The Lakeland Gazette asked both Jason DeShazo/Momma Ashley Rose and Pastor Jonathan Friedt of Believers Fellowship Church to write a statement.
By the time we got to write this article, Pastor Jonathan Friedt of Believers Fellowship Church has refused to email his statement.
Jason DeShazo/Momma Ashley Rose sent us the following:
Recently we have seen an influx of hate, discrimination, lies, and laws toward the drag community. Making false accusations that drag performers are coming for children to do inappropriate things to and around them. All comments and hate are driven by fear-mongering and lies. Drag has been around for centuries. At one point in history women weren’t allowed to act of be on stage so men were the ones who performed female roles. We have had cartoon characters, and beloved actors play the roles of women some in serious and some in comedic roles. Drag is a form of entertainment and expressive art. Just like on TV, radio and such there are adult shows and music and family-friendly ones also. Drag is the same way. Family-friendly drag is art just like any other form of drag. Not all drag is adult entertainment. Not all drag dances in costumes with a lot of skin showing, not all drag does sexual content in their performances. Those are done in bars and adult establishments some drag performers dance, sing, play instruments, and do many types of performance arts just like any Disney character or princess.
I have been a family-friendly drag performer off and on for over 20 years. Over the recent months, we have received death and violent threats for existing, for doing community work, and for raising money for those in need. I have had religious leaders and followers call me horrible names and threaten me. I started Rose Dynasty Foundation to provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and FAMILIES to spread the message everyone is Loved, Accepted, and Wanted! Teaching them to love and be kind to people, Raise hundreds of hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities. We fed hundreds of families during covid, provided clothes and supplies for hurricane relief, and helped animal shelters, domestic violence organizations, suicide prevention, art organizations, schools, LGBTQ organizations, and more.
Our events don’t target children they provide a safe space for Families and children, for all people. A 5-year-old isn’t going to just come to one of our events their parents bring them, the families come together. We provide a safe place for them all. You see it seems to be ok for hooters to have children eat free night or other places like this where people wear little clothing and are completely sexualization of humans. But a family-friendly LGBTQ+ organization that does nothing inappropriate proving a safe space for families seems to be an issue. The double standards in this hate are so mind-boggling.
When it comes down to it the people who spread the hate and lies have never been to my shows, most haven’t even been to a drag show at all. They believe what others have said, they believe what someone who decided they didn’t like something and created a lie said to create this false narrative of what is happening. If we all minded our own business and were a little kinder to those around us, and helped those around us maybe the world would be a better place. I know I am trying to I hope you would too.
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The Lakeland Gazette would like to ask Pastor Jonathan Friedt the following, doesn’t the Bible state the following:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39)
“You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)
Pastor Jonathan Friedt believes that all drag shows are groomers. Isn’t religion a type of grooming?
Isn’t giving a little girl a baby doll or a little boy a baseball mitt a form of grooming? Isn’t it up to the parents to raise the children or does Pastor Jonathan Friedt think he can corner the market on parental rights and morals?
The definition of grooming is the practice of preparing or training someone for a particular purpose or activity.
Is Friedt trying to change the moral fabric of the parents that see no issue with family drag entertainment?
To put it simpler, I would define moral fabric as a set of foundational moral principles (common moral ground) that most people in a particular society agree on and recognize as guidelines throughout their daily lives. These principles form a cohesive environment of values, which is referred to as a moral fabric.
Is Friedt exposing the child or young adults at his church to age-inappropriate conversations, media, and behaviors when the adults talk negatively against other people in the community?
Let’s make things very clear there is a difference between a family-friendly and an adult-only drag show. The Lakeland Gazette believes no one under the age of 18 should be allowed in to view an adult-only drag show, period. But if a parent feels that a family-friendly show is appropriate for their children what gives Friedt the right to stop it?