(screen capture via Twitter)Protesters and counter-protesters faced off in San Antonio last night over an all-ages holiday drag show at the Aztec Theatre as both groups mostly stuck to their side of St. Mary’s Street in downtown San Antonio.
About 40 protesters, some with the group This is Texas Freedom Force, stood across St. Mary’s from the theatre. They have said they came to protest the all-ages drag show because it is inappropriate for children. https://t.co/MoEIuyqIzh
— San Antonio Report (@SAReport) December 14, 2022
From San Antonio Report:
About 40 protesters, some with the group This is Texas Freedom Force, which the FBI labeled “an extremist militia group” after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, stood across St. Mary’s from the theater. Fewer than five appeared to be armed. They have said they came to protest the all-ages drag show because it is inappropriate for children.
On Tuesday night some protesters could be heard shouting “pedophile!” and “groomer!” at the colorful crowd of counterprotesters and patrons lined up to go inside the theater.
Shouts came from the other side: “The groomers are in your churches!”
The show, “A Drag Queen Christmas,” features at least one reference to alcohol, but does not include any nudity or sexually explicit acts, according to promotional material and videos of previous performances posted online.
According to reports, there were no incidents of violence, no scuffles, no arrests, and the drag show went on without interruption.
It shouldn’t surprise you that the San Antonio chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans showed up to stand alongside the haters.
Read more at San Antonio Report.
A look at both protests from a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/Q2O3Z3Yhlq
— Joey Palacios – Texas Public Radio (@Joeycules) December 14, 2022
I spoke to The Queen Fantasia a moment ago who performs drag shows regularly in San Antonio. They said they came out tonight because “our community is under attack right now and if we are not the ones who show up in support of our own cause, then who will?”@TPRNews pic.twitter.com/4t0hBaJ7k9
— Joey Palacios – Texas Public Radio (@Joeycules) December 14, 2022
It’s about an hour before the Christmas drag show starts. Both sides have grown quite a bit, but the LGBTQ side far outnumbers the far-right protestors side by about 4 to 1. @TPRNews pic.twitter.com/ujZTHgTWxP
— Joey Palacios – Texas Public Radio (@Joeycules) December 14, 2022
They have been a few small moments of aggression like this over the last 30 mins or so. Nothing major it seems. pic.twitter.com/L3z8o35q3F
— Joey Palacios – Texas Public Radio (@Joeycules) December 14, 2022
Due to the threat of armed TITFF members outside the drag show tonight (seen on the right), some LGBTQ supporters in San Antonio have decided to open carry in response (seen on the left). pic.twitter.com/PjrPW8ms39
— steven ”italian elon musk” monacelli (@stevanzetti) December 14, 2022
Despite the presence of armed protesters outside the drag show in San Antonio tonight, the pro-LGBTQ counter protest has basically become an open air party. pic.twitter.com/T1wtrUIr36
— steven ”italian elon musk” monacelli (@stevanzetti) December 14, 2022
In a development which will surprise exactly 0 people, the local Log Cabin Republicans chapter has joined the anti-drag show protest outside the Aztec Theatre in San Antonio. pic.twitter.com/DAVZwBE6Pj
— Tyler the ✨✨ ️️⚧️ (@TylerAlbertario) December 14, 2022