignant feedback have been plentiful.”

Popil mentioned Whittier instructed him they shut down the occasion, partly, over “some backlash.”

Neighborhood members weren't happy concerning the drag occasion, particularly because it included kids. A commenter named Brent Bivona, for instance, mentioned on The Baby Advocacy Heart of Better Rochester Fb web page that the backlash was about “inviting kids to an adult-themed drag fundraiser underneath the banner of kid safety.”

The charity pulled the plug on Thursday, issuing a prolonged assertion that gave the group’s full assist to the “LGBTQ+ neighborhood” and for “inclusion.”

The Baby Advocacy Heart of Better Rochester’s “about” part of its web site boasts about being “devoted to giving kids a voice and placing an finish to abuse.”

“This was by no means about ‘inclusivity,'” Bivona mentioned within the remark part of the charity’s Fb put up. “It was about boundaries — boundaries that matter once you’re working with susceptible, traumatized kids. Your determination to host, defend, after which vaguely stroll again this occasion alerts a surprising betrayal of your mission and the households who belief you.”

Popil, who’s placed on “story hour” occasions in drag for younger kids, claims he provides age-appropriate performances.

“I’ll communicate for myself,” he instructed 13 WHAM Information. “I can look throughout a room and know what sort of efficiency I’m going to present that’s going to be acceptable for all ages.”

“I might love for them to see the angle, to see the eyes gentle up,” the drag queen continued. “And I say that viewers — eyes which might be lighting up — should not simply kids.”

“That’s why I do the work that I do,” Popil added. “That’s why I learn books to children. That’s why we encourage the messages of shining your gentle, being your self, and being variety to others.”

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-959145" class="wp-image-959145 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-09-at-8.12.54-PM-345x576.png" alt="" width="345" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-09-at-8.12.54-PM-345x576.png 345w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-09-at-8.12.54-PM-180x300.png 180w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-09-at-8.12.54-PM-768x1283.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-09-at-8.12.54-PM.png 904w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 345px) 100vw, 345px"/> Mrs. Kasha Davis through Instagram

Under is The Baby Advocacy Heart of Better Rochester’s full assertion:

Over the previous week, The Baby Advocacy Heart of Better Rochester has been on the heart of difficult and emotional conversations following the announcement — and later cancellation — of an occasion supposed to assist our mission. We need to start by acknowledging the ache, anger, and disappointment that many in our neighborhood — significantly our LGBTQ+ companions, allies, and supporters — are feeling. Our mission has at all times been rooted in creating security, therapeutic, and assist for all kids and households, together with LGBTQ+ youth and communities. The choice to cancel the occasion was not made frivolously. It was primarily based on various advanced elements and issues, together with the potential for the dialog across the occasion to overshadow our core focus: the youngsters and households we serve. We serve them with compassion, dignity, and respect. We deeply worth the assist of people and teams who share our dedication to constructing a safer, extra inclusive neighborhood. Our occasions — and people held by others on our behalf — are supposed to carry folks collectively in celebration of that mission, by no means to divide. Whereas hurt was by no means our intent, we acknowledge that this determination has impacted the belief of many who believed in our dedication to inclusivity. We're dedicated to selling a tradition the place each one that walks by our doorways feels welcomed, valued, revered, and accepted — together with members of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. We're listening. We're studying. And we're actively participating with neighborhood companions to grasp how we are able to higher reside out our values. We stay dedicated to being a spot the place all kids and households — no matter race, gender identification, sexual orientation, or background — really feel seen, secure, and supported. To everybody who has reached out with care, concern, or suggestions: thanks. We are going to proceed to indicate up for the youngsters who want us most, and work collectively to construct a stronger, extra inclusive neighborhood.