A drag show and dance at Chilliwack Secondary School on Feb. 16 has spurred some controversy including calls for organizers to cancel it.
A group of students released a video setting the record straight on the event, and the drag queen performers, said Isabella Oberst, spokesperson for Students鈥� Voice.
As a group of young activists they were 鈥渁ppalled鈥� by the resurgence of anti-trans sentiment contained in online backlash that the Glow Up dance has been receiving.
The website peoplesworldwar.com, put out a 鈥渃all to action鈥� asking school officials to cancel the drag event. It warned of the 鈥渂ullying tactics of activists who push this in front of our young and impressionable鈥� students, with the opinion that those expressing opposition are not in fact: 鈥渂eing non-inclusive, discriminatory, a fascist or a bigot for protecting childhood innocence.鈥�
The student video counters some of the 鈥渙utrageous鈥� claims being made about drag queens being synonymous with criminality and perversion.
鈥淢any people automatically equate drag queens with transgender people and while there is no inherent connection, it has provided a disturbing glimpse into the minds of Chilliwack鈥檚 less tolerant community members,鈥� Oberst said.
Students鈥� Voice made a similar plea via video for more tolerance during the school board election campaign last October calling out examples of book-banning bigotry and homophobic and transphobic reaction to SOGI 123.
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School District 33 staff received 鈥渕any鈥� calls to cancel the event for being inappropriate for minors, but 鈥渧ery few鈥� came from inside the school district community, confirmed Chilliwack school board chair Willow Reichelt.
Glow Up is being advertised as a 鈥榙ance and creative showcase鈥� at CSS for members and allies of 鈥渢he 2SLGBTQIA+ family.鈥� It鈥檚 being hosted by the school鈥檚 Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).
Reichelt responded to one complaint in writing by explaining that SD33 was an 鈥渋nclusive鈥� school district, and a reminder that the drag show and dance was an 鈥渙ptional鈥� event.
鈥淭he drag performances at Glow Up will be age appropriate for a teen audience,鈥� Reichelt wrote.
The performers have already appeared at some local family-friendly events, including Chilliwack Pride and Drag Queen Bingo. The drag part of the event will consist of fully-clothed adults in dresses lip-synching to pop songs.
鈥淢any people enjoy drag as an art form. Those who do not will want to skip this event,鈥� Reichelt said.
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