A group of protestors was met by a group of LGBT allies and activist counter-protestors as the former gathered to protest a recent drag queen event held by comic book shop Mile High Comics.
Held on September 29th, Mile High Comics announced that they would be hosting an all-ages drag show at their Colorado flagship store titled Drag for All Ages! Family Friendly Drag Show at Mile High Comics. The event, hosted by Mile High Comics owner and event co-founder Chuck Rozanski, who also performs in drag under the stage name ‘Bettie Pages’ (pictured above), and drag queen Jessica L’Whor, stated that the monthly event would be held for the “benefit of the White Rose Scholarship” and proudly promoted that “Performers will be mostly drag entertainers under age.”
Miss Jessica LLC, Mile High Comics, and Charles Rozanski are proud to announce Drag For all Ages!!!
A Family friendly monthly drag show benefit for the White Rose Scholarship! We will be donating $1000 every month to this charity on top of any money raised!
5pm Doors, Show at 6pm, Sunday September 29th @ Mile High Comics
Performers will be mostly drag entertainers under age and the cast soon to be announced!
Performers will get to keep their tips and also get information on how they can apply for scholarships to use for their education in the future!
More information to come! Please come out and support the new drag talent on the rise!
Incredible Promo by Erin Carleton please hit her up for commission work!
Despite the chosen venue, the event had no explicit connection or relation to comic books or comic book culture.
According to Colorado news outlet Westword, two dozen people arrived at the store on the day of the event to protest the drag show, with some claiming that “This is a very sexualized event” while others held signs reading “Sexualizing children is not love” and “Shut it down. Child drag is child abuse.” Among these protestors were those against the promotion of LGBT values on religious ground and alleged members of the Proud Boys.
Across the street, counter-protestors gathered, with many wearing rainbow armbands and clad in black outfits, black helmets, and face-obscuring bandannas reminiscent of Antifa with some of these counter-protestors carrying a banner of the transgender pride flag that read “No Place for Nazis.” The counter-protestors were joined by the Parasol Patrol, a group “formed out of a need to protect our children’s senses” who “provide hearing protection to muffle the vitriolic taunts and use our umbrellas to shield them from the vulgar signs and angry faces,” who escorted families wishing to attend through the oppositional crowds.
In speaking with Westword, Rozanski argues that that the claims that the event is not family-friendly were patently false, as the underage performers were told they could not perform acts that would be considered unacceptable at a public school. Rozanski also expressed frustration that both groups of protestors were detracting attention from the LGBTQ youth at the center of the event.
Ultimately, the event proceeded, and no violent clashes between the diametrically opposed groups were reported.