What began as an internet ripple quickly became a tsunami of comments from the public at the borough’s last assembly session in Haines. The issue in question is the scheduled appearance of the group Juneau Drag at the Southeast Alaska State Fair this summer.
Spencer Douthit chairs the fair board. After putting the lineup up in the site of the fair the fair’s website says that he had received has received 95 emails by Wednesdaywith a small majority in favor of the Juneau Drag being held. Juneau Drag.
Douthit estimates that he’s logged over 25 hours battling his communications in the past week. He had no idea of the response.
“Juneau Drag has performed a variety of performances in public throughout the years, and the show they will perform at the fair will be exactly the same show you’d witness on the streets of Skagway or Juneau in a venue that is public,” he said.
Douthit states that certain of the messages received from him were disturbing. One person imagined a world in which violence could stop such events from taking place. Douthit states that he referred this message for the department of police.
The remarks made at the assembly meeting of the boroughin which representatives from the local ministerial group protested against the program was not particularly inflamatory.
Resident Courtney Kelly said she objected to the sexual nature of the show.
“For me I don’t see this as an issue when it boils to religion or anything else,” she said. “The fair is a chance to organize an event that everybody can take pleasure in. We’re talking about something that’s sexual, regardless of whether we wish to declare the word or not. It doesn’t matter whether someone claims it’s not sexual or someone else states ‘Well it’s how they talk about themselves.'”
Residency Ali Zeiger spoke in support of the show.
“One reason I attend this fair is that I want to look at different parts of Southeast Alaska, parts that I’m not able for myself. That’s why I’m in support of the drag shows coming into town,” She said. “There are plenty to attend to at the fairit’s not necessary to attend the shows that you don’t like.”
Representative Gabe Thomas suggested getting all of the children from the fair prior to the performance.
“Everybody leaves, as they watch the show, and then returns. Let parents let families decide for themselves. It’s an alternative,” he said. “It’s not saying that we do not want it, but we don’t want it, we’re just saying let families have the choice.”
A lot of people opposed to having Juneau Drag back to Haines thought that the show wouldn’t be suitable for families. However, Gigi Monroe, drag mom of the group she says that each show is tailored to the audience.
“I believe drag performance is an art similar to other forms of art and it is accessible to families, or be a solely for adults,” she said. “Just as music, painting, as well as dance performances, there’s an array of. When we think about attending an art exhibition we take into consideration who will be attending. We then tailor the event to this audience.”
Monroe states that over the past eight years the show has been adjusted to fit in the various locations.
“We began out performing at some of the bars in the area however, we soon began receiving requests for performances outside of bars. We began to do single-off events, regardless of whether they were block party events or performances at the college. We also received a massive demand for family-friendly performances to ensure that kids and parents can enjoy the performances too,” she said.
Then, in a twist of fate The group began to host an annual Drag Story Hour at the Juneau library.
“We arrive at the library and they’ve selected some books that could be interesting to read and every performer picks one book. There are at least three of us and we appear in dragand perform a short tune which is child-friendly,” she said. “And afterwards, we’ll read from the book. Then it’s the usual three, four or five songs, and the books are three to four and we’ll hold a dance party for the group towards the end of the evening and it’s a lot of enjoyment.”
Monroe says that the Drag Story Hour is now the second most-loved event in Juneau Library. Juneau library, right ahead of the day where the fire department offers children tours of their fire trucks.
Concerning the issue concerning the issue in Haines the fair board is considering shifting the Drag show to an evening later and plans are in place to organize a meeting in order for community members to have an opportunity to express their opinions.
A ministerial association has approached members of the fair board for discussion on the issue. In the meantime, they’ve decided to not comment further.
