Online Threats Lead To Cancellation Of Café Drag Event – Owner Apologises
A Melbourne café owner has apologised after she felt compelled to cancel a children’s Easter event hosted by drag queens over threatening comments posted online. Meg Anderson, the owner of Alice Rebel’s Café And Bar, took to social media after receiving strange phone calls and messages related to the a Colour Me Egg-Cited event, which was cancelled two weeks ago, reports Perth Now.
Threatening Messages And Comments
Anderson uncovered an online forum that was threatening to track down the home addresses of the drag performers. One person, claiming to have a contact at VicRoads, said they would be able to find the drag queens’ home addresses by matching up their car registration numbers when they arrived at the café. The threatening messages posted to Telegram read, “As they crumble, you’re smiling like a shark, predators become prey,” and another encouraged protesters to make the drag queens’ “world rather small”.
Apology And Safe Space For Everyone
“For any of those who were thinking of protesting an event that has been cancelled for over two weeks, we say we are sorry,” Anderson wrote in a short post to the Alice Rebel’s Cafe and Bar Facebook page. “Our venue is a venue for anyone and everyone. You could be purple, pink, orange, or more, and we would welcome you with open arms.”
On Thursday morning, Anderson emphasized that Alice’s Rebel was a place for “respect” and a “safe space” for the community. “As a hospitality business, we don’t do politics, we do people,” she wrote. “[We] believe that everyone has a right to be treated with respect, considered equal and know that when they walk through our doors, it is into a safe space that includes creating a space where alternative forms of entertainment that cater to different parts of our community are offered.”
Positive Responses
People have flooded the comments section of her posts with messages of support and offers to visit the venue soon. “Love what you do,” one person wrote. “Now with gay sons, I respect just how much venues like your cafe help and save our young people.”
“You’re always so welcoming, and I’m sorry people are causing you drama based on their own wacky agenda!” another wrote. “Never heard of your business before, but we’ll be heading over there to eat this week,” a third said.
The cancelled Colour Me Egg-Cited event included egg painting, colouring-in, and games. The developments follow the cancellation of a number of drag performances scheduled by a southeast Melbourne council, due to similar threats from protest groups.
