‘Groomers not welcome.’ Richland restaurant vandalized ahead of Easter drag show brunch
After weeks of increasing tension over family friendly drag shows in the Tri-Cities, the Emerald of Siam was vandalized on Easter morning, hours ahead of a planned all-ages event.
Signs were plastered across the windows of the business with messages against the transgender community.
Owner Dara Quinn told the Herald that they have felt threatened recently and believes this was an attempt to shut down their Easter Drag Brunch.
An image posted from a security camera shows several people in hoodies and masks outside the restaurant just after 3:45 a.m.
Quinn said they did not break in, but they plastered hateful signs all over their windows, and they’ve had to spend the morning cleaning it up.
The restaurant has hosted all-age drag shows every month for the past six years, but told the Herald that only recently have people began protesting.
“There were posters plastered over our windows mainly, we are expecting a lot of protesters,” Quinn said. “I’m grateful that they only used glue and paper, but it’s taken six people three hours to hopefully get the rest of it off.”
“I am sorry to know that there’s so much hate here, although the outpouring of love to us from the community has been enormous.”
The signs referenced the names of the children killed in the Covenant school shooting in Tennessee, stated that “Enough is Enough. The transgender experiment has failed,” and “Groomers are not welcome in Richland.” A second sign had a picture of a pride flag crossed out and messages about grooming and child genital mutilation.
It appears the vandals plastered more than a dozen copies of the signs on the windows of the longtime family-owned business.
While protests against drag shows have been growing nationwide, drag queens are not transgender. Opponents have conflated the performances with those expressing their gender identity. Some on the far right have also used the Covenant school shooting as a rallying cry against all transgender people.
“I do think it was an attempt to intimidate us, I think that their disgruntlement is misdirected. I think that they are mislead and misinformed about what happens at these (shows),” Quinn said. “It is not a ‘gay recruitment.’ It is not recruiting for anything, it is a family friendly event for those who care to participate. If they don’t like it, just don’t come to it.”
Emerald of Siam Manager Tim Thornton spoke at a recent city council meeting about the threats and harassment they’ve been receiving, asking the council to speak up in support of local businesses.
Mayor Pro Tem Theresa Richardson, who was opposed to the drag show, had encouraged residents to send a “polite note” expressing their dissatisfaction.
Quinn said the drag brunch will continue as planned. She is expecting protesters, but also supporters.
“I wanted to thank the community support that we’ve gotten through this time, we have felt threatened and the amount of community love and support has meant a lot.”
Richland police have confirmed that they are aware of the incident.
