‘Actively intimidating kids’: Anger as anti-LGBTIQA+ groups hijack Queer Formal 2024 event sales

A formal organised in support of LGBTIQA+ teens has been targeted by homophobic groups who called the event “feral” and purchased hundreds of tickets in a bid to hijack the event.

A formal for queer teenagers has been targeted by homophobic groups.

A formal for LGBTIQA+ teenagers has been targeted by homophobic groups, with haters buying up hundreds of tickets in a bid to hijack the event.

The Queer Formal 2024, which will be held this Saturday at the NGV, is free, but those attending must register online for tickets.

Organisers asked for help after learning of a targeted social media campaign urging people opposed to the event to “click on the link and book out the free tickets!”.

Other posts were sent to the NGV stating: “shame on you for hosting this” and “12+ year olds don’t need formals to flaunt their sexuality - feral”.

The formal, for 700 young people aged 12 to 19, will be hosted by Kween Kong from Drag Race Australia. Corporate sponsors include the NGV, Bonds, Converse and the City of Melbourne.

Minus18 said it had been “made aware of anti-LGBTIQA+ groups that have rallied their followers to attack our biggest queer youth event of the year, Queer Formal Melbourne.

A formal for LGBTIQA+ teenagers has been targeted by homophobic groups.

The Queer Formal is set to be hosted by Kween Kong from Drag Race Australia.

Adrian Murdoch, general manager of Minus18, said “intimidation and threats aren’t going to stop us from making sure this is a really affirming, unforgettable night”.

It’s not the first time the event has been targeted, with the Stop Safe Schools Coalition in past years urging its social media followers to buy tickets to the event. “The more tickets sold to us the more youth we protect” they wrote.

This year Minus18 said it was “confident we’ve ensured all tickets are actually going to young people who need them”.

“These anti-LGBTIQA+ groups only inspire us to work even harder to ensure all 700 young people at Queer Formal have the safest, most amazing night,” they said.

One young person planning to attend said: “it scares me how some people go to these lengths for no reason”.

Minus18 asked its followers for help after a queer youth event was targeted.

Minus18 posted about some of the negative messages they have been receiving.

Some parents said they wouldn’t let their children attend while others said they’d escort them to the door to ensure they were safe.

Greens MLA Aiv Puglielli, who raised the matter in state parliament, said the threat to the event “comes alongside significant threats that are not able to be handled as easily, including abusive messages and threats to block the entrances to this event so that queer people cannot enter”.

“I find it quite hypocritical that grown adults who claim to want to protect kids are planning to go and actively intimidate kids just for being queer and wanting to go to a formal,” he said.

“Two in three LGBTIQA+ young people still experience abuse just for being who they are. As a result many will not feel safe or supported to attend their school formal.

Mr Puglielli said the event would be supported by the Rainbow Community Angels who would “turn up and ensure the young people attending are protected”.

Almost 10,000 people have attended similar events around the country, which have been held since 2010.

Originally published as ‘Actively intimidating kids’: Anger as anti-LGBTIQA+ groups hijack Queer Formal 2024 event sales