(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Uprising Bakery and Cafe in northwest suburban Lake in the Hills was planning to host a holiday-themed drag event this Saturday called Slay Belles.
“We had four guest performers plus our host, so five drag performers in total,” said Corinna Sac, owner of the Lake in the Hills bakery. “Our drag cast is all inclusive, so we have queens, kings, and all the in-betweens.”
Earlier this week, the bakery took to social media announcing the cancellation of the event following an alert from the Department of Homeland Security.
“This decision comes after days of discussion with our cherished drag performers and in observation of the growing threats of violence and targeted protests against drag performance,” the Facebook post said.
Despite performing background checks on those who sign up for the show, Sac claims local extremists were either buying tickets under fake profiles or targeting those who were planning to attend.
“They're doxing and targeting the performers and affecting their non-drag lives and careers,” she said. “So all of us together decided that it would be safest if we just cancel this one and regroup.”
To show solidarity for the LGBTQIA+ community, Uprising is instead hosting a Pride Party on Saturday.
The event will feature live music and giveaways to raise funds for the bakery and drag performers who lost out on revenue and tips.
“I'm making posters with everybody's preferred cash app information of all the drag performers that were going to perform here this Saturday,” said Sac. “We’re asking people to tip them, whether it's a dollar or $5 or $20, just so we can show these performers that the community does love them.”
The fundraiser will also benefit drag performers who were part of a recently canceled show in Woodstock.
“They had to cancel for the same exact people making the same exact threats,” she said. “They are not going to win and they're not going to harm us.”
Uprising Bakery and Cafe’s Pride Party takes place Saturday from 9am to 6pm.
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