Opposing demonstrators gathered outside a Christmas-themed drag queen show on Tuesday, and those on both sides were armed.
A Drag Queen Christmas took place at the Aztec Theater in San Antonio, Texas, drawing more than just ticket holders. Protesters and counterprotesters can be seen in video footage on opposite sidewalks, donning signs and, in some cases, weapons.
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Demonstrators supporting and opposing the Christmas drag show at the Aztec Theater in San Antonio have begun arriving.
Both sides are armed.
The far right group claims the show is grooming children. Counter protesters are here supporting LGBTQ rights and anti-fascism. @TPRNews pic.twitter.com/QHpSlAomNT
— Joey Palacios – Texas Public Radio (@Joeycules) December 14, 2022
One group that promoted a demonstration against the show, This is Texas Freedom Force, said they would not have an issue if it were restricted to those 18 and older. “This could all have been avoided,” it tweeted. “Even the opposition claims the show isn’t geared towards kids, so why allow them in?”
Tomorrow Dec 13, 2022 – 8pm – Aztec Theater San Antonio, Tx.
This all could have been avoided, make the show 18yo & up. Even the opposition claims the show isn’t geared towards kids, so why allow them in? Oh that’s right, bc it is about grooming kids, they want kids there. ? pic.twitter.com/J0a1bPfgAh— This Is Texas Freedom Force (@ThisIsTexasFF) December 12, 2022
An armed pro-LGBT counterprotester said, “I know that they use guns to try to intimidate people on the Left, and they can’t do that if we’re also armed.” A member of the group Veterans for Equality said, “I’m not here to try to shoot anybody or anything like that but if they want to try to intimidate, well, we can stand up to it, and to me, this is an expression of that.”
The show began at 8 p.m., and an hour before, the surrounding sidewalks were crowded by nearly 100 demonstrators.
The contentious opposing groups drew a large police presence to the theater as well.
Where things stand now outside the Aztec Theater. pic.twitter.com/wPYHQlu4x4
— Josh Peck (@Joshua_Peck_) December 14, 2022
City council members also reportedly joined the pro-LGBT side at one point.
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The Log Cabin Republicans of San Antonio, a group representing LGBT Republicans, was among the organizations protesting the event. “Still, the left thinks this is about hating gays. It’s about minors going to a strip show of drag queens,” the group posted on Facebook after the protest.
The show went on as planned and finished up around 10:30 p.m., with the demonstrations ending soon thereafter.
