Drag in the suburbs
dallasvoice.comMembers of Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club standing guard as security for the event. (All photos courtesy of Steven Monacelli) Armed supporters turn out to protect drag brunch in Roanoke STEVEN MONACELLI | Contributing Writersteven@proteanmag.com The “Barrel Babes Drag Brunch” held at family-owned Anderson Distillery & Grill in Roanoke on Sunday, Aug.
28, drew an overflow crowd for an afternoon of food and fun. Owner Jay Anderson held the show in support of his son, who performed at the event as Trisha Delish. “Roanoke TURNED OUT to support our show!!” owners posted on the business’s Twitter. “We hit capacity, and our kitchen is completely sold out of food from our amazing patrons.
I can’t stop tearing up every time I think about how packed the audience was.” Overflow crowd outside the drag brunch While drag performances can range from raunchy to family-friendly, just like any other form of art, the one at Anderson Distillery was specifically meant to lean toward the latter.
The owners specified ahead of the event there would be no sexual content or erotic behavior. According to Delish, even the Texas Comptroller’s office signed off on the event following complaints alleging they were operating as a “sexually-oriented business.” “It was never my intention to host an event that would result in controversy, hate and divisiveness,” Anderson on Facebook before the event. “It is my intention to welcome people from ALL walks of life.” A separate crowd from a different walk of life was also drawn to the event, but not to have fun.
