Family-friendly Victoria drag show cancelled due to threats, harassment

An all-ages drag show in Victoria has been cancelled after the cafe hosting the event was bombarded with threats of violence and harassment in recent days.

Caffe Fantastico posted on social media Thursday, writing that people have been calling the store and harassing staff members for its plans to host The Sashay Cafe drag show on Saturday.

Organizers cancelled the show out of concern for the safety of the performers, staff, and customers.

The cafe adds the callers “have been ignorant to what a drag show is, and have berated us for hosting a family-friendly drag show event.”

(Source: facebook.com/CaffeFantasticoCoffee)

The show was cancelled after “multiple harassing calls and ultimately threats” were called in.

The cafe says it has a “wonderful history of promoting diversity and inclusion” and has showcased drag shows, among other artists, in the past without issue.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps has issued a statement about the cafe being targeted by hateful and homophobic comments and threats of violence.

“These threats of violence have no place in our community. Pride month is about celebrating love and the right we all have in a free country like Canada for everyone to love whom they choose, to express their gender how they choose and to feel safe in all places and spaces to do so,” Helps said.

“To all 2SLGBTQ+ members of Victoria’s community, and all our allies, know that you are loved, and that love will always prevail over fear, hate, and anger. Happy Pride.”

The group “For The Love Of Drag” says the show will be pushed to another date, adding police are now involved.

“We don’t know what the future of the show will be, but please know that the support shown during this terrible time has been a silver lining,” the group stated on Facebook.