Premium Content:

Glasgow Pride event bans drag; say it may offend

yay-2287387-001

A Pride organisation in Glasgow, Scotland, have banned drag queens from performing at this year’s celebrations due to internal concerns that they may be ‘offensive’ the trans community.

- Advertisement -

The organisation known as Free Pride Glasgow consider themselves an ‘anti-commercialist’ alternative to the major Pride event in the city.

“It was felt by the group within the Trans/Non Binary Caucus that some drag performance, particularly cis drag, hinges on the social view of gender and making it into a joke, however transgender individuals do not feel as though their gender identity is a joke,” Free Pride Glasgow announced in a public statement.

“This can be particularly difficult for those who are not out and still present as the gender they were assigned at birth. While it was discussed whether we could have any trans drag acts perform, it was agreed that as it would not be appropriate to ask any prospective drag acts whether or not they identified as trans.”

Drag queens and kings have a long history with Pride celebrations, Marsha P Johnson was one of the first to combat the police who were tormenting the LGBTIQ community in the Stonewall riots – a major catalyst for today’s LGBTIQ rights movement.

Pride Glasgow, the main Pride event in the city, also discussed banning drag queens at the 2010 festival, however they decided against the move.

“We can understand the actions behind Free Pride over the banning of drag performers but believe this is the wrong action to take and is going against what an inclusive event should be about,” Pride Glasgow told media.

“Pride Glasgow believes that any community group should be given their place to flourish but that success should not be built on the negativity and ignorance towards other events, groups and like-minded people. We are saddened to see that this is the direction that Free Pride has chosen to take.”

OIP Staff

Latest

Mariah Carey to headline the Fridayz Live tour

It'll be Mariah Carey's first Australian performances in eleven years.

Katie Noonan will celebrate Jeff Buckley’s ‘Grace’ album on a national tour

Her trip around Australia will begin in Perth this September.

Colton Ford, the adult film star turned singer, has died aged 62

Ford found fame later in life as an adult film star.

On This Gay Day | Actor Raymond Burr was born in 1917

He found success on TV playing Perry Mason and later Police Chief Ironside.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Mariah Carey to headline the Fridayz Live tour

It'll be Mariah Carey's first Australian performances in eleven years.

Katie Noonan will celebrate Jeff Buckley’s ‘Grace’ album on a national tour

Her trip around Australia will begin in Perth this September.

Colton Ford, the adult film star turned singer, has died aged 62

Ford found fame later in life as an adult film star.

On This Gay Day | Actor Raymond Burr was born in 1917

He found success on TV playing Perry Mason and later Police Chief Ironside.

New data shows Western Australians are increasingly stressed

Startling new data has been presented at the National Suicide Prevention Conference in Perth.

Mariah Carey to headline the Fridayz Live tour

It'll be Mariah Carey's first Australian performances in eleven years.

Katie Noonan will celebrate Jeff Buckley’s ‘Grace’ album on a national tour

Her trip around Australia will begin in Perth this September.

Colton Ford, the adult film star turned singer, has died aged 62

Ford found fame later in life as an adult film star.