Ill. bakery facing harassment ahead of family-friendly drag show planned today

CHICAGO — A far northwest suburban bakery has received a stream of harassment after selling tickets to a family-friendly drag show scheduled at the shop on Saturday, while protesters and counterprotesters plan to rally outside during the show, according to the owner and police.

Corinna Sac, owner of UpRising Bakery and Cafe in Lake in the Hills, Illinois, planned what she said is a fun and childfriendly event, replete with costumes, dancing, breakfast food and a celestial theme. Sac, a baker, opened the shop with the goal of creating a space for everyone, she said. The space holds live music, poetry slams and other community events.

The backlash against the drag show in the McHenry County town was seemingly centered on the show being open to children, Sac said. People called and emailed the store voicing concerns. Some called workers at the bakery pedophiles. They insulted Sac as a mother, she said.

“Other people who haven’t been exposed to this need to learn about it and be more accepting,” she said.

UpRising limited the ability of the public to post on its Facebook page, and more than a dozen reviews on the bakery’s Yelp page were taken down for violating terms of service.

Someone left a sign on the door that said, “Pedophiles work here,” Sac said. Another came into the store and spit into the bakery case.

Another time, a bag of feces was left outside, she said.

People also called police to report the drag show, according to a news release from the Lake in the Hills Police Department. It investigated and found no violations, the release said. It also subsequently investigated threats to the bakery.

Despite the harassment, Sac plans to go ahead with the drag show on Saturday. She is also planning a second one on Aug. 7 and possibly more in the future. Saturday’s show has sold out.

She is expecting both protesters and counterprotesters outside the bakery on Saturday, but said the groups have worked with the Police Department to protest in a designated area.

In its news release, the Police Department said it is aware of protests and counterprotests planned for Saturday.

“We are taking measures to ensure that everyone has the right to engage in peaceful protest,” the release said.