The drag show must go on: Organizers say death threats won't stop Southern Pines event

SOUTHERN PINES — Organizers of a downtown Southern Pines drag show say they aren’t backing down after receiving threats of violence from far-right activists.

The Downtown Divas show planned for Saturday at Sunrise Theater is the fourth drag event hosted by Sandhills Pride in the last few years, Executive Director Lauren Mathers said, but never have the shows caused such a stir in the sleepy Moore County town.

“Most of the time, if people don’t want to see something, they don’t buy a ticket,” she said.

This time, the opposition went on a “crusade” to shut down the event by claiming drag performers are pedophiles with intentions of grooming children, Moore County political blog writer Cheryl Christy-Bowman said.

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Naomi Dix, a drag artist based in Durham, will host the show. She said right-wing conservatives mischaracterize queer artistry as sexual in nature and unfit for young people, to serve “the hidden agenda that they have, which is not wanting queer people to have events in general.”

She said most critics are unfamiliar with drag performances, which she compares to attending a Beyonce concert. Like the singer, Dix and other drag artists wear tights, corsets, wigs, makeup and body makeup as they sing and dance onstage. The only difference is that drag performers are “a little more outrageous” with their costumes, Dix said.

Like prior Sandhills Pride drag events, Downtown Divas performances were initially open to all ages. In response to the “horrible accusations” of making “adult entertainment” available to children, the minimum age for the Saturday event was changed to 18, Mathers said.

Sunrise Theater Executive Director Kevin Dietzel said changing the age limit was done out of an abundance of caution for the safety of the audience and performers. The change, however, is not without cost, he said.

“It adds to the stigma that people in the drag community already feel,” Dietzel said. “It adds fuel to the myth that the LGBTQ+ community is something that people need to keep their kids away from.”

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Organizers face death threats, accusations

Southern Pines Christian school leaders claim that the drag performances target children. In a letter dated Nov. 21, Calvary Christian School administrators urged parents to contact the town council, the theater and show sponsors to ask for the event to be canceled.

“The LGBTQ forces are coming to Southern Pines and they are after our children,” the letter read in part. “This is their target audience to peddle their abomination.”

The school's letter also invited parents to join a protest at the train station across Broad Street from the theater on Saturday.

The permit to protest the show was requested Nov. 18 and a turnout of 100 people is expected, according to the permit application. Neither the school nor the organizer listed on the permit responded to multiple requests for comment by The Fayetteville Observer.

LGBTQ community allies expressed fears that the event could face opposition from the Proud Boys, a white nationalist organization known for political violence. When the group protested an October drag event in nearby Sanford, they were joined by at least two people who have condemned the Southern Pines event online. Neither responded to requests by The Fayetteville Observer for comment.

In a photo taken at the Sanford event, the group is seen flashing a white power symbol. One man is wearing a hat that states “shoot your local pedophile.”

Christy-Bowman said she was concerned to see him wear a hat with a violent message, especially since she said critics were claiming that the drag performers and organizers are pedophiles.

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Venue ramps up security

In response to threats of violence, organizers have ramped up security. Private security and the Southern Pines Police Department will monitor the event, and IDs will be checked against tickets at the door, Dietzel said.

“We’ve taken security very seriously,” he said.

Dietzel said the event will have more security measures than any other theater event since he joined the organization more than a decade ago.

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Event receives ‘very, very, strong support’

Amidst the backlash, community members have rallied around organizers and the LGBTQ community. Some say that Southern Pines is still welcoming to the LGBTQ population.

“I don’t think this is a reflection of the community,” Christy-Bowman said of the criticism. “They are just the loudest in the community.”

Downtown Divas is sold out, with about 350 expected to attend, Mathers said. A counter-protest was also planned for Saturday at the Sunrise Theater ahead of the show. The organizer, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect her safety, said the event will be a “very peaceful demonstration of solidarity.”

“When the community is challenged with hate and bigotry, it is the responsibility of the residents to stand up for those they care about and love,” the organizer said.

Dix said she is encouraging counter-protesters and event attendees to wear pink in a show of support for drag artistry and the right of people of all ages to have access to LGBTQ-safe spaces.

“We can be angry, we can be pissed off, but we don’t fight with mean words and bullying,” she said.

Mathers said the criticism has generated “very, very strong support,” in the form of emails, letters, social media posts and texts. As of Wednesday, a fundraiser organized on behalf of Sunrise Theater had reached $9,201. Mathers said Sandhills Pride has also received an influx of donations, which will be used to continue to be a resource for information and inspiration for the LGBTQ community.

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Drag artists are under attack around the country

The Sandhills area isn't the only place where drag artists face backlash. Last month, a Texas state lawmaker introduced a bill that would criminally charge venues that allow transgender performers or drag performances and allow minors to attend any shows. A Tennessee lawmaker also introduced a bill that seeks to criminalize public drag performances.

“This is not just affecting us locally,” Dix said. “It’s nationwide.”

Still, she said, she will continue to fight for the right to create safe spaces for people of all ages through drag performances.

“The fight is never going to be over,” Dix said. “We are going to continue to do this. It’s exhausting, it’s irritating, but we will get stronger.”

Reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Organizers say far-right criticism won't stop Southern Pines drag show