Windham and Raymond hosted a “Pride Month” event on Sunday aimed at exposing children to LGBT-themed content, and though the attendance of several drag queens was in doubt due to unsubstantiated claims of mortal peril, performer “Letta Dicken” was on site to perform.
The towns’ first ever pride event was marketed as being for all ages, and was originally scheduled to include storytime for children–although the promotional material did not specify a book–a craft fair, “bracelet making,” and the controversial cross-dressing performers.
“Features a fabulous daytime, all-ages drag show starring local queens Chartreuse Money, Mama Martini, Letta the Queen, and Ophelia!” said the website promoting the event.
According to the Portland newspaper, the children’s story time, led by public library’s children’s room coordinator, Alexis Handelman, had children singing “the hips on the drag queen go swish, swish, swish, all through the town,” to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.”
The report did not reveal what books were read to the children.
According to the town library website, their typical story time events are aimed at children younger than five.
The event also featured a book discussion with author Chris Davis Proud, a former Mormon turned LGBT activist. Proud is the author of multiple books, including “I Spoke to You with Silence: Essays from Queer Mormons of Marginalized Genders.”
The “Together We Rise” event featured a musical performance from an artist named Viva The Sensation, a left wing activist and musician who has previously preformed at the inauguration of Gov. Janet Mills (D), as well as at a Portland pride event.
Days before the event, there seemed to be some doubt as to whether the drag show portion of the program would go on — not because of backlash from the public opposing a sexualized cross-dressing show for children, but because the performers allegedly feared for their lives.
One performer, who goes by the stage name Chartreuse Money, told News Center Maine, that he was told by an unidentified man at a bar that if he attended the show, his life would be at risk.
Money did not suggest that the man he spoke with was issuing threats, only warning him about potential danger.
“I said, ‘If I attend, would my life be in danger?’ And he said, ‘Yes,'” Money told News Center Maine.
Despite police determining that the alleged threats were not credible, Money decided to drop out of the performance, and was followed by other performers, who were intimidated after seeing insults posted about drag queens online.
Despite verifying that the threats were not credible, police nevertheless used town resources to attend the event to ensure there were no protesters disrupting the event.
By the time of the event, organizers were able to find one drag performer.
Letta the Queen, who also goes by the stage name Letta Dicken, one of the performers originally scheduled, decided not to cave to the discredited threats or insulting online posts and performed at the event in front of an audience.
The Letta the Queen, who describes himself as Maine’s “number one plus sized drag queen,” dressed in skin-tight rainbow costume for the event.
According to a report from the Portland newspaper, numerous children under the age of ten were brought to attend by parents.
One volunteer organizer, Jennifer Curran, told WGME that children need the “support” given by drag shows, and highlighted older people who also attended the show.
“You know kids need support throughout the whole state of Maine, not only for kids, but I see many older couples here coming in thanking us for having safe spaces for the community,” said Curran, speaking to WGME.
According to the Herald, the drag show largely consisted of the performer lip-syncing to songs, including one titled, “Drag Queens Save the World.”
Although the event was held at the Windham town hall, city officials told the Maine Wire that no town money went to fund the event, although the presence of police officers means that some taxpayer resources were used, at least indirectly.
“The Town did not fund any part of the pride event on June 2nd held at the Town Hall gymnasium and parking areas,” said Executive Assistant Tammy Hodgman, responding to an email from The Maine Wire.
