Gympie Youth Week LuLu LeMans drag show draws protest

A small group of protesters have objected to a Youth Week drag show promoting “self-love, worth and growth” in regional Queensland, but their comments paled in comparison to the vile accusations thrown around online ahead of the event.

Anna Brennan and LuLu LeMans at the Drag Tag Comedy Show for Youth Week in Gympie 2023.

Gympie’s youth and LGBTQ+ community were disappointed by the “hate” shown for a Youth Week event on Tuesday when protesters stood outside the gates of the Gympie Showgrounds.

The Drag Tag Comedy Show was produced by Gympie comedian Anna Brennan as part of a series of council sponsored Youth Week events, and featured Brisbane drag queen LuLu LeMans and more performers on Tuesday night.

More than 60 people attended the performance at the Pavilion, consisting of singing, dancing and stand-up comedy, along with Ms Brennan as drag king Chris Spanklin.

Ms Brennan said the council had received 100 per cent positive feedback after the show but she had received some “pretty nasty” responses before the event.

Gympie comedian Anna Brennan and LuLu LeMans at the Drag Tag Comedy Show for Youth Week in Gympie 2023.

During the family Easter celebration in Mary Street, Ms Brennan said a woman falsely accused her of “opening doors to pedophelia” in front of her son when she was handing out flyers for the show.

She also received a message accusing the event of indoctrinating young people with a “vulgar Marxist agenda”.

Anna Brennan received several aggressive messages in her direct messages before the event. Gympie Regional Council has been contacted for comment regarding the message.

The show itself was followed by an outpouring of support and messages thanking Ms Brennan for not cancelling the show.

“I’d do it again in two seconds, for sure,” Ms Brennan said.

Outside the gates of the Gympie Showgrounds, several residents stood with signs to protest the event.

Several protester signs were posted on Facebook.

A live video posted on It is Cosmic public Facebook page presented the protesters’ concerns about the event being shown to children.

The woman on live video, Heather Reiss-James, stated she was a lesbian and a “living woman” and claimed several hundred people within the Gympie region community had concerns about the event.

“We’re not saying that drag queens are bad, or gays or lesbians are bad, in actual fact, people seem to lump us gays and lesbians together with the whole drag queen community,” she said.

“What we’re not happy with is the fact that young people are being coerced into making decisions or been shown things that they are probably not ready for.”

LuLu LeMans said she saw about 12 people by the gates and she did not engage with them as they were “entitled to protest and have opinions”.

The protesters were quite peaceful, unlike the “aggressive and threatening” response received on social media leading up to the event, she said.

She commended Gympie Regional Council for being strong “allies” in the light of other drag shows being cancelled across the country due to protests.

Justin O' Mara, McKenzie Knickel and LuLu LeMans. Mr O'Mara (left) said the show was the best night he ever had in town. Ms Knickel (far right) said it was great the community was brought together for some harmless fun.

Ms LeMans said these events could change someone’s life for the better and drag was nothing more than “clownery in lashes”.

“It is important queer youth across the country have access to safe spaces to celebrate exactly who they are,” she said.

“It is very easy as a young queer person to feel isolated because there isn’t an abundance of safe spaces and events to see queer joy.”

She said she was happy to take feedback on how to improve these events and invited those with questions to respectfully raise their concerns.

An anonymous audience member said the Gympie Regional Council did an “amazing job” putting together the show and the drag show itself was age-appropriate and alcohol-free.

She said the comedians followed strict rules given before the show and Ms LeMans presented age appropriate content.

Anna Brennan as drag king Chris Spanklin. Photo: Charleene Berry.

The audience member said a “heterosexual, male comedian” said a few “grotesque jokes” not appropriate for the age group.

“I find it ironic that the LGBTQ+ community is being demonised when it comes to how they impact children, when in reality drag queens and the LGBTQ+ are not the problem,” the audience member said.

“It was disappointing to see so many people spreading hate at an event that was created to promote self-love, worth and growth.

“Parents and citizens should be more concerned about the actual predators and teach our kids about unsafe and strange behaviour from adults.”

Ms Brennan said the alleged “inappropriate” joke was still in the confines of M rated technical restrictions.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said the council supported a wide range of events across the region and the peaceful protest did not disrupt the show.

“We also understand that not everyone in our community may share the same views, and we respect those differences,” he said.

“As representatives of the community, elected members will consult with staff on the development of programs for the community going forward.”

The “It is Cosmic” Facebook page was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Gympie Youth Week LuLu LeMans drag show draws protest