The drag show must go on: NW Indiana commissioners can’t stop event

An upcoming drag event at the Porter County Expo Center that was initially advertised as free to children 12 and under saw several protesters at Tuesday’s Porter County Board of Commissioners meeting in Indiana.

Through their attorney the board has asked for the wording regarding children to be removed and the event organizer Rogue Syndicate has complied.

The event, billed as “Halfway to Halloween Market and Drag Show,” is scheduled for 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 20.

In an email Rogue Syndicate described the event as a 70-plus vendor market with a one-hour PG-rated drag show at 7 p.m.

The organizer has used the same format at the Expo Center since 2019.

“The Facebook event description originally stated that children under 12 were free, but that was the only place it was ever mentioned and had already been removed from the event page prior to the meeting,” the email stated.

“To be clear, no flyers or promotional materials of any kind have ever been distributed by us for this event and it has never been advertised as ‘adult entertainment.’ ”

This is the second time in six months community members have railed against drag shows at county-owned venues.

In October, a drag show for adults ages 18 and up at the Memorial Opera House that was a fundraiser for LGBTQ Outreach of Porter County drew protesters across the street.

Dawn Miller, a regular and vocal attendee at board meetings, spoke first.

“Why is this being allowed to happen in our community, in our town?” she demanded.

Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, explained this is not the first time Rogue Syndicate has held an event at the Expo Center.

“Constitutionally, we can’t tell them no,” he said. “We have restrictions now. There can’t be any nudity. There can’t be anything vulgar.”

Miller addressed Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, pointing out that she has children and asking how she felt about the event.

“I haven’t taken my children to a drag show, but if I wanted to and I was told I couldn’t I would be upset,” Blaney said.

“This is pedophilia,”

Miller replied. “We’ve already had a drag queen story hour at our library,” she said. “Do we really need a man dressing up like a woman to go read to our children?”

A call to Porter County Public Library Director Jesse Butz revealed Miller’s claim about a drag story hour to be untrue.

“It hasn’t even been in discussions,” Butz said.