All Ages “Magical” Drag Experience Canceled After Knoxville Community Speaks Up (Update 10.10.22)
***Update 10.10.22 – The Maryville drag show mentioned at the bottom of this article is now an 18+ event.***
Image Credit: Brian Stansberry / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
IJAMS Nature Center in Knoxville, TN has canceled an “all ages” Drag event after members of the Knoxville community contacted leaders of the city in protest.
The Back Patio Social: Drag Me to Nature event originally scheduled for November 1st, 2022, was advertised as “a Magical Experience” and a “one of kind experience bringing the art of Drag to the mother herself, Mother Nature!”
The property where the nature center is located belongs to the City of Knoxville and is managed by Ijams, a non-profit organization.
The event was sponsored by Boston Beer Co. and Natural Mystic Metaphysical Shop and was to be hosted by Joshua Ricker – aka “Icky Stardust” – an “Alien Rockstar” and Drag Entertainer and Artist according to social media.
Ricker claims that he is the target of “alt-right bigots” and has been “publicly harassed on social media for trying to create a Drag Show for All Ages at Ijam’s Nature Center.”
“These people are coming for our community and our drag entertainers spreading lies and using the fake stories that were created from the recent events in Chattanooga to attack us,” said Ricker.
Ijams removed the post advertising the show from their Facebook page but a Back Patio Social event with no reference to the Drag show remained on their website’s calendar yesterday. It has since been removed from their calendar entirely.
Ricker is headlining a different show in Maryville this coming Saturday, October 8th.
The Murvel Punk and Drag Haunted House is also open to all ages.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
Keep up the Good work. Run the Garbage out of town.
Have you started packing ?
How about you? Have you started packing? It sounds like you are a fan of these shows.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
Two down, two to go. Hamilton County also protested against drag shows for children. Now, liberal Memphis and Nashville needs to sign on.
This ungodly actions need to leave Tennessee and go back to California where it came from. We don’t need this radical practice in our state. That’s why mostly everyone votes and we are a Red state not a blue one. Or Maybe we need to pay more attention to who we are putting in these offices.
You’re a terrible person, Linda.