A group that performs "Drag Queen Bingo" fundraisers for fire departments and non-profit organizations in southwestern Pennsylvania vows to continue despite opposition from area church leaders.
Performing across the Mon Valley south of Pittsburgh, Sparkling Queens of Drag typically brings in between $5,000 and $30,000 a night, founder Jeffrey Kaczynski told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
A group of pastors has warned Fire Departments that they risk becoming a target of the #MeToo movement by holding such events.
Christians Uniting, a group of Christian churches and pastors in the Norvelt, Pleasant Unity area, in Pennsylvania, expressed in a letter to Mt. Pleasant area fire departments their concern that the event "encourages the touching, fondling and groping of patrons by individuals dressed in drag."
"Women and men may feel pressured to accept these advances in the moment," he said.
Kaczynski denied that any inappropriate touching takes place.
"Nothing's going to stop us," he said. "We're going to continue doing what we love to do."
He said that at Sparkling Queens of Drag events, rules are read at the beginning of each bingo advising that groping is not appropriate.
Kaczynski said he's been doing drag for almost 10 years, and so far this year his group has raised $182,000 for local organizations and fire departments.
"It's our way of giving back to the community," he said.
The pastor's letter hasn't hurt business, Kaczynski said, noting fire departments have booked his group for future events.
A former president of Christians Uniting, the Rev. Mark Werner, told the paper the pastors and congregations represented in the group are very supportive of fire departments.
"Such service includes serving as volunteer firefighters, assisting with Lenten fish frys, hoagie sales, fill the boot, etc.," he told the paper. "The last thing we wanted to see happen to any of the area fire companies would be to see them sued by someone who may be the victim of unwanted advances such as the groping we saw in the pictures."
The Tribune-Review reported the Calumet Volunteer Fire Department will host a July 20 drag queen bingo fundraiser.
The event has been a hit in the past, said Courtney Warren, who said her boyfriend is a captain at the station.
"We had nothing but positive reviews about the whole entire thing, and all the surrounding stations who have had the event as well; it's all been positive," she said.
Responding to charges of abuse of minors, Warren argued that anyone under the 18 is barred from the events.
Christians Uniting president Rev. David Greer said the letter was never meant to go public.
He describe it as a private warning "cautioning our local heroes of some potential pitfalls hosting these Drag Queen Bingo games."
"It was never our intention to bring awareness to these Drag Queen Bingo games nor to condemn volunteer organizations for hosting said games.
"We had our say, and now we move on. We must be about our Father’s business," he said.