For a third consecutive time, residents took to the podium to discuss the upcoming all-ages “Drag Queen Pride Extravaganza” event set for June 10 at the Yelm Community Center during the public comment portion of the Yelm City Council meeting on May 9.
LaDonna Shea-Hockaday, the owner of Lady L Promotions and the drag show’s organizer, said it was unfortunate she had to appear before the council again to discuss the event that coincides with Pride Fest, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 10.
“I think it’s unfair to the city council members, the mayor, and everyone here that we’re still harping on this. Y’all have more important things to worry about than discussing my show or my event. That’s my opinion,” Shea-Hockaday said. “(The event) is going to happen. Some people need to stop griping about it. … I paid my fee. I filed my application. It will continue to be a yearly event.”
Shea-Hockaday said next year’s Pride Fest event will add more offerings like a parade around Yelm City Park. She said the drag show will also return next year, despite pushback from some community members.
“Next year’s drag show (will be) 18 and up. … People are griping about the children coming, but that’s the parents’ right. If you don’t like it, don’t come to it,” Shea-Hockaday said. “I’ve seen so much hate and discontent on social media, and I’m sick of it and I haven’t even addressed it because I won’t.”
While Shea-Hockaday initially planned to limit this year’s drag show to those who are 18 and older, she said several parents messaged her to ask why she “took their right away” of taking their children to the show.
Resident Rachael Haskins spoke against the event and posed several questions to Shea-Hockaday following her comments.
“I am standing here because I believe the Lord calls all of us to protect children,” Haskins said. “The word love has been polluted to mean acceptance and affirmation. That’s not what the word love means. The Bible teaches us that the word love involves sharing truth, discipline, respect, correction and love is not boastful. Love does not corrade itself and love does not rejoice in iniquity.”
Haskins asked why Shea-Hockaday has licensing with the state of Washington under a name other than “LaDonna Shea-Hockaday.” She followed her first question by asking if Shea-Hockaday has promoted adult shows in the past, and how the upcoming drag show would be changed so it’s G-rated.
Haskins also asked the council if the event would violate City of Yelm’s municipal code.
“In the City of Yelm, under municipal code 5.52, this show would not have been allowed in the community center if it contained adult content. If this were adult entertainment, there are special business licenses and requirements per Yelm City Code 18.66,” Haskins said during the meeting. “The business would not be able to operate within 660 feet of the community center and spaces where children, churches, day cares or schools are present. You can reference that code if you’d like to know more places.”
She encouraged the council to review the code for definitions of “specific anatomical areas” and “specific sexual activities,” so they could understand what is considered to be adult entertainment.
Haskins also asked the council if there would be consequences if, “for some reason,” the drag show turned into an adult show with minors present. She wondered if the City of Yelm would be willing to perform background checks on each of the performers using their legal names, or if Shea-Hockaday would present an early preview of the drag show to the city council to preview it for “kid appropriateness.”
Kelsey Turner, a military serviceman stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, said he is upset with the amount of hate he has seen on social media regarding the drag show.
Turner said he grew up in Las Vegas, where his parents used to take him to “family-friendly” shows and noted he enjoyed them.
“I understand a lot of the concerns, including the concern for provocativeness and exposure,” Turner said. “Talking to LaDonna and understanding how she’s putting this show on, the question I have for everybody is what are the concerns that we can negate right here and right now? We want to solve the problems and just have fun.”
Turner added he will be one of the volunteers who serves as security during the event, who will help “negate” any disagreements and would take appropriate action if something was to happen.
Councilor Joshua Crossman said he believed there are a lot of liability issues with security titles, especially if the security isn’t provided by a specific company or organization.
“If you’re promoting that you have security there, I’m sure there’s steps the city would have to follow to make sure that we’re safe if lawsuits, litigations were to happen,” Crossman said.
Shea-Hockaday addressed that concern by saying the servicemembers are more so volunteers than security.
“What I mean when I said security was that active duty and retired military (personnel) have offered to come and help volunteer with keeping the doors,” she said. “No one is going to be able to come into that building unless you have a ticket.”
Resident Rebecca Bailey agreed with Turner and said there has been a lot of negative comments about the event that confuses drag shows for pedophilia.
“I’m not quite sure how the connection was put together. … There’s no association between drag events and pedophilia and grooming of children,” Bailey said. “The word grooming has become a big buzzword right now. It makes no sense.”
As of the meeting, Shea-Hockaday said the event is almost sold out of tickets, but only five children are expected to be in attendance.
The drag show is scheduled for 8 p.m. on June 10 at the Yelm Community Center.
