A “drag kids” event set to feature performances from children as young as 11 was canceled this week amid public pressure on its corporate sponsors.
The Boise Pride Festival, which was being presented by grocery chain Albertson’s and sponsored by companies such as Fred Meyer, Citibank, Wells Fargo, Hewlett-Packard, Target, and others including alcohol purveyors Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Jack Daniel’s, moved to cancel the event after author Christopher Rufo drew attention to it on social media.
https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1567207337232076801/photo/1
The Washington Stand reported that, following a shocked statement from Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, members of the public moved to call on the financial backers of the event to withdraw their funds in light of the child drag performance.
Moon expressed outrage at those who believe “it is not only OK but laudable to encourage children to engage in public displays of sexuality” and the companies that would finance such an event.
“Out-of-state companies promise to bring investment and jobs to Idaho. Instead, they are financing the sexualization of our children and the perverse idea that children should engage in sexual performances with adult entertainers,” she wrote.
One by one, several local sponsors including several banks, Idaho Power, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare withdrew their support.
BREAKING: Simplot has issued a statement in opposition to Boise Pride Festival's child drag queen program, saying the company does "not condone any activity or event that may be perceived to exploit or take advantage of children." pic.twitter.com/TT3OUXjotP
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) September 9, 2022
BREAKING: Two more sponsors—@Capedcu and @Idaho_Central—have dropped support for the Boise Pride Festival, which had advertised child drag queen performances featuring kids as young as 11 years old. That's now at least six sponsors that have canceled their donations. pic.twitter.com/KLfQrsjqsg
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) September 9, 2022
By Thursday last week, Boise Pride opted to “postpone this [Drag Kids] performance,” however they cited “increased safety concerns” and insisted that the money lost from the sponsors who withdrew had been replaced elsewhere.
“The festival did not provide any evidence for alleged ‘safety concerns.’ This is a common technique when left-wing organizations get caught promoting something awful: they scream ‘harassment’ rather than take responsibility for their actions. Such claims are often baseless,” a skeptical Rufo wrote on Twitter.
The festival did not provide any evidence for alleged "safety concerns." This is a common technique when left-wing organizations get caught promoting something awful: they scream "harassment" rather than take responsibility for their actions. Such claims are often baseless.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) September 8, 2022
The Washington Stand notes that the more likely cause of the event postponement was good old-fashioned public backlash, and that it is noteworthy which sponsors decided to pull out.
“Five out of six sponsors who withdrew their support are local to Boise and serve a broad clientele—banks and credit unions, a power utility, and a government agency,” he said. “The other, Simplot, heard complaints directly from its customers.”
Rufo then noted that “The national and international mega-corporations were unmoved.”
“After reporters tipped them off, it seems that local Idahoans carried the banner in the campaign to shut down the Boise Pride Drag Kids performance, and they were successful,” he explained.
Never underestimate the power of concerned citizens, and never stop questioning just how much commitment big corporations have to the interests of their customers.
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