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Christian church faces condemnation over ‘kid-friendly’ drag show

May 20, 2023 | | Print Article

An ostensible Christian church in Texas is facing stern backlash for having recently hosted a drag show for children.

The drama began to unfold around the start of the month when reports emerged that a group called Grayson County Pride would be holding a so-called “family-friendly” drag show at Pecan Grove Park, a park in the city of Sherman.

The announcement prompted protests from Protect Texas Kids, a nonprofit aiming to combat LGBT indoctrination.

“It’s very concerning that the City of Sherman has allowed their park to be reserved as a venue for a ‘kid-friendly’ drag show,” the nonprofit’s executive director, Kelly Neidert, told Texas Scorecard.

“These shows are extremely sexual and are never appropriate for children to attend. I will be there to peacefully protest with Protect Texas Kids, and I encourage others to do the same,” she added.

But somewhere along the way, and for reasons that remain unclear, the venue for the event was changed to 118 W. Pecan Street, which is reportedly the address of the Mosaic Campus of First United Methodist (FUM) Sherman.

Now fast-forward to the 13th, when protesters — including some from Protect Texas Kids — showed up to the event to protest it in person.

“A handful of protesters held signs and one waved an American flag as the event got underway at the location, where kids were seen on video attending the drag show,” according to The Christian Post.

“Another group of protesters, The New Columbia Movement, a Catholic advocacy group, marched with a flag reading ‘DEFEND PURITY, REJECT PERVERSION’ were also on hand as they ‘prayed the rosary alongside locals’ at the event,” the Post reported.

See some video footage from the event below:

The church was, for its part, unfazed by the protests.

“Our church is committed to providing a safe place for youth and children, embracing their true value and worth as being created in the image of God,” the church said in a statement posted to its website.

“We appreciate that groups like the United Way of Grayson County see our church as offering that safety and requested to use our space as a last-minute alternate venue for a prom serving LGBTQ youth and their families. The entertainment of that night is not in line with our values,” the statement continued.

But if the “entertainment of that night” was “not in line with” their values, why did they host it? Moreover, why is there a separate statement on the church’s website indicating that it’s LGBT-friendly?

“We are young and old, married and single, gay and straight, liberal and conservative, non-conformists and traditionalists, those recovering from addictions, those still battling addictions, and those whose challenges take other forms. We are imperfect children of God who find meaning and purpose as followers of Christ, and who find authentic community at [the UMC church],” the statement reads.

The only potential good news is that there was no violence, in part because the event organizers reportedly hired two local off-duty police officers to provide security.

“It is common practice for businesses and/or organizations to hire off-duty officers to provide security. Sherman Officers engaging in off-duty employment are there solely to keep the peace and enforce state law,” Sherman Police Sgt. Brett Mullen told the Post.

All this comes as the Texas House is reportedly considering a bill that would ban sexually explicit drag shows from being performed in front of children.

The bill is the brainchild of Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes.

Vivek Saxena
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