Members of the queer community in Vernon are speaking out to express their heartbreak and disappointment after a long-running drag show with performer Freida Whales was cancelled two days before the event.
Whales is a Kelowna-based drag performer known off-stage as Tyson Cook. Whales had been scheduled to perform at Status Nightclub in Vernon on Feb. 10, before being notified of the cancellation on Feb. 8.
Cook confirmed that the show was cancelled by the nightclub but was otherwise unavailable for comment.
The Vernon drag show at Status was scheduled to take place on the same day as a drag storytime event where Freida Whales read to children and families. Approximately six protestors were in attendance outside the venue.
In addition to shows at bars that are intended for adult audiences, Cook also dons the iconic Freida Whales wig and Crocs to read to families at
Over the past two years, Cook has been subject to online hate, due to the drag story times that he hosts as the character Whales.
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At the time that the Status show was cancelled, emails were reportedly sent to multiple venues where Cook performs as Whales.
Capital B次元官网网址 has received copies of the emails.
Attached in the emails is a link to a YouTube video where Cook is dressed up as a character called Killa Whales. In the video, Killa Whales acts in a music video skit where they murder a man.
Saverio Loria, the owner of Status Nightclub, did respond to an interview request from Capital B次元官网网址 but said that due to time constraints would be unavailable to talk until after the publication deadline. Black Press Media will update this story with comment when made available.
Status Nightclub did post on Facebook regarding the cancellation.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 100% for supporting LGBQ+ (sic) but I cannot support Freida Whales from what I seen on the video,B次元官网网址� reads the post from Status Nightclub.
B次元官网网址淚 also did it for the safety of Freida Whales, myself and all staff,B次元官网网址� said the nightclub on Facebook.
The Facebook post was later deleted.
Katie Wilson, a Vernon-based drag performer with the stage name Mick VanDyke said that she understands and respects the need for all people to feel safe.
B次元官网网址淲e really do need more safe spaces for queer performers. ItB次元官网网址檚 risky to perform as a gay person, let alone as a drag performer.B次元官网网址�
Wilson said that they have faced harassment and intimidation based on the fact that they are queer.
She said that it is important for queer people to have spaces where they can express themselves.
B次元官网网址淭here are not a lot of venues that are open to showcasing queer performers,B次元官网网址� said Wilson.
Ayla Marie Cooper, a Vernon resident who had been attending drag shows hosted by Whales at Status for three years, explained that as a queer person, she does not feel safe in all spaces. Cooper said Status nightclub was a place where she and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community felt that they could have fun and express themselves without judgment or fear for their safety.
B次元官网网址淲e felt safe at Status, and to have that ripped from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has been absolutely heartbreaking,B次元官网网址� said Cooper.
B次元官网网址淗aving drag nights in Vernon was such a good step in the right direction, and I feel that the rug was pulled from under us,B次元官网网址� said Cooper about the last-minute cancellation.
In light of rising anti-LGBTQIA+ hate Copper expressed it can be scary for her and her girlfriend to be out in public together. Statistics Canada data shows that police-reported hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation rose by approximately 169 per-cent from 2018 to 2022.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really disheartening to see this kind of hate bloom up in the community,B次元官网网址� said Cooper.
Capital B次元官网网址 reached out to a Kelowna venue that confirmed it also received the defamatory emails sent about Whales. The venue will continue to support Whales but asked not to be included in the article for fear of backlash.
