People take part in a rally outside the Dekker Centre Saturday to support the Drag Queen Bingo. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Rally outside Dekker Centre

Supporters come out for Drag Queen Bingo

Apr 17, 2023 | 5:17 PM

There was a strong show of support at a rally outside the Dekker Centre Saturday night, prior to the Drag Queen Bingo event.

Rally organizer Kelly Waters said their goal was to serve as a “counter-protest,” after receiving word a group of people opposed to the event were planning their own protest.

“The Dekker Centre had been told people intend to protest,” she said. “So, our intention was: If they are here protesting, [then] we are counter-protesting. Since they are not here, we are just a rally supporting diversity in the Battlefords.”

A sermon from the Territorial Drive Alliance Church expressed displeasure about the event coming to North Battleford that was posted on its YouTube channel in January.

Waters said in the end no one showed up to protest the event, which she was glad to see.

FSIN

Chief Bobby Cameron re-elected for fourth term as FSIN Chief

Oct 31, 2024

Battleford Municipal Election

Laing seeks fourth term on Battleford Council

Oct 31, 2024

Softball Sask Hall of Fame

'I just wanted to give back': Local softball legend gets rewarded for her years of dedication

Oct 31, 2024

“We saw a couple of cars with angry-looking occupants that stopped, drove past slowly, and eventually left,” Waters said. “If they were people intending to protest, they changed their mind. No matter what, the attitudes they displayed are exactly why we were there – to spread a positive message of support.”

Waters particularly commended City of North Battleford Coun. Bill Ironstand for attending the rally to show his support.

“I was really happy to see a city council member there, as that sends an important message to the community,” she said.

A festive crowd from Saskatoon also joined the rally to stand behind the cause.

“We really need to show solidarity [for] our other drag performers in the community. It’s important, especially in the smaller communities,” said drag performer Killa Watt from Saskatoon.

Watt is concerned about some of the opposition the Dekker Centre faced when the event was first announced.

Watt said some of her friends in Calgary “had their shows rushed.”

“It’s escalating; the different levels of threat are escalating against our community,” Watt said. “It’s not just our drag communities, it’s also our Queer and Trans communities. We just need to make sure we are all checking in on each other, and this is the way to do that.”

–

angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW