Public criticism of an upcoming Lakeland drag brunch is attracting protesters from as far away as Oklahoma, while area residents have rallied in support of its charitable cause.
Rose Dynasty Foundation Inc. has hired off-duty LPD officer detail for the “Mama and Friends Brunch”, but LPD is prepared for more officers to respond if needed. LPD is monitoring to keep the event safe for everyone.
“Here we are trying to help out the community. I guarantee not one of the protesters will show up with school supplies,” DeShazo said.
A Facebook post that mentioned “mowing” people down at the event has been reported by DeShazo to Lakeland Police Department.
“When events have protesters in attendance, our officers are there to ensure the safety and security of those at the event while also ensuring those demonstrating are allowed to protest and exercise their First Amendment rights permitted by law and in accordance with Florida state statutes and city ordinances,” Officer Stephanie Kerr said.
The main issue is that Oklahoma street preacher Rich Penkoski, who leads an online organization Warriors for Christ, confirmed he plans to travel to Lakeland this weekend to lead protests against Rose Dynasty Foundation Inc.’s “Mama and Friends Brunch” this Sunday at Art/ifact.
“When they focus on children, it becomes my business and the business of the public,” Penkoski said. “They are 100% trying to groom and sexualize children.”
“We are standing up for those innocent children who can’t speak for themselves, whose parents want to turn them into objects for their own virtue signaling,” Penkoski said.
Penkoski said he “does not condone violence in any way shape or form” at protests except as self-defense when other options such as leaving the scene are not possible. But he posts on Facebook — “Make Stoning Great Again.”
“I’m not out there to cause violence, I’m out there to exercise my First Amendment right, preach the word of God and stand against sin and go home,” Penkoski said.
Believers Fellowship Church tries to shut down the brunch
Believers Fellowship Church members asked city commissioners on Monday to shut down the brunch, given the event is being held in a municipal-owned building. The group pointed to the event’s lower pre-sale ticket price of $20 for children aged 9
City Attorney Palmer Davis said the city could not breach its contract with Art/ifact, a private nonprofit arts group, and had no right to stop events unless there was illegal activity occurring.
The brunch is being organized by Jason DeShazo, a Lakeland man who has performed drag for more than 20 years under the stage name Momma Ashley Rose.
DeShazo said the family-friendly drag show is designed to be a safe space for members of the LBGTQ+ community, their families, and allies. It will feature drag queens and special guests singing, reading stories, and other performance arts. Attendees are being asked to donate school supplies to benefit Polk County schools. DeShazo said the ticket price difference reflects the difference in child vs. adult portions when food is served.
“If they want to stand out there and act like fools, they can,” DeShazo said. “It’s sad people are believing the lies and hate-mongering they are doing.”
Penkoski reached out to Lakeland officials asking for an exception to the city’s noise ordinance to have permission to use voice amplification, like a megaphone, for the day of protests.
Davis, the city attorney, wrote in an email that the city’s noise ordinance doesn’t ban amplification but prohibits “[a]mplifying the human voice in such a manner or with such volume as to annoy or disturb the quiet, comfort, and repose of a reasonable person in any dwelling, place of business, hotel or other place of residence.”
Penkoski said he has attorneys at a Virginia-based civil liberties group, The Rutherford Institute, looking into whether the city’s noise ordinance violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.
DeShazo said the brunch organizers are taking steps to ensure the safety and comfort of attendees as the event has nearly sold out. Community residents have offered to “build a wall” of people to shield attendees from protesters. Sales have been brisk from the nonprofit’s Amazon list of requested school supplies, and many who cannot attend have offered to drop off donations.
“There’s a large amount of support, more than the hate. But the hate is loud enough, it’s annoying,” DeShazo said.
Go back home. We don’t want him in our city spewing his message of hate!!
Stop all this hate! God made each and every one of us! Judge not lest you be judged! If you don’t like it then just don’t go!!!
#taxTheChurches They’ve got money to spread hate while many are homeless and hungry, they can pay their taxes.
I don’t understand why “drag queens” desire entertaining children. It doesn’t make sense to me. From what I’ve seen it’s inappropriate. I disagree with discussing sexuality with children below their level of understanding & it should never be a form of entertainment & only come as instruction by their parents when the child is old enough. Before you call me ignorant, I frequented ElGoya in the 80’s & I’ve been to Plantation House. Again, I’m baffled by a man supposedly being attracted to men sexually but completely losing their minds over men who look, act & sound exactly like a woman. That seems like it’s just the perverseness of it that attracts them. You can say what you want, but I’ve been in the clubs & seen all the nasty stuff. It is disgusting & I am a Christian; but even when I wasn’t I found it disgusting. I want to be clear, right now I am specifically talking about the perversion that surrounds this trans community & the clubs. The absolute diabolical & debauched things I saw at Plantation House that “straight” people were doing for the amusement & with the encouragement of the gay community was sickening. I am not talking about every single gay & trans person, I am talking about my experiences in a span of 40 years.
Wow. These mental shamals and drag queens should take it out in the woods somewhere other than our city. Sick mental people that are perverted don’t have a place in Lakeland so please go someplace else that would be safe for you and our children like California or NY.
This breaks my heart. So much chaos and confusion. Do protests like this bring glory to God. Win souls for Christ? Is the what Jesus would do?