UpRising Bakery and Cafe in suburban Chicago regularly hosts events featuring live music and poetry, and last month it planned to bring a little levity into the community with a kid-friendly drag brunch. It did not go as planned, to say the least.
After the Lake in the Hills bakery announced the brunch, angry phone calls and social media reviews started flooding the business. That was just the start.
The harassment soon escalated, with people calling employees pedophiles and someone even leaving a bag of feces outside the cafe.
When someone broke into the shop and vandalized it with slurs the night before the event, owner Corinna Sac says she had no choice but to cancel.
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Related: WATCH: ‘Proud Boys’ try to disrupt drag queen story hour in California
Lake in the Hills police arrested Joseph Collins, 24, who was charged with a class 4 felony hate crime and criminal damage to property. But while Sac commended the response of Lake in the Hills police at first, she now finds herself at odds with the town itself.
Last week, Sac received a letter from a lawyer representing the village who said that officials are “concerned that there appears to be an entertainment event” advertised on the business’ Facebook page.
The letter further said that the strip mall where the cafe is located is not zoned for entertainment, but nobody seemed to have an issue before the drag brunch debacle.
“Should the village become aware of any entertainment events continuing to be advertised at the UpRising Bakery and Cafe location, it will pursue appropriate enforcement actions,” the letter said, threatening fines of up to $750 per day and the suspension or revocation licenses.
In the video posted to social media, Sac said she’s now been forced to cancel a Disney karaoke event and a very raucous-sounding resume writing workshop.
“There was a concern for how much resources we are taking from village,” Sac said. “I feel like this is discrimination and a conspiracy to interfere with my business.”
“Our hands are being tied and our backs are being forced up against the wall by our landlord and the village of Lake in the Hills,” she added.
The situation prompted a response from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which sent a letter to the village saying its “sudden determination to enforce the code against UpRising or Ms. Sac based on their exercise of First Amendment rights constitutes unconstitutional retaliation.”
Related: Pastor wants kids taken to Drag Queen Story Hour removed from their parents
“Village officials initially seemed inclined to support Ms. Sac and her business in the wake of this horrific event,” the ACLU’s letter reads. “Unfortunately, they have chosen instead to give the person who attacked and vandalized UpRising exactly what he apparently wanted.”
“I’m incredibly saddened and mad and upset and angry that they are taking this stance against us,” Sac said.
Family-friendly drag events have become a hot topic in the Right’s anti-LGBTQ culture war. In Florida, a restaurant is being targeted by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation after video of a drag performance at the establishment went viral.
Last month, after a Texas state Rep. Bryan Slaton (R) vowed to outlaw drag shows in the presence of children, DeSantis implied that he is open to using Florida’s child protective service laws to terminate the parental rights of adults who take their kids to see drag shows.
Mister P
The same ones who think The Respect for Marriage Act is a diversion apparently think it diverts from policing drag shows. Milton Berle and Flip Wilson are turning in their graves.
abfab
Geraldine! OMG that was too much! She’d sic KILLER on these morons. This will backfire and DRAG QUEENS will rule the day.
Diplomat
The gay community always did have nasty PR to deal with. It will never recover at least not in this century. Wtf is up with drag queens and little Kids? It’s gotta be a right wing conspiracy project to demean gay people. The hate on the right runs deep over gay marriage.
inbama
“Drag Queen Story Hour” was not created by drag queens or anyone promoting gay rights.
The NGO that organizes it is a queer literary group in San Francisco who are into the LGBTQ+ mission of “breaking the binary.” If gay and lesbian rights crash and burn as a result of parental backlash, the Queers don’t care.
It’s sad seeing drag queens being attacked as pedophiles, but the trashy queens flashing their butts and junk at kids on youtube , twitter and tiktok have done us all a disservice.
monty clift
@inbama, “gay rights are gonna crash because drag queens reading to kids” is one of the dumbest takes I’ve ever seen.
Diplomat
Inbama,
The NGO into “breaking the binary” means that group is nuts. Hence their psychosis reflects on gay people. Great. A gay PR nightmare rules again.
