Drag queens quit Attleborough Pride due to Reform councillor organiser
Daniel Burcham (Getty Images | Facebook/Cllr Daniel Burcham)
More than 10 drag queens have quit Attleborough Pride and are now boycotting the event after it emerged that the organiser is a Reform councillor.
The Pride event is run by Daniel Burcham, who has organised the event for the last six years. However, he is now facing backlash after being elected to Norfolk County Council in May as a Reform councillor. Performers have accused Reform of “working against” the LGBTQ+ community.
Burcham has said that the event planned for August will go ahead without the performers but has hit back at those who have quit for attempting to “politicise” it.
“Sexuality does not automatically determine political beliefs, and no political movement has the right to claim ownership of an entire community,” he said. “It is deeply disappointing that what should be a positive, inclusive community event has become so heavily politicised.”
Backlash was prompted by Burcham posting an AI-generated poster advertising the event to Facebook. The poster featured drag queens who had previously performed at the event, which led to complaints about approval not being given for their images to be used.
‘How can you support a party that is actively damaging the community?’
Several also said that they had already made the decision not to participate this year due to Burcham’s ties to Reform, while others commented on the post saying that Burcham shouldn’t run the event any more due to his political affiliation.
One performer commented on the now-removed post, saying: “I am not associated with Attleborough Pride and will not be performing. How can you support a party that is actively damaging the community you’re a part of and still try and promote a Pride?”
Another performer who goes by the stage name Stealia Jobs told the Eastern Daily Press that her decision was “a question of morals”. The drag queen, who was born in Poland, went on to say: “It just seems wrong to work with somebody who works with a party that actively campaigns against people like us. Especially someone like me who wasn’t born in this country – I’m their number one enemy.”
Performers were also angry at the party’s decision to no longer fly the Pride flag from County Hall – a decision that Burcham defended. Writing on social media, he said: “As a proud gay Reform councillor, I reject the suggestion that opposition to flying the Pride flag from county hall is somehow anti-gay. It is nothing of the sort.”
“The Pride flag does not represent me, nor does it represent many other gay people, including some of my Reform colleagues and countless members of the wider public.”
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