LumpyPillows
I feel bad for the business. The right has sunk their teeth into this topic. They are completely nuts, but like most of their issues, there is some merit tot their mania. Drag is pretty subversive usually. It generally is adult entertainment, if you have ever been to a drag show you know. I’m not sure it is in our best interest to double down on drag shows for children.
LeBlevsez
So establish a LumpyPillows bakery and volunteer at your local library for LumpyPillows Story Hour. Then let the market decide. You might be the brand of bland that right wing bigots are looking for.
bachy
I’m with Lumpy on this. Drag is adult-oriented entertainment suitable for the nightclub crowd. I know people are saying they’re “like clowns” but honey, clown shows do not emphasize transgressive sexual humor – which is the basis of good drag, and all very well and good. But for adults only.
If we were to imagine a “straight” version of this trend, it would be strippers holding a story hour for children. It begs the question: Why? Surely there are more appropriate hosts for children’s events than drag queens and strippers!
I highly recommend we bow out of this asinine folly and let the breeders decide who they want tending to their children, FFS. If gay parents want to expose their children to drag queen culture, let them invite one to dinner.
LeBlevsez
Sorry all you “breeders”, but bachy doesn’t want to share. Only gay parents can host drag queens, and only one at a time. You’d think there would be more to go around, but them’s the rules.
I do like the idea of ‘Asinine Follies’. Imagine: Drag Queens and Strippers present ‘James and the Giant Peach’. I’m there with folding money.
Kangol2
But bachy, you are missing the basic point that many straight/hetero parents are bringing their kids to drag story times, not just LGBTQ parents! The parents bring the kids, the kids have fun, and now these right-wing fanatics who claim to want to “listen to the parents” and “let the parents decide” are freaking out and harassing straight parents who don’t have a problem with their kids at drag story time events! I can remember the old Wigstocks in NYC, and seeing parents with kids there; kids in strollers, kids who were pre-adolescent, and kids who were teens. Some of the parents were LGBTQ but all were LGBTQ/drag-friendly. We are buying into right-wing framing and hysteria yet again because they see their view of the world was losing traction and now seizing upon social and cultural issues and demonizing particular minority groups is, for them, easy and a winner. Don’t give the satisfaction!
LumpyPillows
I find it difficult to discuss anything with people who aren’t honest and people who make excuses to defend things best left undefended. The worst are Trump supporters, but some of you give them a run for their money.
LeBlevsez
Please identify what’s dishonest and what’s indefensible. I’m not trolling or being a smartass. But expect a response.
nm4047
I’m going to suggest that these opponents of this event also watch Queer Eye & Drag Race for the enjoyment ‘entertainment’ value (not that I personally see any). Hopefully the local gay community now exclusively supports this bakery, if not? why not?
missvamp
they need to take their business out of this hick village & move to somewhere else. f these people. ugh
Bo Hamrk
I’m Gay and experienced drag ‘Female Impersonators’ when I was 16. I wish I would have had others to look up to when I was younger who did not fear for who they are. These shows only bring out the bigots. Imagine if we said NASCAR breeds str8 people so it should be protested against. sTuPiD LOVES StUpIeD
GREATGLORYHOLER
I find it Interesting that all these People Complaining about Drag Queens and Kids are the same People that DO NOT Spend Time with Their Children. Drag Brunches gives something for Kids and Parents to do together. Also Drag Queens at Drag Brunches where children will be present Tone Down Their Acts to make the Family Friendly. And To People Complaining about Drag Queen Story Hour. When Was The Last Time You Took Time Out Of Your Busy Schedule To Volunteer To Read To Children At Your Local Library ?
Neoprene
Face it. It’s totally creepy for ANY adult (who isn’t the parent, grandparent or guncle) to want to spend time with ANYONE under 18. Ever. That includes teachers. Would they hang with students without a paycheck? If so, creepy.
These children shouldn’t be at drag bunches, or any brunch. They should be home playing on social media so the rest of us can enjoy brunch in peace.
monty clift
you sound like the creep you’re complaining about
Neoprene
Hi Monty – So I take it that my comment offended you because you enjoy hanging out with children? In what capacity, exactly?